Presenter: Dr. Le Yang, Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian, University of Oregon 

Dr. Le Yang currently serves as the Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian for Collections, Discovery, and Digital Strategy at the University of Oregon Libraries. He is recognized for his international experience and global perspective, which significantly influence his leadership and strategic vision for academic and research libraries. Yang has led transformative initiatives within academic libraries, aligning them with interdisciplinary fields, open science, prospective trends, and the diverse faculty and student populations across international contexts. Yang holds a Ph.D. in Library Science with a specialization in cross-border data governance from Wuhan University. His research interests include digital librarianship, AI applications on open repositories, and open science. Yang disseminates his research findings through conferences and journals and serves as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for multiple Library and Information Science journals and conferences. Yang’s most recent publications include articles on AI and RAG applications in digital repositories, a book on digital library development across different countries, and a book about data science and reproducibility. Yang has received many awards and recognitions from professional associations and institutions. The most recent recognitions he has received include the ARL Fellow, the ASIS&T Leadership Award, the BTAA Leadership Fellow, and the Fulbright Award. 

Henian E, University Librarian, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo 

Henian E earned master’s degrees from universities in China, the U.K., and Canada. A veteran of higher education, he has built several academic libraries from scratch and is the author or translator of multiple books and articles on distance learning and university-library management. In late August 2016 he became University Librarian at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), turning his blueprint for a world-class research library into day-to-day reality. Under his guidance SUSTech Library was admitted to the Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance—only the tenth mainland-Chinese institution to join—and ranked No. 1 in Shanghai Ranking’s Chinese University Student Satisfaction Survey for library services three years in a row (2022–2024). Since March 2024 he has served as University Librarian at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, where his project “Building, Managing, and Operating a Top-Tier University Library” was selected for the 2024 Yongjiang Talent Program. 

Shilei Yan, Deputy University Librarian, Macau University of Science and Technology 

YAN Shilei, Deputy University Librarian of Macau University of Science and Technology, has long been dedicated in the management and services of academic library and information science in the context of Sino-foreign and international environment. He successively worked at Wenzhou University and Wenzhou-Kean University focusing on international collaboration of higher education and library establishment. He was also involved in International Admission, the Registrar’s and served as the assistant to the VCAA.

Sian Brannon, University of North Texas Libraries 

Sian Brannon, University Librarian and Vice Provost at the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, has worked in academic and public libraries since the 1990s, and is an adjunct professor for Technical Services and Research Methods courses. Sian serves on multiple ALA and ACRL committees and journal editorial boards, and she maintains an ongoing record of scholarship with peer-reviewed publications and presentations on topics such as assessment, management, and collection development.    

Abigail DiPaolo, Rutgers University Libraries 

Abigail DiPaolo serves as the Senior Executive Director of Administration and Technology at Rutgers University Libraries, a position she has held for 13 years. With a career in higher education spanning back to 2003, Abbey leads a broad portfolio that includes oversight of a $52M+ budget, financial operations, and a $16M+ collection acquisitions program. Her responsibilities also encompass fulfillment coordination, information technology, application development, web services, facilities management, and shipping logistics.

Shelly McCoy, University of Delaware Library 

Shelly McCoy is the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Space Planning at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. This is Shelly's 27th year at Delaware, where she has progressed through the Librarian and management ranks, and has been grateful for the opportunity to be the point person for many library renovations, including her current $9.2M renovation of Special Collections. Shelly is a leader in change management with experience in Library communications, development, assessment, public services, space planning and safety/disaster response.

L. Angie Ohler, University of Minnesota Libraries 

Lila Angeline (Angie) Ohler is Associate University Librarian for Collections and Content Strategy at the University of Minnesota Libraries and Past President of ALA’s Core Division. A nationally recognized library leader, she brings over two decades of experience advancing research libraries through digital transformation, collaborative innovation, and strategic leadership. Her scholarship focuses on change management, library futures, and leadership in transition. 

Laurie Taylor, University of Connecticut Library 

Laurie Taylor is the Associate University Librarian for Collections & Discovery at the University of Connecticut Library. She provides leadership and strategy for Acquisitions & Discovery, Archives & Special Collections, Collections Strategies, Digital Imaging & Conservation, Connecticut Digital Archive, Digital Solutions, and Technology Strategies. Previously, she held library leadership positions at the University of Florida and the Digital Library of the Caribbean. She holds an MA and PhD in English/Digital Humanities, MS in Information, has published extensively, including co-editing Liberatory Librarianship (2024). She has been recognized with various awards including the 2018 Caribbean Information Professional of the Year by the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL).