Rita Soenksen is the liaison librarian to the departments of English and American Literature, Communication Studies, and Journalism and Mass Communication. Rita also served as the Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion for the University of Iowa Libraries from June 2021-January 2023. She is responsible for collection development, outreach, reference, and information literacy instruction. Her professional interests include African American literature, inclusion and diversity within libraries, antiracism and social justice in libraries, and creativity in the research process. Rita is always happy to meet for a research consultation, and is available to teach classes on the research process, topic development, and information literacy. 

MA, Library and Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

MA, Afro-American Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

BA, English, University of Northern Iowa

American Library Association (ALA)

Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

Iowa Library Association/ACRL (ILA/ACRL)