The Grand Archive Presents
Gloria Dikeogu
Library Director • Educator • Professor • Writer
Leadership • Service • Information • Community
Professional Overview
I am a library director, educator, college professor, and writer with extensive leadership experience. My work brings together senior-level leadership, hands-on execution, and strategic thinking. I approach every role with a strong respect for people, systems, and the realities of institutional work.
My career centers on helping organizations such as colleges and libraries create environments where learners can make sense of complex information and successfully apply what they have learned to difficult situations.
I work comfortably at both the strategic and operational levels and am known for translating complicated requirements into clear, actionable outcomes that serve real needs.
Leadership & Academic Service
Strategy • People • Systems • InstitutionsI have served in senior leadership and consulting roles across academic, special, and public library settings. My work has included directing library services, supporting academic administration, and leading teams responsible for reference, archives, acquisitions, cataloging, instruction, and instructional design.
In leadership roles, I focus on building strong staff capacity, improving services, and creating environments where learning and collaboration are supported rather than obstructed.
I value clarity, accountability, and thoughtful decision making, especially in institutions serving diverse communities and changing educational needs.
The Director’s Journey
A career of service, scholarship, leadership, and growth.
Origins
Cape Town, South Africa
Born and raised in Cape Town, my early experiences with community libraries introduced me to the power of information, learning, and public service.
Public Service
Entering the Stacks
My early professional work included service in the Wyberg, Lansdowne, and Athlone public libraries within the Cape Town City Libraries system.
Education
The Scholar’s Path
Teaching English and Afrikaans strengthened my belief that information access and education are deeply connected.
Transition
Crossing Worlds
Relocating to the United States opened a new chapter in my academic and professional life and introduced me to new educational systems, communities, and institutional models.
Professional Librarianship
Returning to the Archive
I returned fully to librarianship and pursued graduate preparation in library and information management, beginning the next stage of my professional career.
Leadership
Academic Library Leadership
My work expanded into administration, institutional strategy, professional leadership, staff development, archives, instruction, and library operations.
Current Chapter
California
Today, my professional work continues at the intersection of academic librarianship, education, writing, global library service, and information access.
Scholar’s Hall
Education, credentials, current study, and lifelong learning.
Completed Degrees
Formal academic preparation across librarianship, education, leadership, business, human resources, and creative writing.
Doctor of Philosophy
Curriculum & Instruction
Master of Fine Arts
Fiction / Writing
Master of Business Administration
Business Administration & Management
Master’s Degree in Human Resources
Human Resources Management & Services
Master’s Degree in Library & Information Management
Library & Information Science
Higher Diploma in Education
Postgraduate Secondary Education / High School Teachers Licence
Bachelor of Library & Information Science
Librarianship & Education
Current Studies
Graduate and certificate study currently in progress.
Master’s Degree in Divinity / Ministry
Trinity Anglican Seminary Oct 2025 – PresentGraduate study in Divinity / Ministry currently in progress.
Certificate in Chaplaincy
Christian Leaders Institute Sep 2025 – PresentCertificate study in Chaplaincy currently in progress.
The Credential Cabinet
Certificates and focused professional preparation.
Student Success Certificate
Higher Education / Higher Education Administration
California State University, Bakersfield Aug 2024 – Dec 2024
Foundations in Natural Foresight
TFSX Issued March 2023
Consumer Health Information Specialization
Level II
Medical Library Association
Graduate Certificate in User Experience & Usability
User Experience and Usability
University of Missouri-Columbia 2018–2019
Certified HR Generalist
HR University 2015Academic & Professional Associations During Study
Organizations connected to professional and scholarly development.
Origins of the Archivist
Early life, early influences, and professional roots.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, my early experiences shaped my lifelong connection to libraries, learning, and teaching.
As a child, I made frequent visits to the community library to check out books and participate in programs. These experiences sparked my interest in librarianship and in the role libraries play in giving people access to knowledge and opportunity.
My early career included work at the Wyberg, Lansdowne, and Athlone public libraries within the Cape Town City Libraries system.
I later taught at Garlandale, Heathfield, and Wynberg Senior Secondary Schools and worked in nonprofit environments including the Ergos Foundation.
These experiences deeply influenced my commitment to access, multicultural education, community service, and lifelong learning.
Crossing Worlds
Global perspective and professional growth.
Relocating to the United States marked a major turning point in my life and career. It exposed me to new libraries, educational systems, cultures, and ways of working.
Throughout my career, I have continued seeking challenges that allow me to operate at a larger scale and contribute to a broader range of communities.
I am drawn to environments that value inquiry, research, thoughtful innovation, and the exchange of ideas across cultures and professional boundaries.
