Guiding NISO's Process in Our DEIA Work

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) work is crucial, but it can be challenging due to its deliberate and slow-moving nature, as well as the emotional toll it can exact. Chairing the NISO DEIA Committee is a responsibility and undertaking that we don't take for granted.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Salwa Ismail, Associate University Librarian for Digital Initiatives and Information Technology at University of California, Berkeley, for her tireless leadership and dedication as the most recent DEIA Committee Chair. Salwa's commitment and unwavering focus guided us through a comprehensive committee assessment and renewal process. Her efforts have laid a solid foundation for the committee's future, ensuring that our DEIA initiatives are impactful and sustainable. Salwa's leadership has been instrumental in ensuring our commitment to embedding diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles in our organization, our work, and the example we set in the community. We are sincerely grateful for her contributions.

As Salwa rolls off and the committee moves forward, we are delighted to welcome Judith Fraenkel, Senior Director of Product Management at ExLibris, as the new DEIA Committee Chair. Judith's extensive experience and passion for DEIA work make her the ideal person to lead us in this next phase. We are excited to see how her vision and dedication will continue to advance our mission. Thank you, Judith, for picking up the baton and agreeing to serve in this vital role.

Together, with the continued efforts of our committee members, we are committed to making meaningful progress in our DEIA journey.