Jocelyn Ireland, Instructional Design Librarian and Associate Professor at Mohawk Valley Community College, received the Friend of SUNY Librarians Association Award at a conference held at SUNY Brockport this past June.
The award recognizes exceptional leadership in projects and initiatives that advance
the mission of the State University of New York Librarians Association (SUNYLA) and
SUNY Libraries.
As co-chair of the SUNYLA Conference Planning Committee Program, Ireland has dedicated her time, expertise, and collaborative leadership to initiatives that strengthen professional development, expand community engagement, and support librarians across the SUNY system. Her service has been defined by generosity, dependability, and a commitment to the mission of academic libraries.
Throughout her involvement with SUNYLA, Ireland has shared resources, co-developed workshops, and fostered collaboration among librarians from institutions across New York State. Her contributions have enhanced conference programming, strengthened committee work, redefined the SUNYLA website, and expanded the network of colleagues who feel welcomed and supported within SUNYLA spaces.
Among her significant contributions was Ireland’s leadership of the 2020 SUNYLA Annual Conference. Originally designed as an in-person event, the conference was forced to pivot to a virtual format in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland guided that transition with creativity, strategic planning, and calm, coordinating technology, programming, communication, and participant engagement under rapidly changing circumstances. The result was one of the most widely attended conferences in SUNYLA history. Attendance grew to more than 500 participants, drawing librarians and educators from across the U.S. and around the world, and significantly expanded the conference’s reach and impact. She served as president of the SUNYLA for the 2021-2022 year.
At MVCC, Ireland has also distinguished herself through her leadership and commitment to student success, and she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship in 2024. In addition to her work, Ireland is an active member of the College Senate, the Learning Commons Advisory Board, the Center for Inclusive Teaching Excellence Advisory Board, and the Employee Enrichment Council.