We’re thrilled to welcome Andrew Denny, ’23 to the team! As the college’s new AI Innovation Fellow, Andrew will help to demystify Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and foster critical engagement with AI for pedagogy, research, and other academic endeavors. Working with partners in Technology & Innovation and the Library, he will proactively support faculty who are involved in the college’s AI Innovation Initiative.

Andrew is a 2023 graduate of Davidson College. While he calls Williamsburg, Virginia his home, he has also lived in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Japan, and most recently, Taiwan. During his freshman year at Davidson, Andrew was initially undecided about his academic path. However, the liberal arts curriculum allowed him to explore a broad range of subjects, ultimately leading him to discover a passion for both Computer Science and Chinese Studies. This unique combination sparked his curiosity about the intersection between computers and language, particularly how computers can comprehend and produce human language. Andrew’s growing interest in this field has brought him back to Davidson as the AI Innovation Fellow.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys running and watching sports. He is an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club and can often be found watching their matches on the weekends. During the work week, you can find Andrew in the library’s Scholars Studio or over at T&I on Main Street. If you see him, please take a moment to welcome him back to campus!

Michael is a 2024 graduate of Davidson College from Atlanta, Georgia. An English major with a focus on creative-nonfiction, Michael’s writing focuses on his experience in the Asian diaspora, which has left him fascinated with language’s ability to obscure and redefine. Combined with his time serving as a co-chair of Davidson’s Student Initiative for Academic Diversity (SIAD), Michael’s work led him to take on the Library Studio Fellow position where he helps to supervise the student Library Consultants and Research Assistants. Michael also assists in the continual development of training content for the student program to help further develop roles for the future. Aside from work, Michael can almost always be found listening to music and is an avid runner, camper, and photographer.

Nasir, who is originally from Miami, FL, graduated from Davidson College in May ’24 with a B.A. in Sociology. On campus, he was a Bonner Scholar, Resident Advisor, and President of the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. At the end of his senior year, he was awarded the Agnes Sentelle Brown Award at Spring 2024 Convocation, a Leadership in Service Award at Davidson College’s annual Celebration of Service, and a Visionary Award at the Black Student Coalition’s Excellence of Onyx: Black Senior Achievement. Some of Nasir’s favorite memories from his senior year include the time he spent with his “Little”, Cadence, at Cornelius Elementary, planning and hosting a free book fair at the Ada Jenkins Center that celebrated Black authors and Black youth literature; playing a solo Djembe piece titled “Djembe Djam” at the Celebration of Service; and composing staple Djembe rhythms to be used during Harambee, a morning session in which scholars sing and cheer to get excited for a day of learning at the Brenda H. Tapia Children Defense Fund Freedom Schools.

Davidson friends, stop by the library’s Scholars Studio and say hello to our wonderful new colleagues. We’re so glad you’ve joined us, Michael and Nas!

Kelsey Nation comes to us from Forsyth Technical Community College where she most recently served as Library Technical Services Specialist. With over eight years of experience in library services, Kelsey has excelled in roles that include cataloging, interlibrary loan, circulation, shelf reading, and community programming. Before her current position, she worked as a Library Technician at Forsyth and a Library Associate at the City of Greensboro’s Benjamin Branch Library, where she led adult programming and facilitated literary workshops. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is pursuing a Master of Education in Academic Librarianship from East Carolina University. Her commitment to community engagement is further reflected in her volunteer work, including facilitating the Bards Unbound Poetry Workshop and participating in literary festivals.

We’re so excited to have Kelsey on board! You can find Kelsey back in the ILL area of the library. Stop by and say hello (and share a favorite poem if you have one!) the next time you are on campus.

Our new Digital Humanities Librarian, Leah Duncan, will join us from Louisiana State University Library’s Special Collections, where she served as Digital Engagement and Educational Services Librarian. Leah, who also holds a PhD in English, was recently awarded LSU’s Early Career Librarian Award, which “recognizes an LSU Libraries faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishment in the LSU Libraries through initiative, creativity, and the ability to make a significant contribution to the Libraries.” Highlights from Leah’s tenure include serving as the Chair of the Louisiana Digital Consortium and as the co-editor of the Journal of Critical Digital Librarianship.

Emily Sartorius Murphy will join us as Davidson’s new Media Creation and Curation Librarian. Most recently, Emily served as Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s I-Know Instructional Design Librarian, where she spearheaded her library’s digital information literacy quality enhancement program (the I-Know program). Emily, who holds a teaching degree from Grand Valley State University and her MLIS from University of Michigan, demonstrates a commitment to using technology and information literacy to amplify marginalized voices and lower barriers to access. Emily brings a wealth of experience in creating asynchronous content and assessment–especially video–that will immediately contribute to the library’s teaching and learning initiatives.

Leah and Emily are joining the library at an exciting time in our history as we enter into our Library Transformation project. You’ll find our talented new colleagues in the library beginning May 20, 2024. We hope you’ll stop by and say hello!