The Teaching Chamber
Educator, professor, and learning advocate.
English
Business
Library Science
Teaching has always been central to my professional life. I have taught courses in English, business, and library science in both online and face-to-face formats.
My instructional work emphasizes information literacy, research skills, critical thinking, and practical application.
I design learning experiences that are accessible, structured, and grounded in how people actually learn. My approach values clarity over jargon and usefulness over abstraction.
The Scriptorium
Writer, scholar, teacher, and storyteller.
Fiction
Mystery fiction, historical fiction, storytelling, character, voice, and narrative development.
Explore Fiction →Poetry
Poetics, voice, expression, reflection, and creative exploration.
Explore Poetry →Academic & Instructional Writing
Research, scholarly articles, instructional content, online courses, learning resources, and professional documentation.
View Publications →The Guild Hall
Professional memberships and communities of practice.
American Library Association
1999–PresentAssociation of College & Research Libraries
1999–PresentInternational Federation of Library Associations
2025–PresentAssociation of Writers & Writing Programs
2025–PresentSociety of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
2023–PresentEDUCAUSE
2024–PresentOrder of Ecumenical Franciscans
Seeker • 2026–PresentHall of Recognition
Honors and professional distinction.
Professional Recognition
CULS Contribution Award
2008
College and University Libraries Section
Kansas Library Association
Patron’s Treasury
Grants, fundraising, partnerships, and funded initiatives.
Archive Initiative
Ottawa University Archives
Digitization & Training
2017–2021Community Programming
America’s Music Grant
2007–2008Supported a collection of music DVDs spanning multiple genres and collaborative programming with Ottawa Public Library, students, musicians, and community participants.
The International Observatory
Global librarianship, editorial work, and professional exchange.
Global Librarianship Record
International Leads
- Organization
- ALA International Relations Round Table
- Role
- Editorial Team
- Publication
- International Leads
- Cycle
- Quarterly
One of my long-standing professional interests is understanding what is happening in libraries throughout the world.
International Leads helps connect librarians with articles about leadership, programs, professional activity, and the political, social, and economic conditions affecting libraries in different countries.
Visit International Leads →Government Documents Vault
Current archival mission and collection development project.
Current Archival Quest
Modernizing the Government Documents Collection
Current Objectives
- Inventory the Government Documents collection
- Scan collection holdings into ALMA
- Identify retained and missing materials
- Evaluate legacy formats including microforms and CDs
- Support responsible collection weeding
- Improve digital accessibility
- Establish more accurate collection records
Restricted Documents
Institutional values and professional statements.
Correspondence Desk
Professional communication and archive access.
The Archivist’s Code
Integrity
Uphold honesty, transparency, professional ethics, and responsible stewardship.
Access
Champion equitable access to information, education, and opportunity.
Service
Lead with empathy, practicality, accountability, and a commitment to community needs.
Learning
Treat professional growth and intellectual curiosity as lifelong responsibilities.
Preservation
Protect information, institutional memory, and cultural heritage for future generations.
Archive References
The Learning Conservatory
Online Teaching • Instructional Design • Student Success • Educational Leadership
A teaching philosophy centered on adult learners, intellectual curiosity, flexibility, academic rigor, technological growth, critical thinking, research, and meaningful human connection.
My Online Teaching Philosophy
Designing learning environments where adult learners can succeed.
Designing for the Adult Learner
My philosophy as an instructional designer is to develop online courses that support the adult learner’s different learning styles and provide them with optimal learning opportunities.
Student First
My philosophy as an instructor is to put the student first, being flexible and understanding when necessary and relentless when that is what is called for.
I am an avid listener willing to work alongside the learner to guide them toward academic success.
My Role as an Instructor
Six responsibilities guide how I support learners.
Guide
Serve as a course guide, aiding learners as they improve their knowledge and skills within the field.
Motivate
Motivate and encourage learners to overcome the hurdles they face throughout their academic journey.
Awaken Curiosity
Introduce subject matter in ways that engage curiosity and encourage genuine interest in learning.
Connect
Lead subject-specific discussion and help learners make the connections necessary for deeper understanding.
Build Capability
Help learners improve their technological skills while developing stronger critical-thinking abilities.
Strengthen Scholarship
Encourage learners to improve their writing and research skills throughout face-to-face and online courses.
“The instructor does not simply deliver information. The instructor helps the learner discover how to use it.”
My Administrative Philosophy
Service-oriented leadership grounded in people, collaboration, coaching, and institutional knowledge.
