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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) announced today that Kevin D. Strowder has been selected to lead the organization’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services. His first day will be Monday, June 21.

An experienced nonprofit professional with more than a decade of leading and designing programs to promote diversity metrics and uphold inclusive practices, Strowder will take leadership of an office with three focus areas – diversity, literacy and outreach services to underserved populations – that manages prominent programs, initiative, awards, and relationships that support equity and inclusion through a lens of social justice.

Strowder comes to ¾«¶«´«Ã½from Embarc Chicago, an organization that serves low-income high school students and prepares them for college and career success, where he served as senior program manager, climate and culture. His previous position includes work with Chicago Cares, the Center on Halsted, and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

He earned a B.A. in Industrial Psychology from Lakeland University and an M.A. in Organizational Development from Roosevelt University.

Special thanks to the selection committee: Martin Garnar, director of the library, Amherst College, Massachusetts; Valerie Bell, director, Athens Regional Library System, Georgia; Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director, ¾«¶«´«Ã½Office for Intellectual Freedom; Aimee Strittmatter, executive director, Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA; Lorelle Swader, Associate Executive Director (AED), ¾«¶«´«Ã½Offices & Member Relations and interim AED, Human Resources & Organizational Development; and Melissa Walling, director, ¾«¶«´«Ã½Member Relations & Services.