Esther De Leon

Bio

Esther Medina De León is an Associate Librarian at Texas Tech University Libraries. De León received her  Master's in Library Science from the University of North Texas, Denton in 2012, and her Graduate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies in 2023. She has been with Texas Tech Libraries since 2005 as staff and became faculty in 2013. De León currently serves as the liaison for the College of Media & Communication and Women's & Gender Studies. She teaches Essentials for Scholarly Research and is the principal investigator for the Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group, CLWG, which serves to continue research and create a dialogue on the influence of Chicana and Latina feminism. De León is active on campus as a Faculty Fellow with the Expanding the Circle: Indigenous and Native American Studies, affiliated faculty for Women's and Gender Studies, member of the President's Gender Equity Council, as well as many other committees and organizations on campus. Nationally, De León is active in REFORMA – The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking and CALA – ChineseAmerican Librarians Association.

Selected Accomplishments

Publications

• Villagran, M. A. L., Alpi, K. M., Cruz, Y.V., Martínez-García, F., Medina De León, E., & R. L. Nugent. (2023). Brown Paper: Library Projects/Programs that Serve Latinx and Spanish-Speaking Communities. REFORMA Research Committee.  Available online at https://www.reforma.org/research
• De León, E. (2023). Claiming/Reclaiming Space: Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group Experience. In I. Bailey. C. Sperry Garcia, and L.C. Sotomayor (Eds.), BIPOC Alliances: Building Communities and Curricula. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Sappington, J., De León, E., Schumacher, S., Vardeman, K., Callender, D., Oliver, M., Veeder, H.B., & Heinz, L. (2022). Library Impact Research Report: Educating and Empowering a Diverse Student Body: Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research through Library Collections. https://www.arl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022.07.28-educating-and-empowering-a-diverse-student-body.pdf

• Clark, M., De León, E., Edgar, L., and Perrin, J. (2014). Usability Testing for Greater Impact: A Primo Case Study. Information Technology and Libraries, 33(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.6017/ital.v33i4.5174
• Barba, I., Cassidy, R., De León, E., Williams J. (2013). Web analytics reveal user behavior: TTU Libraries' experience with Google Analytics. Journal of Web Librarianship, 7(4): 389-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2013.828991
• De León, E. (2018). Getting Back to the Basics. Texas Library Journal, Fall Issue 94(3): 89-90.https://issuu.com/txlibraryassociation/docs/tlj_2018_fall
• De León, E. (2016). E-resource Round Up. Report from the EBSCO User Group Meeting for EDS Users, Boston, MA. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 28(3): 199-200.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1941126X.2016.1203150

GRANTS

• Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group. $5000. 2020 – 2022. The Humanities Center. Texas Tech University. Submitted. Co-PI Carmen Carmona, Fine Arts Doctoral Student. Funded.
• Noche de Cuentos: Interwoven – Stories Across Cultures.$20,000. 2016-2017. The CH Foundation. Primary Investigator. Funded.

Speaking Engagements

• De León, E., Levario, M., & Sotomayor, L.C. (2023). “Project Eñye” Film Screening and Discussion. Texas Tech University. Speaker.
• Alder, K., De León, E., Garcia-Sperry, C., & Sotomayor, L.C. (2022). “Testimonio and Autohistoria-teoría as Feminist Decolonizing Practices of Healing and Catharsis.” NWSA Conference 2022 – killing rage: resistance on the other side of freedom. November 10-13, 2022. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Presenter/Attendee.
• Callender, D., De León, E., Sappington, J., & Schumacher, S. (2022). “A Mixed-method approach to assessing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Library Collections.” 2022 Virtual Library Assessment Conference – Building Effective, Sustainable, Practical Assessment. November 1-3, 2022. Presenter.
• De León. E. (2022). Conversations with the Next Generation. First Generation Transition & Mentoring Programs. Texas Tech University. September 20, 2022. Interviewee/Speaker. 
• Callender, D., De León, E., Sappington, J., & Schumacher, S. (2022). “Educating and empowering a diverse student body: Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion research through library collections.” Poster Presentation, Association of Research Libraries: Research Library Impact Framework Initiative Celebration. June 8, 2022. Virtual. Presenter.
• Alder, K., Baudelaire, J., De León, E., Sotomayor, L. (2022). “Engaging in the Coyolxauhqui Imperative: Contemplating the Role of Poetry and Autohistoria-teoría as Decolonial Tools for Transformation.” Women's and Gender Studies 38th All-University Annual Conference on the Advancement of Women. April 22, 2022. Presenter.
• De León, E., Flores-Yeffal, N., Ortiz, A., Sotomayor, L. (2022). “Café con Leche Platica: Navigating Imposter Syndrome in the Latinx Community.” 7th Texas Tech Hispanic/Latinx Research & Creativity Symposium. Panel Presenter/Panelist. March 30, 2022.
• Alvarado, C., De León, E. (2021). “TTU Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group: Providing Spaces for Chicana/x & Latina/x for research, mentorship, & comadrazgo.” REFORMA National Conference VII – 50th Anniversary Celebration. Virtual. November 6, 2021. Co-Presenter.

• De León, E. (2020) Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group Panel. 5^th Texas Tech University Hispanic/Latinx Research & Creativity Symposium. March 2020. Panel presenter.
• De León, E. (2020) Chicana/x Latina/x Working Group Workshop. 5^th Texas Tech University Hispanic/Latinx Research & Creativity Symposium. March 2020. Workshop presenter. Submitted.
• Carmona, C. and De León, E. (2019). “Chicana/x Latina/x Feminism.” Feminist First Friday. Texas Tech University. October 2019. Guest Speaker.
• De León, E. “Chicana Feminisms.” Women's & Gender Studies Graduate Seminar. Texas Tech University. (September 2019). Guest speaker.
• De León, E. (2019). Conversations with Las Comadres: Luis Alberto Urrea, House of Broken Angels: A Novel; and, Ruby Montalvo, A Song for Jessica. Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club February 25, 2019 Teleconference. Interviewed Ruby Montalvo.