Mandissa Arlain

Mandissa Arlain serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor and Visiting Social Sciences Librarian at the University Library, University of Illinois. Her professional profile is deeply rooted in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within academic library settings, with a focus on anti-racism initiatives and support for vulnerable populations.

Her research spans critical areas of library science, particularly:

• Developing anti-racism resources and frameworks for academic libraries
• Creating effective recruitment and retention strategies for diverse library staff
• Designing sustainable self-service technology lending models to enhance student access
• Addressing systemic racism in higher education institutions through taskforce reports and community engagement

Analysis of her publication record from 2010 to 2020 reveals a consistent trajectory toward social justice in library services. Her work combines practical library management with critical race theory, producing actionable resources for the profession. Notable contributions include the development of anti-racism toolkits and evidence-based strategies for building inclusive library workplaces.

Dr. Arlain actively participates in national and international collaborations, currently contributing to the Criminal Justice Firsts Project (2024-present) and previously serving on the Toronto Metropolitan University Taskforce on Anti-Racism (2010) and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries' EDI Working Group. These engagements demonstrate her commitment to systemic change in academic and library communities.