BLC Leads
BLC Leads is a learning community of library leaders advancing collaborative action in the workplace and accelerating leadership journeys.
Co-create a collaborative learning community of trusted peers to engage challenging topics, take risks, fail, and grow
Gain deep, authentic exposure to a wide range of library leaders and their leadership journeys, approaches, contexts, challenges, and successes
Reflect upon and characterize your leadership journey and identity, drawing upon both personal experience and established leadership theories, concepts, skills, and assessments
Adapt and adopt promising practices in order to advance collaborative action within your library and across your institution
BLC Leads builds on the strengths of the consortium to center peer-to-peer support and maximize opportunities to embed emerging leaders in the diversity of individual and organizational leadership journeys arrayed across BLC’s member institutions.
Collaborative Inquiry
BLC Leads builds shared knowledge through collaborative inquiry around a series of foundational leadership competencies and questions explored in weekly virtual activities and five in-person experiences over the course of six months.
Identity: Who am I as a leader?
Strategy: How do I think strategically?
Collaboration: How do I lead collaboratively?
Change: How do I lead change?
Climate: How do I lead amid complex systems?
Growth: How do I grow as a leader?
Reflection: What is next on my leadership journey?
20+
Fellows
7
Foundational
Questions
5
Onsite
Programs
19
Virtual Activities
Program Schedule
The BLC Leads program schedule charts when these foundational competencies will be explored and the order in which each format type will be leveraged in service to that theme. This schedule also outlines the required time commitment, both virtually and in-person, during the program.
BLC Forum Fellow Meet & Greet
The BLC Forum features a Meet & Greet for you and your cohort to get to know each other in addition to a a panel discussion and networking opportunity with program alumni.
Leadership Institute
At the Leadership Institute, you’ll spend time getting to know your cohort and set the foundations for a collaborative learning community of trusted peers to move through the BLC Leads program. Thought leaders will offer guidance and insights about how to lead effectively – including frameworks, tools, and mindsets that set the personal, interpersonal, cross-functional, institutional, and consortial stages for effective leadership.
Drawing upon personal experience and established leadership theories, concepts, skills, and assessments, you’ll reflect upon and begin to characterize your leadership journey. The Leadership Institute will also include a networking reception for fellows, alumni, and thought leaders to strengthen relationships across BLC’s member institutions. The Leadership Institute is held in-person at a BLC member institution June 14 - 16, 2027.
Pods
By offering a regular space for you to connect with and learn from a small number of Fellows, Pods are the heartbeat of BLC Leads. Your Pod, consisting of four Fellows, will meet every two weeks for peer-to-peer support and sense making in response to Fireside Chats, expert-led Workshops, and the program overall. In these Pods, Fellows co-create a collaborative learning community and engage challenging topics, take risks, fail, and grow.
Fireside Chats
Fireside Chats are interactive panel discussions featuring leaders from BLC’s member institutions who represent a range of positions and experiences. At each Fireside Chat, you will investigate one of the foundational competencies and questions through deep, authentic exposure to a wide range of leadership journeys, approaches, contexts, challenges and successes. Fireside Chats are held virtually once every four weeks.
Workshops
Workshops offer Fellows opportunities to adapt and adopt promising and practical leadership practices from experts in the field. Each Workshop will focus on different aspects of leadership related to the foundational competencies and questions to advance collaborative action within your library and across your institution. Workshops are held virtually once every four weeks.
Site Visits
Site visits immerse you into the workings of leadership across BLC’s member institutions. You’ll gain deep, authentic exposure to leadership journeys through small-group conversations about the contexts, approaches, successes and challenges facing leaders at all levels. Alongside your Pod, you will analyze and reflect upon how host institutions demonstrate and practice the foundational competencies explored throughout BLC Leads. Each Pod will visit two BLC member institutions in July and October, respectively. BLC invites external participants to join the two in-person site visits. To help minimize travel expenses, BLC may arrange an alternative site visit on a date adjacent to the in-person Leadership Institute and/or Fellows’ Summit for external participants.
Fellows' Summit
At the conclusion of the program, you’ll come together with your cohort at the Fellows’ Summit to reflect, share ideas, set intentions, and develop a personal development plan to continue your leadership journey. You’ll have an opportunity to put into practice the full range of foundational leadership competencies through individualized exercises, discussions, and workshops. The Fellows’ Summit is held in-person at a BLC member institution November 16 - 18, 2027.
