2020 CCLI Keynote Speaker: Nicole Branch
Transformation is a Homonym: Critical Assessment in a Time of Crisis
Transformation is often mythologized by individuals, institutions, and society at large– frequently emphasizing transformation of appearance, as opposed to substantive and fundamental change. As narratives of transformation are being deployed in response to the current global pandemic, critical library practitioners are poised to resist surface transformation and engage in change that has the potential to fundamentally address issues of power, inequity, and justice. This talk will explore divergent conceptions of transformation, crisis as a turning point, and the role of critical assessment in enacting change in our libraries, institutions, and the broader profession.
Nicole Branch is Associate University Librarian for Learning & Engagement at Santa Clara University. In her time at Santa Clara, Nicole has also held the positions of Head of Instruction & Assessment and Assessment Coordinator & Instruction Librarian. Prior to joining the Santa Clara University Library Nicole served as Librarian for Research & Digitization at Holy Names University in Oakland, California. Nicole’s decade-long experience working in non-profit organizations advancing educational justice in public schools and school districts informs her approach to librarianship. Nicole’s research focuses on the intersections of critical theory, research methodologies, and information literacy.