ALISE Leadership Development Internship

The ALISE Leadership Development Internship Program is designed to identify individuals with the significant potential to provide future leadership for ALISE and in the broader field of library and information science.

Previous Recipients

2025 ALISE Leadership Development Internship Cohort

1. Yi Wan, PhD Student, University of South Carolina
Mentor: Dr. Awa Zhu, 25-26 ALISE Board Director of Programming
Sponsored by: University of South Carolina

2. Amanda Shelton, PhD Student, University of Missouri
Mentor: Dr. Sean Burns, 25-26 ALISE President
Sponsored by: Louisiana State University

3. Dr. Paria Aria, Assistant Professor, Texas Woman’s University
Mentor: Dr. Denise Agosto, 25-26 Board Secretary/Treasurer
Sponsored by: University of Kentucky

Program Description

The ALISE Leadership Development Internship Program is open to current graduate students, postdocs, and early career professionals up to third year post-degree. The application process places a heavy emphasis on past and current leadership experiences with a specific focus on personal goals for growth within ALISE and the professional field.

At the annual conference, all interns are expected to participate fully in a coordinated program of activities, including leadership development sessions, exclusive events with leaders from the association and the field, and selected association governance events. In addition, interns will perform hands-on tasks, assisting association leadership during the first timer’s session, general sessions, and the membership meeting that provide a behind-the-scenes view of conference operations. In preparation for the conference experience, each intern will participate in the ALISE Emerging Scholars Program the year leading up to and including the 2025 conference.

All interns receive complimentary conference registration, hotel lodging, and a cash award of $1,500. In addition to participating in the ALISE Emerging Scholars Program, the selected intern class will work together on a group project to be presented at the ALISE 2026 Conference. The intern class project should be designed upon the premise of addressing an organizational need within the association.

Interns will be expected to arrive at the 2025 conference, which will be held in Kansas City, MO by Monday afternoon, October 6, 2025 and to stay until Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Submission Process

Intern Mentoring

After evaluating each intern’s personal experience and professional development goals, the ALISE Executive Board will match the intern with a current ALISE leader. This leader will serve as a mentor, identifying organizational and professional activities in which to involve the intern over the course of the next year. Activities include, but are not limited to, division, affiliate, committee, and/or executive meetings, annual convention planning, and scholarly endeavors. Each experience will vary by the mentor. This mentoring is intended to deepen the experience and provide further leadership development.

Eligibility

Applicants for the ALISE Leadership Internship Program must be a current graduate student, post doc, or new professional three years post-degree in the field of library and information science. Students can be enrolled either full or part-time in an accredited university program related to the field and must remain in good academic standing throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. New professionals must be within the first three years of beginning their career. Applicants who are not already members of ALISE may join prior to submitting their application. Upon applying, individual eligibility internships will be determined by the ALISE Executive Board using the criteria described on this page.

Instructions for Letter of Support Authors

The ALISE Leadership Development Internship Program is designed to encourage and identify future leadership in ALISE. As an ALISE personal or institutional member, you may recognize these leadership attributes in a graduate student, post doc, or early-career professional, and are encouraged to submit a letter of support for one (1) applicant for the program each year. Members will not be allowed to support more than one applicant under any circumstances. A member should know the intern applicant in a supervisory capacity (e.g. dissertation committee members, major professors, program directors, chairs, deans) and not be a familial relation.

If you would like to submit a letter of support for an applicant, please provide them with your letter before the application’s due date. You must be a current member of ALISE to support an applicant, and your letter should address the following questions:

• How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
• Why do you think this applicant has strong leadership potential within ALISE?
• How would ALISE benefit in the future from having this person go through the Leadership Internship Program?

*Note that applicants are only allowed one letter of support. If an institution or organization wishes to collectively support an applicant, the letter should originate from a current ALISE member and indicate the support within the letter.

