Camille Thomas, a graduate student at Florida State University’s School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS), Florida’s iSchool, was recently selected as a fellow by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Career Enhancement Program.

Thomas, a Master of Science in Library & Information Studies (MLIS) student, was one of 14 individuals selected to participate in the competitive fellowship program in 2014.

“We are excited to have such an excellent and committed student as Camille Thomas represent us as one of only 14 fellows nationally to participate in this competitive program,” Dr. Kathleen Burnett, Interim Director of SLIS, said.  “I know that Camille will make the most of this terrific opportunity, and will benefit from the opportunity to intern at an ARL member library under the mentorship of a professional librarian.”

“Camille came to SLIS with an impressive undergraduate record of leadership, research and writing activities,” Dr. Richard Urban, an assistant professor at SLIS, said.  “She’s now bringing that energy and inquisitiveness to her work at SLIS.  All these qualities make her an excellent choice for the ARL CEP Fellowship.”

The Career Enhancement Program (CEP), funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ARL member libraries, gives MLIS students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups an opportunity to jump-start their careers in research libraries by providing a robust fellowship experience that includes an internship in an ARL member library.

CEP reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse research library community that will better meet the challenges of changing demographics in higher education and other research institutions and the emphasis on global perspectives in the academy.

“I am very excited and grateful to have been selected for such an enriching opportunity,” Thomas said. “I am also happy to be representing FSU’s iSchool in the program. I know that the ARL fellowship will be a fantastic supplement to my education and I may not have applied if it was not for the support of faculty.”

The program includes four main components: a six- to twelve-week internship experience in an ARL library, mentoring by a professional librarian at the host institution, participation in the ARL Leadership Symposium and career placement assistance. The host institutions for the 2014 internships are: University of Arizona; University of California, San Diego; University of Kentucky; University of Michigan; National Library of Medicine; North Carolina State University; and University of Washington.

Read more about the Master of Science in Library & Information Studies program at SLIS:
http://slis.fsu.edu/academics/graduate/mslis/