“The BLC Leads experience has been transformative for me. [...] The opportunity to connect with colleagues in the region has been really fun. I've gained valuable insights into my personal leadership style that are already helping me on my leadership journey.”
“Excellently curated and supported curriculum. This experience has absolutely assisted in my development as a leader.”
“I wasn't sure who I was as a leader or where to go as a leader when we began. I'm so happy to report that I now know much more about who I am as a leader and where I'd like to go with it.”
About You
BLC Leads serves mid-level library professionals who aspire to scale their leadership responsibilities or grow their leadership skills within their current position. You should apply if...
- You identify as a leader and seek to develop your leadership toolkit
- You love creating the conditions that foster deeper modes of collaboration
- You are excited by the challenge of building intentional processes in the many big and little decisions in the workplace
- You are curious to explore how others practice leadership and reflect on your own leadership journey
- You seek to bring out the best in yourself, your cohort, and your colleagues by building spaces of trust, connection, and shared growth
Program Fees
The 2027 BLC Leads program fee for BLC member institutions is $3,850. The program fee for non-BLC institutions is $5,100.
The program fee for BLC Leads includes lodging and meals during program activities. The program fee does not include travel to and from the program locations.
BLC is committed to making BLC Leads accessible to all BLC member institutions, fostering a diverse community of leaders irrespective of their financial capacities. Recognizing that some institutions may encounter challenges in covering the full cost, the BLC Leads Fund was established to reduce the program fee for those who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program.
Our Selection Process
Applications for the BLC Leads 2027 program will open on December 1, 2026.
Applicants must submit both an application in addition to the Statement of Support from the dean/director/university librarian (or equivalent) at your institution (see more information about the Statement of Support below). If you are an applicant external to BLC, please refer to the Statement of Support Form (Non-BLC Institution). Applications and Statements of Support must be submitted online by Monday, February 1, 2027.
Decisions are made by a committee of senior library leaders across BLC's member institutions. Decisions will be announced on March 1, 2027.
You can view PDF versions of the Application, Statement of Support for BLC Member Institutions, and Statement of Support for Non-BLC Member Institutions to aid in application preparation.
Statement of Support
In order to be considered for the 2027 BLC Leads Fellowship, BLC must receive a Statement of Institutional Support from your Director, Dean, or University Librarian (or equivalent). This Statement of Institutional Support should be submitted by your Director, Dean, or University Librarian (or equivalent) on or before February 1, 2027.
Please submit a request for support to your Director, Dean, or University Librarian (or equivalent) right away, so that they will have ample time to prepare this piece of your application package. It is helpful to share why you are interested in the program and what benefits you hope to gain through your participation.
In addition to seeking institutional support, you are encouraged to discuss your participation in BLC Leads with your supervisor(s) ahead of applying. It is important to make sure that you will be able to engage in the weekly requirements.
Who can I turn to with questions about my application materials? Reach out to Cate Harriman, BLC Program Manager, Learning and Development, at charriman@blc.org with any questions.
Interested in learning more?
Information Session: BLC Leads 2027
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 10 - 10:45 am ET
Interested in growing your leadership skills and expanding your professional network? Join us for a virtual information session to learn more about BLC Leads 2027, BLC's signature six-month leadership development program for mid-level library professionals.
BLC Leads is designed for library professionals who aspire to take on greater leadership responsibilities or strengthen their leadership skills within their current roles. Open to professionals from both BLC member and non-member institutions, the program emphasizes collaborative learning, leadership identity development, and exposure to diverse leadership journeys and approaches.
During this information session, you will learn about the program's goals, structure, and curriculum. You’ll also gain insights into the time commitment, program fees, and application and selection process. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and determine whether BLC Leads is the right next step in your leadership development journey.
BLC Leads is open to all, including those outside of BLC member institutions. If you’re interested, we encourage you to register for this info session and learn more.
Register for BLC Leads 2027 Information Session
Register for Taking the Next Step in Your Leadership Journey: BLC Leads Alumni Perspectives
Taking the Next Step in Your Leadership Journey: BLC Leads Alumni Perspectives
Friday, November 13, 2026 | 11 am - 12 pm ET
Join a panel of BLC Leads alumni for a candid conversation about BLC’s signature leadership development program and what to expect as a Fellow.
Hear firsthand perspectives on the program experience, structure, and time commitment as well as the leadership skills, professional growth, and connections gained along the way. Panelists will reflect on their experiences and how they have applied their learning beyond the program. These alumni will also offer insights to help prospective applicants craft a compelling application and work with their institutions to receive a strong Statement of Support.
