Congratulations, Cybele!

The SJSU ALASC is thrilled to learn that Cybele Kohel, one of our classmates and a fellow student leader with SJSU REFORMA, has been selected to participate in the ALA’s Emerging Leaders Program for 2023! 

When we emailed our congratulations, Cybele admitted the announcement was unexpected. “When I filled out the forms I just thought I’d be a long shot,” she told us. “I imagine they get quite a lot of applications. So I feel really grateful to be included.”

The leadership development program connects early career library workers from across the country in problem-solving work groups and peer networks. Participants are granted a look into ALA structure as well as greater opportunities to quickly become leaders in the profession through ALA committee volunteerism and participation in other professional LIS organizations.

The LIS field would be lucky to have an SJSU superstar rise to a leadership position where she can make the most change for her library’s patrons and community. A trained mediator, capacity builder, and consensus-based facilitator, Cybele sees herself in a library setting that “relies heavily on patron outreach as part of its core work, possibly in a public or academic setting.”

For her, it’s all about inviting patrons in, creating the spaces they need, and designing programs with patrons as partners. “Really that aspect of librarianship– outreach– is needed in most library settings,” she says.

Until she can actively make decisions alongside her future communities, Cybele looks forward to engaging in the Emerging Leaders program and connecting with a diverse team of professionals at her first LibLearnX and ALA Annual Conference.

Good luck, Cybele! We can’t wait to see what you do.

Learn more about the Emerging Leaders program and follow the ALA on Facebook to find out when the next cohort will open for applications!