The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has appointed Linh Nguyen as director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Linh currently leads collaborative projects that strengthen institutional equity efforts and foster a culture of belonging as the manager of Student Equity Initiatives at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Linh is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion with nearly a decade of experience driving systemic change in higher education. Born to Vietnamese refugees and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Linh brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her work, grounded in the power of storytelling as a tool for connection, advocacy, and transformation. Her experience in student affairs has spanned program development, policy design, and cross-campus collaborations that support historically marginalized communities, including first-generation, IBPOC, LGBTQ+, and student-parent populations. She has also assisted in securing and managing state and federal grants to fund initiatives that remove systemic barriers and expand access to resources. Linh completed her EdD at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where her dissertation explored the lived experiences of second-generation Vietnamese refugees/immigrants in higher education.
As part of the ARL staff and in consultation with the Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Linh will be responsible for actively contributing to the design, delivery, and assessment of all of ARL’s Leadership & Transformation programs, which include four cohort programs as well as various in-person events (such as meetings, institutes, conferences); providing tools and resources to advance the Association’s DEI and Learning goals; and operationalizing efforts to actualize and measure the Association’s impact related to DEI.
“We’re all very excited to welcome Linh to the team,” said Andrew K. Pace, ARL executive director. “Her experience, effectiveness, facilitation skills, and higher education background will be invaluable to the ARL membership, especially at a time when our values are being challenged.”
“Linh is joining an already incredibly talented staff at ARL, strengthening the team while reinforcing ARL’s commitment to creating a future for research libraries that empowers ARL member libraries to transform themselves and the profession,” said Faye A. Chadwell, ARL DEI Committee chair and dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications at Penn State. “Linh brings excellent experience advancing equity in higher education, and enthusiasm runs deep for partnering with her to achieve ARL’s vision of a trusted, inclusive, research ecosystem.”
“I’m excited to join the Association of Research Libraries as the new director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” said Linh Nguyen. “This role offers the opportunity to build on my experience by working with member libraries to strengthen access, representation, and belonging across research and learning environments. I’m inspired by ARL’s commitment to living its values—even in challenging times—and I look forward to partnering with colleagues and members to advance more equitable systems for generations to come.”
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit membership organization of research libraries and archives in major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in Canada and the US. ARL champions research libraries and archives, develops visionary leaders, and shapes policy for the equitable advancement of knowledge.