Whether you're ready to apply or still exploring whether BLC Leads is the right fit for you, this session offers an opportunity to ask questions, gain valuable insights, and prepare for the 2027 application cycle.
Our History
Since 2017, the BLC Leads program has equipped mid-level library professionals who aspire to scale their leadership responsibilities or grow their leadership skills within their current position. Upon completion, Fellows find continued support through a sustained community of alumni and a lifelong professional network of colleagues. Past Fellows have emerged as effective leaders at all levels of the academic and research library enterprise – as Deans, Associate University Librarians, and division heads at BLC member institutions and beyond.
In 2022, BLC Leads was redesigned based on a comprehensive review, building on our strengths to center peer-to-peer support and maximize opportunities to embed emerging leaders in the diversity of individual and organizational leadership journeys arrayed across BLC’s member institutions.
Past Fellows
including positions held during their BLC Leads experience
2025
Jennifer Chaput Data Services Coordinator, UMass Amherst
Adam Cassell Liaison Librarian, UMass Boston
Amanda Matava Digital Archivist, Trinity College
Brooke Williams Research & Student Success Librarian, Northeastern University
Emily Lorenzen Senior Circulation and Services Coordinator, Bentley University
Jamie Rogers Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives, Florida International University
Jennifer Snow Director of Information & Instruction Services, University of Vermont
Karen Gorss Benko Catalog and Metadata Librarian, Williams College
Karen Walton Morse Director, University Archives & Special Collections, University of Rhode Island
Katharine Elkes Business & Patent/Trademark Librarian, Howard University
Kimberly Forero-Arnías Head of the Digital Design Studio, Tufts University
Leea Stroia Head Librarian, Instruction Services, Boston College
Maria Bernier Avery Point Campus LibraryDirector, UConn
Megan St. Lawrence Library Assistant V, Wesleyan University
Meghan Bailey Librarian IV, Processing Archivist, UMass Boston
Molly Dupere Resource Sharing Librarian, Northeastern University
Mona Ramonetti Interim Associate Dean for Library Digital Services, Stony Brook University
Natalie Granados Conservator, UConn
Tim Lepczyk Head Librarian, Systems and Applications, Boston College
Tracey Stoddard Circulation & Reserves Specialist, University of New Hampshire
Victoria Rossetti Education and Clinical Services Librarian, UMass Chan
2024
Abby Walsh Head Librarian, Social Work Library, Boston College
Alissa Link Cilfone Head, STEM and Entrepreneurship, Northeastern University
Amanda Fairchild Library Assistant/Electronic & Continuing Resources, Wesleyan University
Amanda Izenstark Professor, Reference & Instructional Design Librarian, University of Rhode Island
Amy Harrell Head of Collections, Research, and Instruction, Trinity College
Andrea Schuler Head of Open Scholarship & Research Data, Tufts University
Bela Gupta Associate Librarian, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Dominique Couturier Head of User Services, Boston University
Ellen Silbermann Head of Recruitment & Staff Programs, University of Connecticut
Emily Aylward Manager of Access Services, Connecticut College
Jennifer M. Eustis Metadata Librarian, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Jessica Holden Reference Archivist, University of Massachusetts Boston
Laura M. O'Brien Assistant Director for Research Services, Wellesley College
Lauren Movlai Reference & Instruction Librarian III, University of Massachusetts Boston
Liz Bodian Metadata Systems Librarian, Brandeis University
Lynne Stahl Humanities & Interdisciplinary Studies Librarian, Wesleyan University
Rob Walsh Waterbury Campus Library Director, University of Connecticut
Samantha Porter Scholarly Communications Librarian, MBLWHOI
Stacy Maubourquette Resources and Licensing Manager, Northeastern University
Christine Powers Library Resource Sharing Manager, University of New Hampshire
2023
Viral Amin Reference Librarian for Electronic Resources, Bentley University
Daisy Benson Library Instruction Coordinator, University of Vermont
Kathleen Berry Head, Information Resources Management, UMass Amherst
Paul Bridden Head of Access Services, Boston College
Mary Calo Manager of Public Services, Brandeis University
Heather Castle Library Manager, UNH
Amber De Angelis Research Services Team Leader, BPL
