Education and Engagement Unit

F. Elizabeth Nicholson is the Department Head for Education and Engagement. Nicholson has more than fifteen years of experience in academic libraries, taking roles that have developed her expertise in several areas, including campus partnerships, library finances, organizational development, strategic planning, and teaching in libraries.

In her current role, Nicholson collaborates with library faculty and key campus partners to develop creative and innovative ways to foster research and information literacy skills across the undergraduate experience. She is also leading a multi-year project to establish an overarching plan for learning and teaching opportunities offered by Hesburgh Libraries.

Since joining Notre Dame and the Hesburgh Libraries in 2021, Nicholson has also served in two interim roles: as the strategic planning implementation project manager, leading the advancement and communication of organization-wide goals, objectives, key results, and sustainers and as the senior director of operations, overseeing a portfolio including facilities; finance and budget; organizational development; project management; strategic planning; and talent.

Nicholson holds a Master's of Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri, an M.A. in French & Francophone Studies from The University of Iowa, and a B.A. in French and International Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. Her current research interests include strategic planning in academic libraries, person-centered management, organizational culture in academic libraries, and teaching program development.

Degrees:
M.L.I.S. Brigham Young University
B.S. Brigham Young University

As the Instruction & Reference Services Assistant, Lisa provides administrative support for instructional activities offered by librarians in the Teaching, Research & User Services Program. This includes scheduling library instruction sessions, helping to maintain and update print and digital materials that support teaching, and helping with planning and carrying out a variety of outreach activities. Lisa provides research assistance to students, faculty, staff, and visitors at our Ask Us desk, and helps at the Circulation desk as needed. She is a member of the Advanced Research Services Unit.

As the Undergraduate Community Engagement Librarian, Tara collaboratively develops learning and engagement opportunities to support the educational and instructional needs of Notre Dame students and faculty, with an emphasis on First Year students, first-generation students, and diverse student groups.

Tara is a graduate of Indiana University and holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology and a master's degree in library and information science.

I have been at Notre Dame since 1992 and consider myself to be creative, innovative and customer focused.

My undergraduate degree was in Mathematics and my graduate degree was in Information Science. Both degrees were from the University of Washington in Seattle.

I teach CHEM 23201 (How to find and present chemical information) every fall semester to sophomore majors.

My interests include using data to provide better customer service and academic genealogies. Personally, I enjoy any aspect of maps, from the extra miler club to the sport of orienteering to making maps.

MLIS, Wayne State University; B.A., University of Detroit Mercy

Leslie serves as the Africana Studies and Education Librarian within the Hesburgh Libraries.

Professional Service
American Library Association, Councilor at Large, 2020 -
Special Libraries Association, 2019 - 2020
Black Caucus-American Library Association, 2019 -
Indiana Black Librarians Network
American Library Association, 2005 -
Black Faculty & Staff Association - University of Notre Dame, 2007 -
Academic Librarian Coach/Mentor to Library Science Students and Newly-Minted Librarians of Diversity & Inclusive Communities, 2010 -
Advisory Board Member, Association of College & Research Libraries:Framework for Information Literacy, 2015 - 2017
President, Indiana Black Librarians Network- Affiliate, Black Caucus-American Library Association, 2014-2015

Community Service
Faith Indiana, 2018 -
Innovator's Thinkers Camp, Inc., 2009 - 2019
Society of St. Vincent De Paul of St. Joseph County, 2007 -
Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Indiana 2012-