星空无限传媒

In 2024, LSU School of Information Studies (SIS) Assistant Professor Kristina Shiroma, PhD, became one of the first-ever participants in the ALISE Leadership Development Internship, a new national initiative by the (ALISE). The yearlong program supports early-career library and information science (LIS) professionals through mentorship, conference participation, and a collaborative intern project.

As LSU SIS proudly joins the initiative this year by sponsoring 2025 intern Amanda Shelton, Shiroma shares what it was like to help shape the inaugural experience, how it impacted her development as a scholar, and why she hopes others will say 鈥測es鈥� to this opportunity.

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Q: How did you first hear about the ALISE Leadership Development Internship?

I actually heard about it pretty late. It came through an email on JESSE, the library science educators listserv. The deadline was in April, and you usually hear back by June or July. I almost didn鈥檛 apply because some of the questions asked about my existing leadership within ALISE, and I had never been a member. But I emailed a few of my mentors, and they encouraged me to go for it.

 

Q: What did the internship involve, and how did it begin?

It鈥檚 a yearlong program that kicks off at the ALISE annual conference in the fall. The sponsorship covers registration, hotel, and provides a $1,500 travel stipend. Each intern鈥檚 costs are sponsored by a university鈥攎ine was the University of South Carolina.

When we got to the conference, we received medals to wear so people would know we were the interns. While at first I was a little apprehensive about wearing a medal, it actually helped a lot. People at the conference were so excited about the program and our involvement, so they were eager to speak to us. The medal was one way to break the ice. I鈥檓 an introvert, so the fact that people would come up to me and start conversations made networking easier, especially since it was my first ALISE conference.

 

Q: What was it like working with the other interns?

We immediately clicked. My fellow interns were Dr. Amanda Harrison from the University of Central Missouri and Sarah Appedu, a PhD student at Syracuse. We had different backgrounds, which led to great collaboration. We鈥檇 check in every day at the conference, kind of move around as a group, and, at the end of the day, just reflect on everything we were experiencing. Even after the conference and through our year-long project, we have continued a great relationship and support system for each other.

 

Q: Tell us more about the research project. What did you end up creating?

Our conversations with each other and with ALISE members eventually turned into our research project. At the outset, we hadn鈥檛 planned on anything specific, but as we kept hearing the same themes come up鈥攆rom attendees and from ALISE leadership鈥攐ur project idea came together naturally.

We started asking: What does ALISE membership mean to people? One of the things that was coming up for us was this idea of the Mission, ALISE鈥檚 mission. And better understanding people鈥檚 perception of ALISE. And really thinking about membership.

So we designed a qualitative interview study. We looked at three different constituencies - members and non members, international and local LIS communities, and then practitioners and educators. We conducted over 40 interviews and used thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data. We鈥檙e currently preparing to present this work at the 2025 ALISE Conference in Kansas City.

It was honestly incredible that we formed the project in just a few afternoons at the conference. It felt so organic鈥攏o one told us what to research. They just gave us the space to follow what we were hearing. That kind of trust and flexibility was empowering.

 

Q: Did you have a mentor through the internship?

Yes, and it was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. My mentor wasn鈥檛 there to tell me how to do my job鈥擨 already have professional mentors for that. This was someone I could just sit with and talk honestly about what it means to be a woman of color, to be new to academia, to feel overwhelmed and unseen at times. It wasn鈥檛 about instructions鈥攊t was about connection.

I also have to give a shout out to Dr. Lucy Santos Green, who created this internship program. Her mentorship meant so much. I don鈥檛 think I could have managed the past year without Lucy and my mentor, Dr. Vanessa Irvin. They鈥檝e had a lasting impact on me.

 

Q: What leadership skills or growth do you feel you gained?

For me, leadership is about being able to use your voice. If you can鈥檛 walk up to someone at a conference and say, 鈥淗i, I鈥檇 love to talk about my work,鈥� then it鈥檚 hard to build those opportunities to 鈥渂e at the table,鈥� let alone lead.

This internship helped me do that. I now feel more confident introducing myself, reaching out to people, following up on conversations. It also showed me how important it is to find鈥攁nd help build鈥攕upportive communities in our field. I left the internship feeling not just more capable, but more connected.

 

Q: What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?

Don鈥檛 disqualify yourself. Even if you haven鈥檛 been active in ALISE, you can still bring valuable leadership experience. Think about how you鈥檝e contributed in other ways鈥攖hrough teaching, organizing, mentoring, research teams, anything. What I came to realize is that leadership looks different for everyone. I had led a doctoral writing group, participated in research teams, and served on committees. I framed my experience that way鈥攁nd I also said I could bring a fresh perspective because I wasn鈥檛 already embedded in the ALISE community.

Also, attend the info session. It鈥檚 usually in early April and gives you a good sense of what to expect.

Finally, when asking for a letter of support (which is a requirement for the application), especially from someone you don鈥檛 know well, offer to write a draft for them. It鈥檚 a professional courtesy鈥攁nd it makes it easier for them to advocate for you effectively.

 

Q: This year, LSU SIS is sponsoring a 2025 intern for the first time. What does that mean to you?

I鈥檓 so excited! I actually brought it up to Dr. Benoit, and I when I told him about the opportunity, he was on board immediately.

This year, 星空无限传媒 sponsoring Amanda Shelton, a PhD student from the University of Missouri, as one of the three 2025 interns. I think it鈥檚 an important step for our school鈥攊t shows that we鈥檙e committed to supporting early-career scholars and national leadership in LIS. I hope it becomes a tradition.

 

Q: Now that you鈥檙e finishing the internship, how do you hope the program evolves in the future?

I鈥檇 love to see more continuity between cohorts, year to year.

We鈥檝e also asked if we can help select the next round of interns or maybe even mentor them in some way鈥攋ust something to 鈥減ass the torch.鈥� I think building a community across cohorts could be really powerful.

 

Q: Final thoughts鈥攚hat鈥檚 the biggest thing you鈥檙e taking away from this experience?

Honestly? The relationships. With my fellow interns, with my mentors, with the people I interviewed. I met people I never would have otherwise. Now, when I see their names on a conference schedule, I鈥檒l know who they are鈥攁nd I鈥檒l go to their talk, say hi, and keep building those connections.

This internship helped me find my voice and reminded me that leadership isn鈥檛 just about having a title. It鈥檚 about showing up, being curious, and building something meaningful with others.

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About the LSU School of Information Studies
The LSU School of Information Studies (SIS) provides a 100% online prestigious education in library & information science. It is the home of the Master of Library & Information Science, which is the only program accredited by the American Library Association in the state of Louisiana. SIS also offers a dual degree with the Department of History, an undergraduate minor, and three graduate certificate options. SIS is a member of the iSchools, a group of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field. SIS is part of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education.

Visit the School of Information Studies website.

About the College of Human Sciences & Education 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of 星空无限传媒. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.