Shamella Cromartie, MLS, is Associate Dean for Hunter Library at Western Carolina University. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University’s Master of Library Science program and has worked in public and academic libraries. She began her college career and professional library career with community colleges and continues to believe in the values and experience of community colleges. Currently, her work emphasizes strategic planning, public relations and diversity, equity, and inclusion in library services. Her research agenda focuses on the library’s role in social justice and equity, as well as, equity in education. Cromartie takes a special interest in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations to the library profession and was honored by the Roundtable on Ethnic Minority Concerns of the North Carolina Library Association, as a Roadbuilder’s Award Winner for Academic Librarianship for exemplifying courage, integrity, and perseverance in the field of librarianship. In addition to a Masters in Library Science, Cromartie holds bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Carolina University.