Welcome to My Web Site
Deborah M. LaFond is Social Sciences Subject Librarian for the Departments of Psychology, Africana Studies, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and the Department of Educational Counseling & Psychology (School of Education) at the University at Albany, SUNY. As liaison for these departments, she is responsible for collection development, instruction, and research process assistance to students and faculty affiliated with these departments. She works on the University's Main Library Reference Desk and develops a variety of discipline specific guides which take into account interdisciplinary studies.
Prior to her joining the University Libraries at the University at Albany, Ms. LaFond received her M.L.I.S. from the University of California at Berkeley and served as reference librarian at the Doe and Moffitt Libraries for 10 years. She worked as Associate Director at the California School of Professional Psychology (Alameda, CA) for 3 years and also worked at MPR Associates for 3 years (Berkeley, CA).
A research leave in Kenya and South Africa (2001) afforded interaction with African colleagues in higher education. While there she interviewed academic librarians and researched the state of libraries in African higher education, public/private models, and partnerships and practices which support African knowledge creation and production. This is documented in a published essay on library capacity building in Africa. During her stay, she also investigated how to wage information campaigns to address gender aspects of HIV/AIDS and AIDS prevention in Africa and became a UN Delegate at the 2001 UN AIDS Summit. She was a volunteer for the campus based Save Africa From AIDS campaign, and member of the U Albany Consortium on Africa and the Globalization Studies faculty planning committee.
Ms. LaFond had a sabbatical in the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015, to engage in research on curriculum innovation incorporating her transformative learning research. She co-taught and re-designed two educational psychology courses with colleagues from the division incorporating Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITLAL) workshops, sustainability in education research, transformative learning theory/methods and approaches to indigenous perspectives on child development. Ms. LaFond continues to be active in curriculum innovation projects and a campus diversity transformation project collaborating with and featuring UAlbany faculty in pedagogy and racial justice workshops. She is coordinator of the collaborative transformation group who together with co-sponsors, offered a 2015-16 campus speaker's series and several workshops to promote broader dialogic activity and methods to address diversity transformation within classrooms and on the campus and support the integration of diversity transformation across the campus.
Professional Activities
Ms. LaFond attends a variety of relevant subject specific professional conferences:
Deborah's service includes hosting the Justice Studies Association Conference at UAlbany, June 1-3, 2016 and as chair of the Social Justice Awards Committee, researched nominations, invited awardees and created presentation space for awardees at the awardscemermonies.
She was co-chair of the American Library Association - ACRL/ALA Women's Studies Instruction Committee and member of the Women’s Studies Section of ALA. From 2006-2010, she was a member of the ALA Africa Subcommittee of the ALA International Relations Committee (IRC).
She continues to be active in the African Studies Association (ASA) since 1996. She was Vice Chair and Chair of the Africana Librarians Council (ALC) from 2009-2011. From 2009-2012, Ms. LaFond became Co-Convenor of the ASA Women's Caucus to support and co-lead the 2010-2011 conference activities. She continues on the Caucus Steering Committee as past convenor. In 2010, Ms. LaFond, in collaboration with other ASA colleagues, successfully proposed several ASA panels and speakers focusing upon the intersections between African women, food, land reform, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. Speakers who addressed food sovereignty, paths articulating the necessity for commons versus "enclosure" were highlighted at the conference. This contributed to the adoption of food and land reform for panels the following years. Most recently she was a member of the 2011 ASA Conference Planning Committee and Selector of papers and panels for the "Gender and Women" conference section. She continues her comittment to the Africana Librarians Council (ALC) and the ALC Gretchen Walsh Book Donation Committee. Ms. LaFond, Chaired the University at Albany Library Faculty (2011-2012) and was previously Secretary for the library faculty (2010-2011) as well as Secretary of the United University Professions local chapter (2012-13).
Research
As part of her own pedagogical inquiry and research she investigates learning and curriculum models which address structural and perceived barriers to learning and success in the higher education process. Ms. LaFond endeavors to promote diversity and inclusion within the libraries and on the campus.
Her research looks critically at collection development practices with the goal of developing positive models and strategies to promote scholarship of diverse experience, particularly the study and expression of historically marginalized persons and groups. She is interested in developing tools to encourage and assess the transformative power of diversity within organizations and within the curricula.
Her research continues to investigate higher education's potential and actual cross-disciplinary approaches toward -- learning how to be more geo-consciously aware as individuals and as global social actors, to co-create informed and supportive relationships for a biodiverse and sustainable planet.
