CLIR was thrilled to welcome Shaneé Yvette Willis as the new Senior Program Officer for DLF in early September. Shaneé (pronounced SHAW-nay) sat down with CLIR Issues for a get-to-know-you chat. 

You’re coming to DLF with experience as an archivist, a professor (both in-person and online), director of community engagement at the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), and managing programs at the HBCU Library Alliance. Tell us a little about how these experiences will inform your work as the Senior Program Officer for DLF.

Each of those roles taught me how people and institutions connect and make information available. As an archivist, I learned the importance of preservation and context. Teaching both in person and online reminded me that engagement looks different depending on access and environment. At DPLA, I focused on building inclusive partnerships at a national scale, and at the HBCU Library Alliance, I had the privilege of designing programs that combined professional development, equity, and digital innovation. These experiences reinforced for me that our field thrives when communities see themselves in the work we do, and that’s a perspective I’ll carry into DLF’s programming and community engagement.

DLF’s mission is to “advance research, learning, social justice, and the public good through the creative design and wise application of digital library technologies.” What parts of this mission speak to you most? What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I feel a strong connection to the call for social justice and the pursuit of the public good. Technology has the potential to either isolate or liberate us, depending on how it is designed and utilized equitably. I am eager to support DLF members as they integrate equity and sustainability into their work. I am particularly excited about amplifying working groups and collaborations that transform big ideas into practices that benefit entire communities.

What advice would you offer to an early career librarian or archivist starting out in today’s field? 

Don’t be afraid to carve out your own path. The opportunities are bountiful, and the skills you acquire whether in digital projects, community engagement, teaching, or preservation, are transferable. So move around, say yes to opportunities to learn everything available to you. Ask questions, and seek out mentors who can help you in navigate institutional cultures. Walk in the room like you’re meant to be there. When you are in the room, speak up, share your perspective. Institutions evolve when new voices contribute fresh ideas and energy.

Now a fun question: what kind of pop culture and media have you been enjoying lately, and how is that informing your thinking about digital librarianship and GLAMs?

Recently, I have become obsessed with storytelling that questions our use of technology. The sci-fi dramedy Demascus on the free streaming app Tubi is fascinating because it explores topics like mental health, technology, cultural heritage, and friendship. It is the only show I’ve seen that depicts an exciting integration of AI and autonomous technology into our everyday lives, which actually makes me more optimistic about the future. I would love to have the show’s AI assistant named Shekinah! With one episode left (my husband forced me NOT to binge the whole thing) Demascus has made me think about the future of digital libraries, user expectations, and how we’ll be inspired to preserve and promote culture in innovative ways. 

My most recent read is the latest from the bestselling journalist and creator of the UNDER THE INFLUENCE podcast, Jo Piazza. Her #tradwife thriller Everyone Is Lying to You blew my mind about our use of social media and the blurred lines between authentic storytelling and strategic persuasion. As a new parent, I’ve been susceptible to and skeptical of influencer marketing and the Mommy creator economy. This murder mystery raises important questions about religion, gender expectations, patriarchy, personal ambition, economic inequality, the devaluation of caretaking in our culture, and the power of effective communication and cultural narratives we’re currently grappling with. The story revolves around a massive annual influencer conference and with extravagant sponsored swag and covert networking opportunities rife with hierarchy and hidden agendas. It made me think deeply about how DLF gathers as a community and what maintaining healthy connection requires of us. 

Finish this sentence: at the DLF Forum, come ask me about…

….building bridges, with institutions, communities and ideas.