Isabel Espinal, Ph.D., M.L.I.S.
Research Guides * ScholarWorks * ORCID * Google Scholar * Zotero
Research Services Librarian for Afro American Studies, Latin American, Caribbean & Latinx Studies, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. | Editor at Latinx Talk. | Writer and Speaker who aims to engage, inspire and connect. | Scholar of equity in libraries, and Dominican and Latinx Studies. | Leader in organizations, strategies and thinking.
Photo credit: Lucía Solórzano
Also:
STRIDE Faculty Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Scholarly Writing Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Mentor to librarians and aspiring librarians.
Translator of Dominican writers Yrene Santos and Marianela Medrano
Member and former President of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.
Member of the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM).
Some passions:
I love to teach and to learn. I love making connections — beween people and collections and between people with each other. I love bringing attention to Dominican women writers like Yrene Santos, Nelly Rosario, Josefina Báez & Marianela Medrano. I love the look of fascination on the faces of folks when they learn about these transcendent artists and their ideas and experiences and artistry.
Photo credit: Priscilla Page
Some nice feedback about a recent speaking engagement:
“I’m so grateful for the insight you shared and the conversations that took place. I hope more folx continue to discover your critical scholarship on whiteness in the library profession and the ways in which we can address BIPOC representation.”
Photo credit: Lucía Solórzano
Some nice feedback on a recent research consultation:
“This was perfect…exactly the blend of history and theory that I needed. Thank you for taking a vague query and turning it into a precisely answered question!”
Photo credit: Carol Connare
Some nice recent feedback about my scholarly work:
“I am a Costa Rican scholar who was browsing the net and found your dissertation. Estoy tan sorprendida, me encanta. I love how … you… use action research and feminist methodologies … I just wanted to say that I am reading your dissertation with such pleasure and enthusiasm.”
Photo credit: Alvin Whaley
