The Friends of SMU Libraries convened on May 6, 2024, for their Annual Dinner and Meeting. The Friends hosted author and journalist Rena Pederson, who served on the Pulitzer Prize Board for nine years and as the Vice President and Editorial Page Editor of the Dallas Morning News for sixteen. Also during the meeting, the Friends board announced new grants and scholarships awarded. The Grants Committee oversaw the grant approval process, meeting on April 30 to review grant proposals submitted by the libraries. President Kortney Nelson chaired the committee, which also included Stephanie Amsel, Jo Goyne, Nancy Miller and Paul Santa Cruz, as well as ex-officio members Amy Carver and Cindy Ruppi.
The Grants Committee was pleased to award a total of $49,700 on behalf of the Friends of SMU Libraries. The Friends awarded the following grants and scholarships:
- $25,000 to the SMU Libraries Internship program.
- $5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
- $5,000 to the DeGolyer Library for the purchase of photographs of minorities in the West.
- $4,000 to the William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support the ongoing student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts, for the 2024–2025 academic year.
- $3,300 to Hamon Arts Library for a directional speaker system.
- $2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for exhibition and programming expenses for the 2024–2025 academic year.
- $900 to the Duda Family Business Library for teaching supplies for experiential learning and gamification sessions.
- $2,000 to SMU Libraries to support two SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This year’s recipients are Lillian Nelson and Pavani Palla. (Nominations for this award can be made here.)
- $2,000 to SMU Libraries to support the Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship. This year’s recipient is Shruthi Hemasundar.
Pictured: The Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library; SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Award Recipients; The G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library.
In addition to approving these awards, the Friends approved the following slate of officers and new members for the 2024–2025 year:
- Diana Blackman – President
- Janis Knott – Vice President
- Nancy Miller – Secretary
- Brynn Price – New Board Member
- Jeanne Slay – New Board Member
- Wendy Whaley – New Board Member
- Anne Wittel – New Board Member
Since its founding, the Friends of SMU Libraries has been committed to helping the Libraries maintain excellence, funding over $1,000,000 in library materials, books, electronic resources, equipment, and services. The Friends board looks forward to continuing this tradition in the coming year!
For information about joining the Friends of SMU Libraries, please contact Brynn Price at brynnp@smu.edu.