My approach to library administration is both service oriented and people centric. My background as a reference librarian has shaped the way I lead because reference work and customer service both begin with listening to people and understanding what they need.
At Ottawa University, when a library position disappeared and was not filled, I often learned the work myself. That experience gave me broad practical knowledge of library operations and a strong appreciation for the people who perform them.
My management style is primarily coaching and democratic. I emphasize collaboration, staff empowerment, two-way communication, shared goals, professional development, and opportunities for staff to increase their knowledge of the field.
Leadership in Practice
How administrative philosophy becomes daily practice.
Collaboration
As Library Director, I collaborated on budget requests, Library Commons development, accreditation discussions, and vendor meetings for database acquisition.
As Associate Dean, I worked with administrators, the Dean, HR, faculty, and library staff on evaluations, training, scheduling, hiring, mentorship, and departmental supervision.
Teamwork
I worked one-to-one with staff who needed help with projects or workflow procedures and trained graduate supervisors who supported student workers.
At Stiern Library, I created acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation, and other work groups so staff could discuss projects and document workflows for future use.
Transparency
Administrative transparency is not always simple because some information cannot immediately be shared.
I nevertheless make an effort to communicate what I can, explain where the organization is going, and provide staff with useful context during meetings.
Efficiency
As Library Director, I developed experience with budget planning and balancing academic needs against available resources.
When a new nursing program requested approximately $100,000 in databases, I developed a phased approach beginning around $10,000 in the first year and expanding the collection over four years.
Continuous Learning
I requested annual professional-development funding for library staff and myself so that we could attend conferences, workshops, committee meetings, and professional presentations.
At CSUB, I continued that practice through supervisory workshops, faculty-development programs, and student-mentoring training.
Advocacy
I have advocated for librarian professional development, private academic libraries, library technology, conference travel, accreditation needs, and departmental initiatives.
My advocacy work has included service as Kansas Library Association President, State Library Board participation, accreditation work, departmental outreach, and staff-support initiatives.
Experience Related to Library Services
Teaching, leadership, administration, reference service, and library operations.
Library Director
Gangwish Library • Ottawa University • Ottawa, Kansas
Taught English, served on faculty committees, supervised circulation, technical services, interlibrary loan and archives, managed archive student projects, acquisitions and electronic resource management, worked with vendors, managed budgets, maintained the library website, supported accreditation, and participated in library collaborations.
Associate Dean
Walter W. Stiern Library • California State University, Bakersfield
Managed Library Services scheduling, participated in library-wide meetings, organized grouped and individual staff meetings, worked with the Dean on staff hiring and evaluations, and coordinated with student supervisors involved in student hiring.
Associate Librarian
Walter W. Stiern Library • California State University, Bakersfield
Provides Library Services staff with library projects while serving in faculty and coordination responsibilities.
My Teaching Philosophy
Guiding principles for teaching, mentoring, and learner success.
Learner Centered
Begin with the learner and the conditions necessary for that individual to succeed.
Flexible but Purposeful
Adapt when circumstances call for flexibility without abandoning academic expectations.
Active Guidance
Work alongside learners rather than simply placing information in front of them.
Curiosity
Present subjects in ways that invite questions, exploration, and intellectual engagement.
Critical Thinking
Teach students to evaluate information, recognize connections, and apply knowledge.
Research & Writing
Strengthen the academic skills learners need to communicate knowledge effectively.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Creating learning and working environments grounded in respect, fairness, access, and participation.
Diversity
Recognizing the many differences that make individuals and communities unique.
Equity
Providing students with the support and resources they need to have a fair opportunity to succeed.
Inclusion
Providing meaningful access and participation to individuals who might otherwise be excluded.
Belonging
Helping students and staff feel that they are genuinely part of the institution where they study or work.
Respect in the Classroom and Library
I have worked with diverse populations of students, staff, and faculty, including people with disabilities and individuals from different races, cultures, identities, and backgrounds. My goal has consistently been to treat people fairly, respectfully, and without discrimination.
At CSUB, I completed a three-month student-success training course that strengthened my ability to mentor students and help them move toward greater academic success.
While teaching English at Ottawa University, I worked with students who required accommodations such as additional time for assignments and examinations or quieter testing environments. I supported those accommodations as matters of both equity and inclusion.
I also looked for opportunities to create a sense of belonging. These ranged from small classroom incentives to recognition certificates for students who successfully completed information literacy examinations.
Building a Culture of Respect
In administrative work, I would use these principles to encourage a respectful workplace where staff are comfortable participating in open dialogue when concerns need to be discussed.
I would also support fair recruitment practices and diverse hiring processes while creating a workplace in which people are respected and able to contribute.