Jason Di Resta Art History & Visual Arts Librarian, Wesleyan University
Ann Marie Dyer Shafer Library Desks Service Manager, UMass Boston
Rebecca Gerber Electronic Resources Librarian, UMass Chan
Tess Grynoch Research Data & Scholarly Communications Librarian, UMass Chan
Marc Hoffeditz Library Coordinator, Tufts University
Anne Jorgensen Manager of Access Services, Bentley University
Anna Kijas Head, Lilly Music Library, Tufts University
Sonia Pacheco Social Sciences Librarian, UMass Dartmouth
Sara Pike Electronic Resources Librarian, UMass Dartmouth
Debbie Roth Repository Manager, MBLWHOI
Gabe Stetson Coordinator of Digital Curriculum Reserve & Media, UMass Amherst
Karen Tatarka Director, UConn Hartford Library, UConn
Andrew Weidner Head Librarian, Digital Production Services, Boston College
Melina Zavala Digital Asset Coordinator, Wesleyan University
2020
Thea Atwood Data Services Librarian, UMass Amherst
Francesca Baird Digital Projects Librarian, Wesleyan University
Kirill Batyuk Systems Librarian, MBLWHOI
Phara Bayonne Library Director, UConn-Stamford
Yueqing Chen Head of Library Systems & Discovery Services, UMass Boston
Isabel Espinal Humanities Research Services Librarian, UMass Amherst
Angelica Ferria Media Curator, URI
Sally Gore Manager, Research & Scholarly Communications Services, UMass Chan
Roxann Harvey Library Coordinator, UMass Boston
Terra Kalleymen Electronic Resource Acquisition Librarian, Boston College
Heather Klish Senior Systems Librarian, Tufts University
Teresa Maceira Head of Reference, Outreach, & Instruction, UMass Boston
Erika McNeil Head, Interlibrary Services, UConn
Sarah Melton Head, Digital Scholarship, Boston College
Amanda Nelson University Archivist, Wesleyan University
Amanda Rust Associate Director for Services, Digital Scholarship Group, Northeastern University
Emery Shriver Reference & Web Development Librarian, Williams College
Aimee Slater Academic Outreach Librarian for Government Information & Social Sciences, Brandeis University
Sarah Theimer Cataloging & Metadata Head, UNH
Gwen Verkuilen-Chevalier Head of Acquisitions, Tufts University
2018
Khara Leon Head of Administrative Services, UConn
Stephen Tracey Manager of Reference Services, Bentley University
Andrew Elder Interim University Archivist and Curator of Special Collections, UMass Boston
Sarah Hunter Electronic Inventory Manager, Boston University
Jane Natches Assistant Librarian for E-Resources and Serials, Tufts University
Martha Meacham Associate Director, NNLM, UMass Chan
Jennifer Friedman Head of Research Services, UMass Amherst
Tom Hohenstein Head, STEM and Entrepreneurship, Northeastern University
Vivian Okyere Department Manager Library Operations, UMass Chan
Jessica Kilham Head of Education and Clinical Services, UMass Chan
Kathleen Berger Assistant Head of Information Services, Boston University
Amy F. Brown Head of Special Collections Technical Services, Boston College
Young Joo Moon Head Librarian of Resource Acquisition and Management, Boston College
Annie Harrison Strategic Communications and Marketing Specialist, Brandeis University
Kathrine C. Aydelott Division Head, Research and Learning Services, UNH
Sarah Hutton Head of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Services, UMass Amherst
Erica Schattle Team Lead, Science and Engineering, Tufts University
2017
Marisol Ramos Publishing Services, Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian, UConn
Jason Bernard Associate Director of Academic Technology, Business and Economics Librarian, Brandeis University
Breac Krash Head of Information Resources Management, UMass Amherst
Kari Mofford Undergraduate and User Services Librarian, UMass Dartmouth
Martha Kelehan Head of Scholarly Communications and Collections, Tufts University
Peter Larsen Physical Sciences and Engineering Librarian, URI
Rebecca Reznik-Zellen Head, Science and Engineering Library, UMass Amherst
Elizabeth Post Head Librarian, Digital Library Program, Boston College
Eleta Exline Scholarly Communication Librarian, UNH
Amy Braitsch Head Archivist, Boston College
Gayane Karen Merguerian User Engagement and Assessment Librarian, Northeastern University
Marci Cohen Assistant Head, Music Library, Boston University
Steve Smith Head of Collection Development, Boston University
Surella E. Seelig Archives and Special Collections Outreach Librarian, Brandeis University
Marianne Siener Staff Accountant, UMass Chan
Questions?
Use the form below to reach out to Cate Harriman, BLC's Program Manager for Learning and Development