National Recognition for UCI Librarian

UCI Research Librarian Rina Vecchiola is one of 24 librarians nationwide who were accepted into a prestigious leadership institute for early-career librarians.

The Minnesota Institute for Early-Career Librarians is the only one of its kind in the nation. Unlike many leadership development programs focused on mid-career professionals, this highly-competitive institute is designed for librarians who are just starting their careers and are members of racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally under-represented in the library profession.

Participants attended seminars on topics such as grant writing, outcomes assessment, and instructional design. Minnesota faculty contributed their time to foster the talents of this select group. In addition to skill-building, a peer network was established among attendees from across the country. Upon returning home, Vecchiola noted that the opportunity to build personal and professional skills was “immensely rewarding.” UCI faculty and students will continue to benefit from her experience and the relationships she has developed with other future leaders.

Vecchiola is Research Librarian for Art History, Studio Art, Film and Media Studies, and Spanish and Portuguese. She joined the UCI Libraries in 2002 after obtaining her master’s degree in library and information science from UCLA.