Earned Degrees
9/87 - 12/90 M.L.I.S. (Master of Library and Information Studies)
Concentrations: Reference Service, Africana and Near Eastern Studies
University of California, Berkeley
9/80 - 8/85 Bachelor of Arts, History
Minors: Women’s Studies, Foreign Languages
Department of History scholarship. 9/81 - 8/82
Boise State University. Boise, Idaho
Sabbatical 9/06 - 6/07 (Master of Arts, Culture and Spirituality)
Concentrations: Cultural studies, Geo-conscious relationship, consciousness studies, bio-regional study design, sustainability in globalization studies, eco-feminism, intercultural co-creative counseling/witness methods, dance movement therapy, Art and embodied pedagogical practice, transformative curriculum models.
Holy Names University, Oakland, CA
Publications
LaFond, Deborah M. and Gretchen Walsh. Editors. Research, Reference Services, and Resources for the Study of Africa. New York: Haworth Press, 2004.
LaFond, Deborah M. Reading and Connecting Visual Texts Through Art and Artifact: Course Integrated Information Literacy Lesson Plan. IN Empowering Students Hands-on and Minds-on Library Instruction Activities. Edited by Carol Anne Germaine and Deborah F. Bernnard. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 2004.
Refereed Articles
Fuller-Thompson, E., Agbeyaka, S., LaFond, D., Bern-Klug, M. (2016). Flourishing After Depression: Factors Associated with Achieving Complete Mental Health Among Those With a History of Depression. Psychiatry Research,(242), 111-120. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.041
LaFond, Deborah M. "Library Capacity Building in Africa or the Exportation of Technolust?: Discerning Partnership Models and Revitalization Efforts in the Age of Globalization." The Reference Librarian, 87/88 (2004): 209-272.
LaFond, Deborah M., Mary K. Van Ullen, and Richard Irving. “Diversity in Collection Development: Comparing Access Strategies to Alternative Press Periodicals,” College and Research Libraries, 61.2 (2000): 136-144.
Van Ullen, Mary K. and Deborah M. LaFond. “Promoting European Union Depository Collections in the United States Through Bibliographic Instruction,” Journal of Government Information, 27.3 (2000): 1-19.
Selected Conference Presentations
LaFond, Deborah M. "How well do Information Literacy Frameworks Encourage Critical Feminist Questions and Excavations of Untold or Buried Stories?" Engaging with the Information Literacy Framework, Conference Poster, University at Albany, March 10, 2016.
LaFond, Deborah M. "Course Design and Curriculum Innovation: Incorporating Sustainability within Educational Psychology"
Anti-Oppression and Transformative Praxis: Sharing Classroom Strategies, Considering Curriculum Innovation" Conference Continuing Critical Conversations Through Transformative Teaching and Learning, January 29th, 2016. University at Albany
LaFond, Deborah M. and Stephanie Kaylor. "Rape Culture, Title IX and Campus Sexual Assault Policies: Feminist Information Literacy Frameworks to Support Faculty and Student Discernment," Capital District Feminist Conference, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), January 22, 2016.
LaFond, Deborah M. "Critical Literacies and Interdisciplinary Partnerships: The Necessity for Imagination, Visions of Justice, Equity, Transformative Learning, and Sustainable Futures within Pre-service Teacher Training and Educational Psychology," Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA. Justice Studies Association, Conference Theme - "Justice/Injustice, Complexities of Race", May 28, 2015.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Deborah Chapin. "Growing Culturally Relevant Curriculum: Examining Disparity and Envisioning Healthy, Equitable Sustainable Futures Envisioning Just, Equitable Sustainable Futures," Earth Day: the 5th annual Earth and Wellness Day, Office of Sustainability, University at Albany Lecture Center, April 23, 2015.
LaFond, Deborah M., "Interrupting and De-Colonizing Education Pedagogy: Introducing Indigenous Perspectives on 'child development' to Pre-service Teachers," New York African Studies Association (NYASA), Union College, Schenectady, New York, April 3, 2015.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Deborah Chapin. "Confronting Erasure and Dominant Culture's Hold on Curriculum: Teaching Intercultural Praxis and Critical Literacies in Preservice Teacher Training -- to Transform "deficit construction" and Move Toward Envisioning Just, Equitable, "Sustainable Futures", Transformative Learning Conference, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, March 27, 2015.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Deborah Chapin. "Critical Alliances: Examining Transformative Learning & Teaching Outcomes in Educational Psychology," Poster. 3RD Annual Capital District Feminist Studies Conference, University at Albany, Campus Center. January 30, 2015.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Mary K. Van Ullen. “Making Connections to Course Content With Information Literacy, Two Approaches.” Conference on Instructional Technologies. State University of New York, Potsdam. May 30, 2003.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Karen L. Starr. “Finding and Interpreting Historical Threads and Patterns through Archival Research.” Invited Lecture, Underground Railroad: Movement and Context. annual conference. College of St. Rose, Albany, New York. February 22, 2003.
LaFond, Deborah M. “Library Capacity Building in Africa.”African Studies Association Annual Meeting, Africa in the Information and Technology Age. Washington, D.C., December 6, 2002
LaFond, Deborah M., Mary K. Van Ullen, and Richard Irving. “The Electronic Library: Implications for Accessing Alternative-Press Periodicals.” Invited speakers, Eastern New York Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries Fall conference, University at Albany, Albany, New York, October 22, 2001.
