Esther De Leon Statement

Esther De Leon
Nominee for REFORMA Chapter Representative - Central Region


Esther De Leon picture
My name is Esther Medina De León, an Associate Librarian for College of Media and Communication and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Texas Tech University Libraries. I have been a member of REFORMA on and off for the past 9 years, and an active paid member for the past 2 plus years. I have served, most recently, on the programming subcommittee, and in the past in the mentorship committee – as a committee member and as a mentor. I have been in libraries for approximately 23 years, with the last 7 years as an academic librarian. I have experience in leadership roles at the university and in my community. My most current leadership work include creating and leading the University Libraries’ Diversity Committee, sponsoring and advising the student organization Unidos por un Mismo Idioma and Tech KPOP Club, cofounding and receiving a grant for the Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group, being a member of the Mexican American & Latina/o Studies Working Group, and am a Leaders Engaged in Advancing Diversity, L.E.A.D., fellow for the TTU’s Office of Diversity, Equity. My curriculum vitae provides further evidence of leadership roles and work.  As chapter representative, I aim to build upon existing local chapters, gaining more members and member participation, aiding to create new local chapters in areas not currently represented, and to further promote literacy and librarianship for Spanish speaking communities by creating spaces for the community to learn and understand the cultures that are represented.