UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Emily Reed, reference and instruction librarian at the Madlyn L. Hanes Library at Penn State Harrisburg, received the 2024 Advancing a Global Penn State: Early Career Faculty Award from Penn State Global. Reed was honored at an awards ceremony held March 21 in Robb Hall in the Hintz Family Alumni Center at University Park.
The Early Career Faculty Award is one of eight awards presented annually by Penn State Global to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and academic units across the University, including the Commonwealth Campuses, that have helped to advance Penn State’s global engagement goals.
The Early Career Faculty Award recognizes the vision and skills of an early career (up to five years of service at any Penn State campus) tenure-earning faculty member who has demonstrated consistent and exemplary leadership in research, scholarship or instruction to advance the University’s global work. This includes emphasis on innovative international research projects, excellence in global scholarship, curricular and experiential leadership and any of the Penn State Strategic Plan Foundations.
In her time at Penn State, Reed has worked tirelessly to enhance the strategic foundations of Advancing Inclusion, Equity and Diversity; and Enhancing Global Engagement. The award acknowledges her work in promoting diversity and global understanding through her many activities in librarianship, service and research.
“‘Equitable access’ is a phrase Emily uses often, as it is an idea that guides her work and forms a consistent and prominent theme that links her activities,” said a nominator. “Emily’s pedagogy reflects inclusive practices such as addressing social issues in her presentations on database searching, and using anonymous polling to allow students to feel safe to ask questions. The theme of social equity also feeds into her research and service activities.”
As the international student outreach coordinator and the library’s liaison to the International Students Office (ISO) at Penn State Harrisburg, Reed works to promote library and information literacy through the development of programs and partnerships.
“Emily provides outreach and promotes the library through various events, including the international student orientation and special programs,” her nominator wrote. “She collaborated with other campus librarians to develop an International Student Welcome Guide that is hosted on the University Libraries website. She also worked with other librarians to pilot the Personal Librarian Program for international students, which provides updates about library resources, events and services to this population. These activities are a wonderful example of student engagement that provides a valuable anchor between the library and our international students. Emily’s work has had a positive impact on the lives of international students at Penn State.”
“I am truly humbled to receive this award,” said Reed. “Penn State Harrisburg hosts one of the largest international student populations across Penn State. It is an honor to work with our international students, who bring joy and diverse perspectives to the campus.”
Penn State Global provides support and oversight for all of Penn State's international engagements through managing education abroad programs, hosting international students and scholars and facilitating the University’s many international partnerships around the world.