Mid-Symposium Plenary — 2023

Critical Race Theory and Critical Pedagogy Librarianship: Intersections, Explorations, and Practice*
Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 2:30pm – 4:00pm EST

Plenary slides / Resources & Links / View the plenary recording HERE


Jamillah R. Gabriel (she/her)
Critical Pedagogy Research Librarian
Harvard Graduate School of Education

Jamillah R. Gabriel is Critical Pedagogy Research Librarian in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and a PhD student in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research includes the interrogation of issues that lie at the nexus of race and information and their impact on Black people, and the examination of criticality in library and information science research, teaching, and practice. She is also co-host of LibVoices, a podcast that interviews BIPOC librarians and archivists about their experiences in librarianship.

Robin Gee (they/them)
Critical Pedagogy & Equity Librarian 
Cornell University 

Robin Gee is the Critical Pedagogy & Equity Librarian at Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University. They hold a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Bachelor of Arts in Web Design & Development from Edgewood College, and an Associate in Arts in Graphic Design & Illustration from Madison Area Technical College. They have written and presented on trans and gender-nonconforming experiences in libraries, and they teach classes on using multimedia, including podcasting, filmmaking, and zines, in disseminating research. Their research interests include critical data literacy, queer theory, and library services to first generation college students.

Tova Johnson, M.P.H., M.A., M.L.I.S. (she/her)
Critical Pedagogy and Research Librarian
Oregon Health & Science University

Tova Johnson, MPH, MA, MLIS is the Critical Pedagogy and Research Librarian at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. She has previously worked for William & Mary Libraries and the Williamsburg Regional Library in Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition to Critical Pedagogy, her interests include critical librarianship, DEIA in libraries, and health equity.

Symphony Bruce (she/her)
Critical Pedagogy Librarian 
NYU Division of Libraries

Symphony Bruce is the Critical Pedagogy Librarian at NYU Division of Libraries. Largely influenced by her time as a high school English teacher, Symphony believes deeply in the power of relationships and care in the ability to create powerful learning experiences for students and instructors alike. In the classroom, her favorite lessons include critical evaluations of authority and information ecosystems and is developing an interest in digital privacy and anti-surveillance. She earned her MLIS from the University of Missouri in 2017.

*[This plenary will be recorded live.]