ARSL Leadership Institute Celebrates Graduating Cohort

November 14, 2025 – The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) celebrates the graduation of its second cohort from the ARSL Leadership Institute. This transformative program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), was designed to develop the next generation of leaders in rural and small libraries across North America.

Leadership Institute Photo taken during the 2025 ARSL Conference

Leadership Institute participants at 2025 ARSL Conference

The 2024-25 cohort, who proudly named themselves "The Happy Salmon Squad: The School of Cool," comprises 30 library professionals from communities spanning the United States and Canada. These graduates represent the heart of rural librarianship, coming from towns as diverse as Butte Falls, Oregon; Virden, Manitoba; and Pawnee, Oklahoma.

"The 2025 ARSL Conference has come to a close, but our future library leaders have just begun," said Kathy Zappitello, Lead Instructor for the Institute. "I am so proud of my students and the collaborative work that was accomplished within their professional vocational community, as well as the community from which they come. Great minds, positive steps forward, and an energy that will carry us in rural and small America into the future. I simply can't wait to see what they do next. Thank you, cohort, and thank you, ARSL and IMLS, for the opportunity to strengthen the community."

A Program Born from Necessity

The ARSL Leadership Institute was created to address a critical gap in professional development. According to the most recent Public Libraries Survey data published by the IMLS, more than three-quarters of libraries nationwide can be considered either small or rural, and nearly half report having no staff who have earned a Master’s in Library and Information Science degree. With the average employee in one of these small, rural libraries1 earning a salary of just over $42,000 in 2023, access to graduate-level education and leadership training continues to be out of reach for many. The Leadership Institute provides a tailored learning program designed to address the unique needs of rural libraries that is accessible to the professionals who need it most. 

The Institute provided participants with:

  • Immersive in-person cohort-building experiences
  • Participatory online workshops with field experts
  • Individual leadership projects applying learning to real-world challenges
  • Mentorship from established library leaders
  • Two ARSL Conference experiences, including presentation opportunities

During the 2025 ARSL Conference, Institute participants showcased their work through posters focused on educational librarianship resources, programs, and advocacy, demonstrating the practical impact of their leadership development.

Jessie Ansari: You Are Here  

Jane Gagne: Law for LibrariansRebecca Shelton: Growing Together

A Bittersweet Farewell

This graduation marks both a celebration and a conclusion. If funding is identified and secured, the Institute may continue in the future.

"Completing our second successful pilot of the ARSL Leadership Institute is bittersweet. We're incredibly proud of the 30 graduates who will carry forward the leadership skills and networks they've built," said Kate Laughlin, ARSL Executive Director. "The impact of this cohort will ripple through rural communities for years to come."

The 2024-25 Cohort

The Happy Salmon Squad includes:
Abi Avery (Covert, MI) • Andrea Eckerson (East Helena, MT) • Brian Kendall (Dardanelle, AR) • Brooke Bourgeois (St. Louis, MS) • Charlie Oribio (Dayton, WA) • Cayde Copeland (Belpre, OH) • Danielle Payton Herriman (Okotoks, AB, Canada) • Emily Nicole Ott (St. Marys, OH) • Erin Colleen Coughlin (Ankeny, IA) • Jane Catherine Gagne (Suffolk, VA) • Jean I Markert (La Conner, WA) • Jessie Rose Ansari (Nederland, CO) • Kim Deshazor Matthews (Danville, VA) • Kristy Miller Smith (Scottdale, PA) • Laranda Dawn Bailey (Virden, MB, Canada) • Maddie Tedford Sharpe (Devils Lake, ND) • Manny Pasillas Jr (Winnsboro, TX) • Maggie Moore (Chillicothe, MO) • Melissa A. Beaulieu (Wells River, VT) • Melissa Joy Duncan (Columbus, MS) • Miriam Adrianne Sisson (Drain, OR) • Nancy Ramirez (Le Mars, IA) • Rachel Lunden (Burlington, WA) • Rebecca Shelton (Lexington, SC) • Ruth DeSouza Wilson (Pawnee, OK) • Sammie Betler (Dunnville, KY) • Sara Kathryn Newell (Effingham, NH) • Sean Everette Gantt (Dolores, CO) • Shone M. Ellis (Butte Falls, OR) • Tanner Dominick Ames (Winnemucca, NV)

The graduation ceremony on November 14, 2025, will feature remarks from program leaders, mentors, ARSL Board leadership, and special guests including Dr. Kawanna Bright and Shamichael Hallman who will offer words of encouragement to the graduates.

About ARSL
ARSL builds strong communities through advocacy, professional development, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed to providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this important constituency.

Media Contact: Ainsley Nobara, ARSL Communications Director | [email protected]

1 A rural library is generally defined as a library located at least five miles from an urbanized area. A small library is a library with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less. Libraries included in these calculations may meet one or both of these benchmarks. 

Issued November 2025 by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)