MLA Rising Stars

The MLA Rising Star program has been developed to give members the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics needed to  become a leader in MLA.  The yearly leadership development program matches each Rising Star with a mentor in a curriculum that includes:

• Monthly classes led by MLA member leaders.
• Experiences and training to develop self-awareness of skills and dispositions as a leader.
• Opportunities to discuss, reflect upon, and apply concepts from classic leadership texts.
• Opportunities to gain a comprehensive, intimate view of all aspects of MLA, from Board meetings to MLA history, with a focus on strategic planning.
• Individualized projects that contribute materially to improving MLA.
• Structured exercises to give and receive the gift of effective feedback.
• Structured exercises to gain skills in effective and persuasive communication.
• Guidance in finding and working with a career mentor.

Rising Star Criteria

• The applicant must be a MLA member throughout the duration of the program.
• The applicant is considered ineligible if they have held a national level MLA position as chair of a committee, jury, or task force; elected officer of a section; or have served on the MLA Board of Directors.
• The applicant must have attended at least one national MLA annual meeting.
• The applicant must have demonstrated interest and commitment to professional service through participation in activities or conferences related to medical librarianship.

Rising Star Program Requirements

• To fully participate in the one year program, complete all assignments, and participate in 10-12 virtual meetings (90 minutes each).
• An estimated time commitment of 8-12 hours per month.
• Attendance at MLA'19 in Chicago, IL to meet program members and fellow Rising Stars is encouraged, but optional.
  
• Attendance at MLA'20 in Portland, OR to present your achievements is required.
  
• The recipient assumes all costs of attending the annual meetings (funding may be available to arrive early to the MLA Annual Meeting, if Rising Stars present their work to the Board of Directors).

Rising Star Applications

• Online application form, including all supporting documentation, must be completed no later than November 1. 
• A brief (one page) personal statement describing the applicant’s background, previous professional service, goals for MLA involvement, how applicant would benefit from the program, and potentially contribute to the group’s learning;
• A current curriculum vitae or resume;
• A letter of support from the applicant’s library director indicating support for time to participate in all aspects of the program and attendance at the annual meetings;
• A current photo for promotional purposes.  Uploaded to applicant's MLA profile or attached to application. (optional)

The recipients will be notified in March before the annual meeting at which the project announcements will be made.  If there are no appropriate applicants, the association may elect not to run the program in a given year.

Ready to Submit an Application for the Program?

• Choose the 2019 MLA Rising Stars online application form. 
• Complete online form and uploaded documents no later than November 1, 11:59 p.m. (CT). 
• Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered. 

Rising Stars Leadership Team, 2018-19

Program Director, Linné Girouard, AHIP

Project Director, Elizabeth Hinton, AHIP

Assessment Director, Emily Hurst, AHIP

Education & Management Curriculum Committee Chair, Gail Kouame

MLA Education Director, Barry Grant

Rising Stars

2018-2019

• Rising Star: Alexandria Leigh Brackett, AHIP 
  Mentor: Kristine Alpi, AHIP
• Rising Star: Rachel Helbing, AHIP
  Mentor: Neville Prendergast
• Rising Star: Liz Kellermeyer
  Mentor: Rikke Ogawa, AHIP
• Rising Star:Terry Kit Selfe, AHIP 
  Mentor: Michael Kronenfeld, AHIP, FMLA

2017-2018

• Rising Star: Rachel Keiko Stark, AHIP 
  Mentor: Gail Yokote, AHIP, FMLA
• Rising Star: Laura Menard
  Mentor: Michael Kronenfeld, AHIP, FMLA
• Rising Star: Hanna Lee Schmillen
  Mentor: Ruth Holst, AHIP, FMLA
• Rising Star: Nicole Theis-Mahon
  Mentor: Derek Halling, AHIP

2016–2017

• Rising Star: Phill Jo 
  Mentor: Linné Girouard, AHIP
• Rising Star: Rachel Charlotte Lerner
  Mentor: Karen Liljequist, AHIP
• Rising Star: Tony Nguyen, AHIP
  Mentor: April Schweikhard, AHIP
• Rising Star: Gregg A. Stevens, AHIP
  Mentor: Michael Kronenfeld, AHIP, FMLA

2014–2015

• Rising Star: Roy Eugene Brown, AHIP
  Mentor: Helen-Ann Brown Epstein, AHIP and the Hospital Libraries Section leadership team
  Project: Hospital Libraries Section VALUES@ Initiative
• Rising Star: Lisa Huang
  Mentor: Laurie L. Thompson, AHIP, FMLA
  Project: MLANews Feasibility Study
• Rising Star: April Joy Schweikhard
  Mentor: Angela Dixon, AHIP
  Project: Chapter Council Roundtables
• Rising Star: Debra Werner
  Mentor: Linné Girouard and Linda Hasman
  Project: Public Policy Toolkit for Members, Sections, and Chapters

2012–2013

2012–2013 MLA Rising Stars were hosted by MLA Board of Directors.

• Rising Star: Heather L. Brown
  Mentor: Julia Shaw-Kokot, AHIP
  Project: Work with a Chapter Council team to implement recommendations for interactive web features in the communications plan drafted by 2010 Rising Star Karen L. Hanus, AHIP.
• Rising Star: Elizabeth V. Fine [Weinburger]
  Mentor: Diane G. Cooper, AHIP
  Project: Work with the Federal Libraries Section web committee to evaluate the section's website.
• Rising Star: Rolando Garcia-Milian
  Mentor: Mary Riordan, AHIP
  Project: Work with the Awards Committee to increase the number of nominations for MLA awards.
• Rising Star: Kristi L. Holmes
  Mentor: Jerry Perry, AHIP
  Project: Serve on and work with the Task Force on MATE. 
• Rising Star: Annabelle Nunez
  Mentor: Nancy Allee, AHIP
  Project: Work with the Leadership and Management Section's New Members/Emerging Leaders Survey Project,

Reports

• Heather Brown: Reflections on the MLA Rising Stars Program
• Elizabeth Fine Weinburger: Assessment of the Federal Libraries Section Website, Participation in the 2012–2013 Rising Stars Program
• Annabelle Nunez: Association Value and Planning Survey Project | Poster

2010–2011

Host: MLA Board of Directors

• Rising Star: Karen Hanus
  Mentor: Julia Shaw-Kokot
  Project: Communications Plan for Chapter Council
• Rising Star: Emily Hurst
  Mentor: Connie Schardt
  Project: Evaluate CORE Toolbox
• Rising Star: Bob Johnson
  Mentor: Rikke Ogawa
  Project: Assist in planning section programs for MLA '11
• Rising Star: Rex Robison
  Mentor: Julia Kochi
  Project: Review MLA benchmarking program and recommend ways to use data more effectively

Reports

• Summary Report, MLA '11 Open Forum on Emerging Leaders
• Karen Hanus: "Reflections on my experience as a Rising Star"
• Karen Hanus: Communication Plan for Chapter Council
• Emily Hurst: MLA CORE Toolbox Assessment & Recommendations
• Rex Robison: Benchmarking interviews report: "Tracking Trends in Hospital Libraries" (please contact via email for copy of report)

Have a question? Contact MLA's awards coordinator.