Kenna Barrett, Assistant Dean and CDO, University Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Adriene Lim, Dean of Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park
Some institutions have mature development shops with seamlessly integrated library philanthropy. And then, there’s the rest of us! No matter where your institution is on its fundraising journey, you can create the ecosystem for positive donor conversations and position your library as helping tackle the world’s greatest challenges. With a blend of theoretical concepts and practical wisdom, UMD Dean of Libraries Adriene Lim and CDO Kenna Barrett discuss communicating your value to donors and making the most of their feedback. We share the “icebreak-inquire-inspire” model of sparking conversation with people different from you (e.g., donors). We discuss how positionality affects how all of us operate, e.g., as a BIPOC lesbian in white-dominated, primarily heterosexual situations (Lim) and a white woman (Barrett) who specializes in engagement strategies for introverts. Participants will have the opportunity to hone their talking points in a safe, fun environment!
Speaker Bios:
Kenna Barrett is Assistant Dean and CDO of University Libraries for the University of Maryland, where she leads all aspects of library development. Over her 25-year fundraising career, Kenna has raised millions of dollars in all types of organizations, from start-ups to world-class universities. Kenna also teaches fundraising at Sacred Heart University and is a regular presenter on topics such as “Making the Ask” for Introverts, the Science of Schmoozing, and more. Through her coaching practice, Kenna works with self-identified introverts and others to navigate philanthropic communication. Kenna graduated from Wellesley College, the University of California-San Diego, and the University of Rhode Island. Her essays have appeared in Bethesda Beat, Fairygodboss, Introvert, Dear, NonProfit PRO, and elsewhere.
Adriene Lim, PhD, MLIS, is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and serves as the co-leader of UMD PACT, a cross-campus group convened to advance sustainable, equitable scholarly publishing, facilitate open research, and promote open education at UMD. Prior to joining the University of Maryland in late 2019, Lim was Dean of Libraries and Philip H. Knight Chair at the University of Oregon. In addition to being active in the Association of Research Libraries and the Association of College and Research Libraries, Lim serves as Chair of the University of Maryland Affiliated Institutions consortium and was elected to serve as American Library Association (ALA) Councilor-at-Large, 2022-2025. She also currently serves on the boards of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) and the Academic Preservation Trust. Lim earned her Ph.D. in library and information science at Simmons University and her MLIS at Wayne State University. She has published numerous articles and book chapters, and given presentations about managerial leadership, the future of libraries, technology, diversity, and other topics at the international and national levels.