LaFond, Deborah M., Mary K. Van Ullen, and Richard Irving. “Diversity in Collection Development: Comparing Access Strategies to Alternative-Press Periodicals.” Invited speakers, Capital District Librarian’s Council fall conference, Albany, New York, November 6, 2000.
LaFond, Deborah M. and Marcia Hernandez. “Educating Global Citizens: Faculty Partnerships in Critical Thinking--Teaching Race, Gender and Class,” Race, Gender, Class in Undergraduate and Graduate Education section, American Sociological Association annual conference. Washington, D.C., August 15, 2000.
LaFond, Deborah M. “The Angel Craze and Dime-Store Theologies: Rendering Meaning to the Masses through Media,” National Women’s Studies Association annual conference, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, June 16, 2000.
LaFond, Deborah M. “Using Feminist Pedagogy to Teach about Classism, Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism,” Using Interactive Learning, Intensive Writing, and Computer Technology to Teach about Inequality panel, National Women’s Studies Association annual conference, Oswego, New York, June 11, 1998.
Awards
Recipient of the Diversity Transformation Award, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University at Albany, July 2015.
Recipient of the Initiatives for Women, Research Award, July 2015.
Recipient of the Dr. Nuala McGann Drescher Diversity Affirmative Action Leave Award, Spring 2001. State of New York/United University Professions. To Tour selected African libraries; interview librarians at the Library of Congress (Nairobi Office) and at academic libraries in Kenya and South Africa.
Exhibitions, Public Conference or Symposia Coordination
Continuing Critical Conversations Through Transformative Teaching and Learning 2015 - 2016 Diversity Transformation Speaker Series and Pedagogy Workshops, Projects between 2015-16. Program Coordinator.
AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA: AGENTS FOR CHANGE An Interdisciplinary Conference The Consortium on Africa, University at Albany Friday March 24th, 2006 SUNY Albany Campus Center Ballroom, Program Coordinator, Deborah M. LaFond.
LaFond, Deborah M., Gerald Burke, and Brenda Hazard. “Threads of Scholarship: History and Storytelling in African-American Quilts.” University at Albany Libraries’ 2-Millionth-Volume Celebration. Permanent Exhibit, University Library Periodicals Room. Symposium, May 3, 2001. University Library, University at Albany.
LaFond, Deborah M., Anthony Howell, and Karen L. Starr.(co-curators) “Know Thy Family, Know Thyself: Piecing Together the Past Through Oral Histories, Archival Research and African Slave Naming Practices.” Exhibit, Science Library Lobby, University at Albany, March 28 – May 10, 2002.
LaFond, Deborah M., Donald R. Juedes, Rosemary Hennessy, and Vivien Ng. “Seeing Women Transnationally” (Campus video and discussion series). University at Albany, 1997-1998.
Artistic Engagement and Training
New York Expressive Arts, Certificate Program II, Graduate, Albany, NY (2009 - 2011)
Somatic Movement Therapy, Martha Eddy, NY City (2007 - 2008)
Interplay Instruction, Center for Nia and Yoga, Albany New York
InterPlay Leader I training, InterPlayce, Oakland California (2006-2007)
Point Zero Art, Michelle Cassou, Marin, California (Fall 2006-June 2007)
Capacitar Trauma Reduction and Wellness Education (Summer 2006)
Authentic Movement, with Susan Bauer, Oakland, CA (2007)
Moving On Center, School for Participatory Arts and Somatic Research, Oakland California, “The Improvisational Mind” (2007)
Tamalpa Institute, Marin, CA (Workshops - September 2006)
Piccolo Teatro di Pontedera, (Study Tour) Pontedera, Italy (1978)
Modern Dance and Ballet, University of Wisconsin-Madison, (1976-77)
Apprentice, The Wisconsin Mime Company, Valley Studio, Spring Green Wisconsin, (1973-1975) (Pantomime, Movement, Mask Making, Theater, Dance, Corporeal Mime)
Pantomime, Barbara Leigh, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (1973)
LunaRythms Feminist Theater, Milwaukee Wisconsin (1971-1972)
African Dance, Theater, Language, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (1970-72)
Instruction Web Pages
Global Citizenship Through a Race, Gender, Class Lens
Threads of Scholarship:History and Storytelling in African American Quilts and bibliography
| University Libraries (518) 442-3599 [email protected] |
University at Albany State University of New York 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222 |
I participate and volunteer in the following professional association and community projects:
- National Women's Studies Association, Librarian's Task Force
- Africana Librarians Council of the African Studies Association
- ASA/ALC Gretchen Walsh Book Donation Award Committee
- African Studies Association (ASA) Women's Caucus
- Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc.