2026 AAHSL Leadership Scholarships

The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries is pleased to announce the availability of the 2026 AAHSL Leadership Scholarships. The scholarships support career development opportunities for librarians who are interested in leadership roles at all levels in academic health sciences libraries. The scholarships are also designed to increase the skills of those seeking to become leaders in health sciences libraries and develop a strong pool of new and emerging library leaders. These scholarships are part of the continuum of AAHSL leadership programs. 

Scholarship awards, in amounts up to $1500 each, may be used for participation in established educational programs related to leadership such as the MLA CE courses exploring becoming a director or leader and for other learning opportunities offered by professional associations, institutions/organizations, or educational entities. The recipients are selected as part of a competitive process. Funding is available this year for four (4) full ($1,500) scholarships.

Recipients must submit a report within 60 days of attending the program that provides a brief description and evaluation of the leadership opportunity and identifies key concepts or perspectives gained from attending the learning experience. In addition to a written report, the applicant may be asked to provide a brief presentation (may be virtual) about their learning experience to members of the Future Leadership Committee.

For leadership training opportunities, this list of Leadership Development Programs is available to review, but please also look for programs offered locally or within your state by state libraries, library associations and networks, or universities and colleges.

The application period for the 2026 AAHSL Leadership Scholarship has now closed. Thank you to those who submitted an application!

Applicant Eligibility

Candidates should be employed in a professional level library position in any kind of library including academic, health sciences, special, public, corporate, or other library setting and have an MLS or comparable graduate degree. 

Candidates should have 3 to 5 years of experience in a professional library position and be interested in pursuing a leadership role in an academic health sciences library.

Former fellows in the NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program are not eligible

Applying

Applicants should submit:

  • Cover Sheet
    • Name, address, and contact information
    • Current library and professional position
  • Letter (maximum of one page) with the following information: 
    • Description of the leadership development opportunity in which you are interested (including the URL for an established program),
      • Dates of the program
      • Whether you have been accepted by the program, if applicable,
      • Purpose of funds (itemized list of amounts for tuition, travel, or other expenses),
    • Statement of your goals for participating in the learning opportunity 
    • Specific career goals and how the educational program will help you achieve those goals
    • Commitment or interest in becoming an academic health sciences library leader
  • Current CV
  • Letter from library colleague(s) (director, supervisor, peer, association colleague) who have observed leadership potential and can address how the educational program will further the leadership skills of the applicant. 
  • Indication of financial support if needed beyond the $1,500 award

The Selection Committee will judge the value and quality of the proposed activity in developing the leadership ability of the applicant.

Leadership Scholarship applicants are encouraged to plan ahead since programs may require registration well in advance. Awards can be made conditionally if applicants wish to use the scholarship as an indication of support for their applications to competitive career development programs.  

Questions about the application can be directed to Judy Cohn at [email protected].

Selection Criteria

Total of 50 Points for criteria below:

  • Leadership focus and content of proposed program / learning opportunity -- 10 points
  • Stated a leadership related career goal – 10 points
  • Clear goals for attending the learning opportunity – 10 points
  • Commitment to and potential of becoming academic health sciences library leader – 10 points 
  • Prior professional experience – 5 points
  • Prior leadership experience – 5 points

Other guidelines when making a selection:

  • Recipients will be limited to one scholarship (no repeat awards).
  • Only one person per institution will receive the scholarship each year. 

Reports

Persons awarded scholarships must complete the program within a twelve-month period. At the conclusion recipients must submit a report within 60 days of attending the program that provides a brief description and evaluation of the leadership opportunity, identifies key concepts or perspectives gained from attending the learning experience and what impact it will/has had on the career goal or interest in a leadership role in an academic health sciences library. The reports will be posted on the AAHSL Website for review by future applicants.

In addition to a written report, the applicant may be asked to provide a brief virtual presentation about their learning experience to members of the Future Leadership Committee. The AAHSL Future Leadership Committee may also survey recipients about their experiences and their thoughts about future career paths.

Recipients

The Future Leadership Committee is pleased to recognize this year’s awardees of the Leadership Scholarships.

2026

Hannah Winchester
Education & Research Services Librarian | Assistant Professor
Leon S McGoogan Health Sciences Library
University of Nebraska Medical Center
To attend Library Management Skills Institute 1: The Manager, offered by DeEtta Jones & Associates

Holly Hudson
Assistant Professor and Regional Health Sciences Librarian
University of Illinois – Chicago, Rockford Campus
To attend three courses offered by the SUNY Center for Professional Development

John Mokonyama
Medical Research Librarian
Penn Medicine, Chester County Hospital
To attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education Professional Education Leadership in Academic Libraries

Shandra Knight
Deputy Director
Strauss Health Sciences Library
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
To attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education Professional Education Leadership in Academic Libraries

2025

Catisha Benjamin
Manager of Library Services
Clinical & Research Library
Children's Hospital Colorado
To attend Library Juice Academy’s Library Leadership and Management Series

Sonya Lemke
Sciences Liaison, Access Services and Systems Librarian
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
Taylor Health Sciences Library College of Health
To attend the Library Management Skills Institute 2: The Organization

Carol Ng-He
Associate Director
Boxer Library
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
To attend at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians.

Marlena Rose
Assistant Director of Collections & Historical Services
Laupus Health Sciences Library at East Carolina University
To attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians.

2024

LaTeesa N. James
Informationist: Academic and Clinical Engagement Team
Taubman Health Sciences Library 
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
To attend the 2024 Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians

Nicole Thomas
Undergraduate Nursing Liaison Librarian
University at Buffalo Libraries
Health Sciences at Abbott Library
Buffalo, NY
To attend the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) 2024 Leadership and Career Development Program (LCDP)

Raushannah Perkins-Ali
Electronic Resources Librarian
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, CA
To attend the 2024 Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians

2023

Annmarie Magurany, MLIS
Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Librarian
Health Sciences Library
University of Connecticut

Shenita Peterson, MPH
Systematic Review Coordinator & Public Health Informationist
Woodruff Health Science Center Library
Emory University

2022

Kelsa Bartley, MSI, AHIP
Education and Ourtreach Librarian
Learning, Research, and Clinical Information Services
Louis Calder Memorial Library
University of Miami School of Medicine

Jamia Williams, MLIS
National Consumer Health Program Specialist, and
Assistant Librarian (Clinical)
NNLM Training Office
Eccles Health Sciences Library
University of Utah

2021

Majid Anwar, MLIS, AHIP
Director, Reference & Instruction
Martin & Gail Press Health Professions Division Library
Nova Southeastern University

Yumin Jiang, MA, MS
Department Head, Collection Management
Strauss Health Sciences Library
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Donghua Tao PhD, MA, MS
Professor/Assistant Director for Information
Services Medical Center Library
Saint Louis University