Meet Ayiana

I have a strong interest in pursuing a career in Academic Librarianship with a focus on something involving user experience & communications, student success, DEIA advocacy, or digital scholarship (with a focus on the humanities and extended reality technology). I believe there is great importance to helping people get access to the information they need, and this is the reason I feel librarianship is the right path for me.

In a broader sense, I hope that in my career and any future endeavors, I will be able to foster an inclusive environment that is welcoming for people of all backgrounds. Ensuring that everyone feels welcome is important in any space but is crucial in libraries. Libraries are a resource that is ever-changing; they adapt as the world changes, shifting from strictly physical literary content to now opening to technology in our increasingly digitized world. This is part of why I love libraries, as they are a safe space for anyone and everyone while also providing endless resources for learning.

Some of the “issues” (for lack of a better word) that I would like to focus future research on include but are not limited to:
– Advocating for LIS degree programs to make a DEIA course a degree requirement
– Inconsistencies across ALA-accredited degree programs
– Studying the importance of hands-on experience in LIS degree programs
– Barriers to entering librarianship (i.e. LIS degree requirement)
– Advocating for the retention of librarians who identify as BIPOC or from other underrepresented groups

I’m also pursuing a path that will help me meet my goals of being a lifelong learner, as I believe that it’s one of the best ways to stay current in a variety of fields. Being a lifelong learner will also benefit my career, as the more I know, the more I will be able to help others find the information they need.

Resume

Education

In-Progress | Master of Science in Information and Library Science – University at Buffalo
Anticipated Graduation Spring 2024

Bachelor of Arts in English: Creative Writing, Honors Program, Cum Laude – University of Rochester
Graduated Spring 2022
Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Clusters in European History and Graphics Programming

Current Experiences

WORK

Lead Researcher – University of Hartford (Contracted)
(June 2023-present)
• Conducted research for a Carnegie-Whitney grant project titled “Academic Libraries’ Retention of BIPOC-Identifying Librarians in the Field of Library Information Sciences through Mentorship: A Guide for Managers and Supervisors” under the supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Dill, Director of the University Libraries at the University of Hartford

Graduate Research Assistant – University at Buffalo Information and Library Science Department
(June 2022-present)
• Worked as a graduate research assistant on a project studying the retention of BIPOC Librarians under associate professor of Information Science, Dr. Amy Vanscoy, and her team
• Edited and maintained the project’s website on WordPress
• Created conference posters and organized research information
• Assembled a literature review for a presentation, contributed to a paper for, and presented at ACRL 2023

UniBuddy Student Ambassador – University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education
(September 2022-May 2023)
• Served as a student ambassador to aid in the recruitment of potential students for the University at Buffalo GSE.
• Responded to UniBuddy chat inquiries from prospective students to answer questions about the Information Science program and the GSE.
• Wrote informational LinkedIn posts to provide helpful tips and tricks for incoming graduate students.

VOLUNTEER

President – Information Science Department Graduate Student Association, University at Buffalo
(July 2022-present)
• Organized and hosted monthly club meetings and assembled educational skill-building workshops to help students meet their full potential as future librarians
• Served as a student representative on the Western New York Library Resources Council to increase student relations with the council
• Fostered a vibrant online community of information science students to assist in student networking for the all-online master’s degree program
• Served as the Acting President of the IS-GSA to get the club back up and running after it had been inactive for a few years.
• Wrote the new IS-GSA By-Laws and organized information sessions to recruit new members for the organization.
• Built and maintained the organization’s website using WordPress

Community Moderator – Among Us VR, I Expect You to Die, and Schell Games Official Discord Servers, Schell Games
(September 2022-present)
• Served as a community moderator for an online community of over 30,000 people to maintain a welcoming environment
• Assisted with customer service through a support ticket system and answered questions in public channels

Community Moderator – Innersloth (Among Us) Discord Server, Innersloth
(January 2022-present)
• Served as a Community Moderator for the Innersloth (Among Us) Discord server, a community of over 600,000 people
• Worked with a team of other moderators to promote a welcoming and inclusive community and assist with customer service through a support ticket system.

Past Experiences

EmTech Partner – SUNY Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success
(January 2023-May 2023)
• Served as a volunteer partner for the SUNY EmTech Wiki and MOOC
• Reviewed the course for any inconsistencies and gave suggestions for improvement
• Added resources to the wiki page to expand the database of resources related to Extended Reality technologies

Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee Member – University at Buffalo Information and Library Science Department
(September 2022-May 2023)
• Served as a student representative on the Information and Library Science department’s Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee (APCC) for the 2022-2023 academic year.

XR Specialist – University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, Studio X
(September 2021-May 2022)
• Assisted in running the space and helped patrons check out XR (extended reality) equipment
• Provided technical support for those using the Oculus Quest 2 headsets
• Worked with Blender (3D modeling software) to assist with a VR project

Karp Library Fellow, XR Researcher – University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, Studio X
(January 2021-April 2022)
• Researched topics that present challenges for XR (extended reality)
• Conducted user experience research to understand humanities student, faculty, and staff needs
• Conducted research to understand the barriers of XR and accessibility
• Summarized and presented on research findings
• Outlined and implemented recommendations for humanities XR engagement
• Developed and delivered workshops and trainings based on research findings

Digital Scholarship Intern – University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, Digital Scholarship Department
(June 2021-August 2021)
• Worked closely with the Immersive Technologies Librarian to prepare for the opening of Studio X
• Created and managed Studio X’s social media accounts
• Wrote blog posts for XR@UR, Studio X’s blog
• Scripted, filmed, and edited This Month in XR, a YouTube series that highlights XR developments at the UR and beyond
• Edited the Studio X website using WordPress and basic HTML
• Created staff training and team-building activities for new hires
• Developed engagement strategies such as workshops, scavenger hunts, and competitions for users new to XR

Editor – University of Rochester, Seward Family Digital Archive Project
(August 2020-April 2021)
• Collaborated with colleagues to annotate and edit letters and journal entries from the Seward Archives so they can be made public for historical records
• Researched information regarding the project (relevant to the mid-1800s) to further contextualize the contents of each letter and journal
• Worked with TEI to prepare letters and journals to be uploaded to the website

Library Intern – University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, Robbins Library
(August 2020 – Dec 2020)
• Created a digital exhibit for the library’s Herpich Arthuriana collection to showcase its content to the public using LibGuides
• Researched relevant historical information regarding the Arthurian legends to provide context for the collection

Career Exploration in Librarianship and Mentoring Scholar – University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries
(January 2020 – May 2020)
• Interned to learn about how to become a librarian and pursue a career in library and information science
• Learned and presented about assistive technology and how it could better the university and its surrounding community
• Conducted research with my advisor on assistive technology to present to the CEILAM committee

Communications Intern – Northern Onondaga Public Library System
(May 2019 – August 2019)
• Worked in the Communications Department of the NOPL Cicero location to improve the library website
• Wrote articles for the blog and local newspaper
• Assisted in the graphic design of handouts and flyers for the library’s various programs to promote patron interaction
• Took and edited photographs at various events to post to the library’s Facebook page
• Helped run a variety of social media accounts for the library
• Promoted an inclusive and engaging environment at various programs such as story time, teen book club, and LGBT+ events during Pride month

Part-Time Clerk I – Northern Onondaga Public Library System
(May 2019 – August 2019)
• Supported patron services by greeting patrons and checking out library materials
• Handled patron inquiries from locating items to troubleshooting technologies
• Managed patron accounts