Isi Patterson

Background

About Isi Patterson

My path to librarianship has always been rooted in justice. I care deeply about challenging the systems that shape who has access to knowledge, whose voices are centered, and who feels safe enough to learn, ask questions, and belong.I believe libraries are more than repositories of information. They are places where equity work happens. Through critical pedagogy, community care, and research justice, I strive to make academic spaces more humane, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of those historically excluded from them.I am earning dual Master’s degrees in Library & Information Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and earned my Master's in Sociology from UNC-Greensboro. This interdisciplinary background helps me bring both theory and lived experience into my work. I have facilitated youth-led restorative justice circles, led narrative-based research on youth development, and supported students through the emotional and intellectual challenges of research. I have also designed programs and outreach that center voice, belonging, and accessibility.My work lives at the intersection of education, liberation, and community. I am especially passionate about- Supporting students as whole people and nurturing critical thinking- Creating safer and affirming spaces for teens, BIPOC students, and LGBTQ+ learners- Identifying and challenging adultism and other systemic barriers in library policy- Using digital storytelling and outreach to uplift community voices and collective memoryI am building a career in academic librarianship where equity is not an afterthought. It is the starting point. If you are working toward justice in education, libraries, or research, I would love to connect.