CLIR is delighted to announce that Shaneé Yvette Willis will join CLIR as the new Senior Program Officer for DLF, beginning September 2, 2025.
With over 14 years of experience in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector, Shaneé brings a dynamic combination of leadership in community engagement, digital strategy, and cultural heritage programming. She most recently served as Program Manager at the HBCU Library Alliance, where she led strategic initiatives across 90+ member libraries and championed collaborative resource-sharing and accessibility.
Throughout her career, Shaneé has advanced digital transformation and inclusion within national networks such as the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and in academic settings like the University of West Georgia, where she was both Assistant Professor and University Archivist. Her award-winning leadership has been recognized with honors including the Library Journal’s Mover and Shaker Award in 2021 and Faculty Member of the Year in 2018.
In her new role at CLIR, Shaneé will provide strategic leadership and vision for the Digital Library Federation, aligning DLF’s work with CLIR’s broader mission to enhance research, learning, social justice, and the public good through digital library technologies. She will oversee the development and implementation of DLF program initiatives and events, including the annual DLF Forum, and foster a strong sense of community through active engagement with DLF members, working groups, and partners.
Shaneé Willis brings to DLF and CLIR the exceptional insight and experience of someone who has built communities and successfully applied their collective agency to the most complex challenges of our era. The timing could not be better: with phenomena like AI touching on so many aspects of our professional life, her acumen and leadership skills will help guide a steady, informed exploration of ideas and practices that will define our future.
“Shaneé Willis brings to DLF and CLIR the exceptional insight and experience of someone who has built communities and successfully applied their collective agency to the most complex challenges of our era. The timing could not be better: with phenomena like AI touching on so many aspects of our professional life, her acumen and leadership skills will help guide a steady, informed exploration of ideas and practices that will define our future.”
— Charles Henry, President, CLIR
“Stepping into the Senior Program Officer role for DLF is a natural extension of my commitment to community stewardship and digital transformation,” said Shaneé Willis. “I am particularly excited to contribute to CLIR’s collaborative culture where innovation thrives and to support the growth of our colleagues across the field, especially in light of the challenges we face today.”
—Shaneé Willis
Shaneé holds an MLS from North Carolina Central University, an MDiv from Drew Theological School, and a BA in Religion and Philosophy from Bethune-Cookman University. She is also a graduate of the Archives Leadership Institute and holds certifications in grant writing and nonprofit management.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Shaneé to CLIR and the DLF community!
