Association of Research Libraries’ 2026 DEI Institute to Be Held at Rutgers University Libraries

Rutgers University Libraries will be the site and a co-host of the Association of Research Libraries’ 2026 DEI Institute. The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of research libraries in Canada and the U.S. ARL Institutes are designed to meet the needs of ARL member representatives, senior leaders, and the broader community for a concentrated period on timely topics.

The ARL DEI Institute aims to increase the capacity of participants to effect positive change with and within their respective communities through the acquisition and application of specific knowledge, awareness, and skills related to DEI, organizational development, and leadership.

“Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is an undertaking of paramount importance for academic and research libraries,” said Consuella Askew, Rutgers’ vice president for university libraries and university librarian. “Rutgers University Libraries is deeply committed to this work, and we are delighted to further the broader conversation by co-hosting the 2026 ARL DEI Institute.”

Other co-hosts for the 2026 ARL DEI Institute at Rutgers University Libraries are Kean University: Nancy Thompson Learning Commons, Montclair State University Libraries, New Jersey Institute of Technology Library, Penn State University Libraries, and Seton Hall University Libraries.

“The Nancy Thompson Learning Commons at Kean University is honored to co-host the 2026 ARL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institute,” said Muhammad Hassan, executive director of the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons (NTLC) at Kean University. “This collaboration highlights our commitment to fostering critical dialogues and advancing meaningful DEI initiatives within the academic and research communities.”

Danianne Mizzy, Montclair State University dean of Libraries, said, “Montclair State University Libraries are honored to co-sponsor the 2026 ARL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institute. This event serves as a critical platform to foster meaningful change. We believe in the power of academic libraries to advance DEI initiatives for their universities and communities, and we look forward to welcoming colleagues to New Jersey for a productive and inspiring experience.”

“The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Library is honored and pleased to serve as a co-host for ARL’s 2026 DEI Institute with colleagues from our institutional partners, Rutgers University Libraries, Montclair State University, Kean University, Seton Hall University, and Penn State University Libraries,” said Ann Hoang, NJIT university librarian. “Participating in a cohort of academic libraries working together to effect positive change in diversity, equity, and inclusion in our communities is exhilarating. We look forward to welcoming participants with inspirational and motivational experiences to share and learn from one another, providing a unique opportunity for growth and learning.”

“Penn State University Libraries is excited to join other academic and research libraries to co-sponsor the second ARL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institute. Supporting this critical learning experience aligns well with our institutional values and priorities, both within the Libraries and the University,” said Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, Penn State.

“Seton Hall University Libraries is excited to be a part of this program to advance DEI work in the tri-state area,” said John Buschman, dean of University Libraries and associate provost for Research and Innovation, Seton Hall University. “The ARL DEI Institute in 2026 will provide meaningful DEI collaboration among NJ colleges and universities.”

The ARL DEI Institute is supported by an Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program implementation grant (RE-254925-OLS-23). The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums.