Greetings Colleagues, Today I'm celebrating the HBCU Library Alliance community of mentors! Through our Leadership Institutes, mentors have been trained to provide a support network for emerging library leaders on individual campuses and within the network of leadership in the HBCU library community. As an added benefit, the training also enabled mentors to strengthen leadership skills and coaching on their own campuses. I'm PLEASED and EXCITED to report that primary mentors and a mentor consultant have been recruited for the Wayne State University "Increasing Leadership Diversity" project. As you know, the goals of this project are to recruit, mentor, and deliver an online MLIS degree to 10 students from underrepresented groups in order to achieve greater diversity among practicing library professionals. Recruitment efforts will be extended particularly to undergraduates currently attending HBCU institutions and library paraprofessionals currently employed by HBCU libraries. Primary mentors are: 1. Mary Jo Fayoyin, Savannah State University (GA) 2. Marilyn Gibbs, Claflin University (SC) 3. Jean B. Greene, Hinds Community College, Utica (MS) 4. Carolyn Hart, Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) 5. Mantra Henderson, Mississippi Valley State University 6. Cotina Jones, North Carolina Central University 7. LaVerne McLaughlin, Albany State University (GA) 8. Shatiqua Mosby, Southern University at New Orleans (LA) 9. Teresa Ojezua, Philander Smith College (AR) 10. Monika Rhue, Johnson C. Smith University (NC) Marvelyn Thomas, HR Director, Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library, served as Mentor Consultant for the Phase IV Leadership Institute. She will provide training and support to mentors in this project. Thanks to everyone who contacted me regarding the mentoring component and to those who promptly responded to my request to serve. I am honored to share this journey with you. Respectfully, Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.