Our Team
Dr. Ana Ndumu,
Principle Investigator
Assistant Professor Ana Ndumu (Ph.D., Information Studies, Florida State University) focuses on the cross between social identity and information behavior, particularly how accessible and adequate information strengthens marginalized communities. Her studies are thus at the nexus of libraries, demography, and social inclusion. Her recent works examine the information worlds of African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx immigrants living in the U.S. Her publications include The Black Librarian in America: Reflections, Resistance, and Reawakening (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022) and Borders & Belonging: Critical examinations of library approaches toward immigrants (Library Juice Press, 2020). She has published in Journal of Documentation, Journal for Education in Library & Information Science, and Journal of Library & Information Science among others.
Hayley Park,
Research Assistant
Hayley Park is a UMD Ph.D. student whose research focuses on the intersection of immigrant information experiences, PD/PAR methodologies, and the potential of technology in the rapidly changing LIS landscape. As a former library worker in diverse information settings, Hayley’s librarian-researcher praxis reflects a social justice-centered approach, focusing on examining and disrupting the conditions under which structural inequities are created, maintained, and reinforced, with attention to the multilayered costs of labor on workers and marginalized community members. Hayley received her MLIS from the University of Washington in Seattle, worked as a public librarian, and was selected as a 2022-2023 ALA Spectrum Scholar and 2023-2024 ALA Emerging Leader.
Manuel,
Research Assistant
Manuel Mendez is a UMD Ph.D. student whose scholarship centers on Afro-Latino history in the D.C. metropolitan region. In addition to conducting multimethod research on Arturo Schomburg’s curatorial and bibliographic practices, Manuel works alongside the D.C. Public Library, the 1956 Project, Afro-Latino Forum, and the D.C. Afro-Latino Caucus which he founded. A documentary producer and archival activist, Manuel is a frequently invited panelist and speaker on issues pertaining to Latino identity, Black cultural memory and heritage, and anti-Black racial oppression among Hispanic communities. Manuel’s scholarship draws from his extensive experience with youth organizing, bilingual public library service, and grassroots oral history work. His work has been recognized by Politics & Prose, Hola Cultura, Univision, the Office of the D.C. Mayor, and various universities across the U.S.
Nicanor Diaz,
Advisor
Nicanor Diaz is the Immigrant Services Manager at the Denver Public Library. As the leader of the Cultural Inclusivity Department, Nicanor supervises the Plaza program, an intergenerational initiative that connects immigrant and refugee families with resources and support. Currently, Nicanor also manages three neighborhood branches and the Older Adult Services Department. Actively involved with REFORMA since 2007, he has served as Central Chapter representative, Vice President, and President of the association. Nicanor advocates for the Spanish-speaking community by facilitating professional development opportunities, creating training programs, and actively participating in various ALA committees and subcommittees to ensure REFORMA’s impactful representation.
Elizabeth Joseph,
Advisor
Elizabeth Joseph (MLIS, CUNY-Queen’s College) is currently the Assistant Director at the New Rochelle Public. Prior to this role, she served as the Associate Director of Community Engagement at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT. Elizabeth was awarded the Paul J. Eicher Civic Leadership Award from Everyday Democracy in 2021 for her multi-year efforts on launching community-wide anti-racism dialogues. She was named Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2015 for her work with local entrepreneurs. Elizabeth is an active member of Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and a mentor to emerging library workers and leaders.
Dr. Jean Rene,
Advisor
Dr. Jean Rene (Ph.D. in Information, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a community-focused librarian who believes in providing transformative services to the local community. He is responsible for Programming and Outreach at the Central Library, Queens Public Library. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at York College, CUNY. Jean is passionate about the role libraries play in enriching the lives of immigrant communities.
