PASCAL News

Women’s History Month Spotlight on Leaders in the PASCAL Community: Shannon Jones

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration recognizing the history and achievements of women. In honor of Women’s History Month, PASCAL is highlighting some of the remarkable women leaders in our community. We are pleased to share spotlights of six leaders who all play a vital role at their institutions, in the PASCAL Community, the library profession, and beyond.

Shannon Jones (she/her) is the Director of Libraries for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.  Shannon is also Director for Region 2 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine headquartered at MUSC. Prior to her arrival at MUSC, Shannon worked as the Associate Director for Research and Education for Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Shannon focuses her research on staff recruitment and retention, diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries, and leadership in academic health sciences libraries. In 2018, Shannon co-founded the MLA Reads Virtual Book Discussion Club with the goal of providing a forum where participants can learn, discuss, and process the implications of a variety of DEI topics on their work as information professionals and in their personal lives. Shannon is the co-editor of Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success. She holds an MLS from North Carolina Central University and an M.Ed. in Adult Learning from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D in Educational Leadership at Charleston Southern University.

Tell us about another woman working in the field of libraries and information science who you admire:
An information professional who I admire is Kelsa Bartley, Education and Outreach Librarian, University of Miami Libraries. She is a rising star in the health sciences librarianship who leads with class and grace. She sees and values the beauty in everyone she encounters. I admire her for having a heart for service, a collaborative spirit, and a fun-loving attitude. Her professional hustle inspires me to bring my best self to our collaborations.   

Hobbies & interests:
My main hobby is serving as troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 263 in Berkeley County.
 

PASCAL’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee would like to thank Shannon and all the outstanding women leaders who have shared a glimpse into their careers and lives. There are, of course, many more great women in the PASCAL community. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Women’s History Month by taking a moment to recognize – and thank – the female leaders in your library.