CSUSB librarian spends part of summer at Harvard University leadership institute

Eric Milenkiewicz, head of Special Collections and University Archives in CSUSB’s John M. Pfau Library, spent part of the summer at the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians (LIAL) presented by the Harvard University Graduate School of Education – Professional Development.

Held from July 28-Aug. 2, Milenkiewicz was part of the 2024 cohort of 100 people, ranging from library senior leadership and middle management to earlier career professionals beginning to supervise staff. The five-day program included sessions focused on critical leadership, trauma-informed/trauma-responsive library leadership practices, authentic/inclusive leadership, and transformational change led by experts/leaders in the field.

“The sessions were very informative and looked at library leadership through a lens that prioritized diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging,” Milenkiewicz said. “The conversations centered on cultural responsiveness, radical empathy and self-reflection/self-care really resonated with me and has gotten me to think about library leadership in a different light; less from a top-down perspective and more from a relationship-building standpoint where leaders elicit diverse viewpoints, facilitate participative decision making, and encourage open communication.

“I was also introduced to the concept of embodied authentic leadership, which calls for leaders to be true to themselves, self-aware and morally good in their roles, which helps build a positive and supportive library culture,” he said.

According to its website, LIAL applies important leadership concepts to the practical, day-to-day challenges of managing today’s academic library.  This interactive program was designed to enhance participants' leadership skills, providing them with the knowledge, insights and strategies needed to help their libraries succeed and thrive.

The cohort's learning goals included understanding factors that enhance or hinder leadership effectiveness, boosting leadership skills to drive innovation and create lasting impact, developing strategies to tackle short- and long-term challenges, and engaging in meaningful personal reflection and professional renewal within a supportive community of colleagues.

“All in all, I came away from the experience with various tools and strategies that I’ll be able to leverage professionally in my leadership role here at the CSUSB Libraries and within the broader library/archives community,” Milenkiewicz said.