Evaluation Criteria

Evidence of existing leadership or activity within ALISE (divisions, committees, events, publications, other service activities)
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant provides examples with detailed descriptions of leadership activities within divisions, committees, and/or other ALISE-related programs.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant provides a list of leadership activities without detailed descriptions OR applicant provides a list and details of supporting activities within divisions, committees, and/or other ALISE-related programs.
• Needs Development: Applicant lacks a list of leadership activities or has a list of supporting activities with ALISE but lacks details.

Future goals or planned activities in LIS or related fields align with leadership development.
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant establishes specific career goals within LIS or related fields; applicant provides evidence of how goals align with leadership development.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant establishes career goals within LIS or related fields; explanation may lack evidence for how goals align with leadership development.
• Needs Development: Applicant establishes broad career goals that may fall outside of LIS or related fields; explanation shows limited alignment with leadership development.

Evidence of existing leadership or activity in LIS or related fields outside of ALISE
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant provides examples with detailed descriptions of leadership activities within divisions, committees outside of ALISE.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant provides a list of leadership activities without detailed description OR applicant provides a list and details of supporting activities outside of ALISE.
• Needs Development: Applicant lacks a list of leadership activities or has a list of supporting activities outside of ALISE but lacks details.

Articulates goals for internship experience
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant establishes specific goals for the internship experience; applicant details how these goals promote personal/professional growth.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant establishes goals for the internship experience; explanation outlines how these goals promote personal/professional growth
• Needs Development: Applicant establishes broad goals for the internship experience; explanation lacks connections to personal/professional growth.

Articulates goals for future leadership within ALISE
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant clearly states the goals and action plan for future leadership within ALISE. The goals are realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant states the goals for future leadership within ALISE but lacks a detailed action plan. The goals are somewhat realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
• Needs Development: Applicant either states in broad terms or lacks a statement of the goals and action plan for future leadership within ALISE. The goals may be unrealistic or not appropriate given the applicant’s professional experience.

Articulates goals for diversity leadership
• Exceeds Expectations: Applicant clearly states the goals and action plan for diversity leadership. The goals are realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
• Meets Expectations: Applicant states the goals for future diversity leadership, but lacks a detailed action plan. The goals are somewhat realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
• Needs Development: Applicant either states in broad terms or lacks a statement of the goals and action plan for diversity leadership. The goals may be unrealistic or not appropriate given the applicant’s professional experience.

Letter of Support
• Exceeds Expectations: Letter provides detailed examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential as well as benefits the applicant will provide to ALISE.
• Meets Expectations: Letter provides examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential as well as benefits the applicant will provide to ALISE; examples may lack detail.
• Needs Development: Letter does not provide examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential and potential benefits provided to ALISE.

Resume/CV strength
Resume/CV shows evidence of leadership that supports the responses provided in the applicant statements and sponsor letter. (Yes/No)

Professionalism
• Meets Expectations: The professionalism in applicant responses and CV is evidenced by clear, concise writing, and when relevant uses a consistent (e.g. APA) style. Grammar, word choice, and spelling contribute to the overall message. There may be some minor errors that do not detract from the overall message.
• Needs Development: Applicant’s writing lacks clarity, brevity, OR a consistent (e.g. APA) style. IN ADDITION, poor grammar, word choice, and/or spelling detract from the overall message.

Information Sessions

The Coordinator of the ALISE Leadership Development Internship Program will host informational sessions for potential ALISE intern candidates. These 30-60-minute sessions will be planned throughout the application period to provide information about the 2024 ALISE Leadership Development Internship Program. Specific details about the application materials, process, and deadlines will be reviewed. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.

Inquiries

Other correspondence concerning the Leadership Internship Program can be directed to Dr. Lucy Santos Green, at [email protected]. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response before emailing again.

Thank You to our 2025 Sponsors!

Previous Recipients

2024

Sarah Appedu, PhD Student, Syracuse University
Sponsored By: Simmons University

Dr. Amanda Harrison, Assistant Professor, University of Central Missouri
Sponsored By: University of Illinois Urbana Champagne

Dr. Kristina Shiroma, Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University
Sponsored By: University of South Carolina