Cromartie named Mover and Shaker by Library Journal

Shamella Cromartie, associate dean for organizational performance and administration for Clemson Libraries, is one of 50 library professionals from across the country to receive a 2024 Movers and Shakers Award from Library Journal.

Cromartie was recognized in the Change Agents category for her work to uplift others in the field of librarianship, especially those who are under-represented in the field. 

Cromartie serves as chair of the Roundtable for African American Concerns of the South Carolina Library Association and is a member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. She is also a member of the Clemson University Commission on the Black Experience and recently completed the President’s Leadership Institute. She was recently named to the 2024 cohort of the UCLA Library Senior Fellows program.

Cromartie joined Clemson Libraries in 2022. She was previously associate dean of libraries at Western Carolina University for nearly three years. Prior to that, she served as head of public services at Fayetteville State University and has held positions at both academic and public libraries.

Cromartie earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice both from Fayetteville State University. She earned her Master of Library Science with an academic concentration from North Carolina Central University and her Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Western Carolina University.

The new class of Movers and Shakers, showcased in the May print 2024 issue of Library Journal and online, represents an inspiring sample of the work being done in and around libraries today. They are developing programming for patrons with disabilities, providing a place to land after school for teens, creating and restoring balance to their boards, connecting libraries with federal funding, helping design sustainable facilities, teaching community members how to archive their collections, battling censorship attempts, and more — the 50 individuals profiled here demonstrate 50 different ways to move library values forward. 

“Our 2024 Movers represent a range of innovative, proactive, and supportive work; they are imaginative and kind and brave in a world that needs those qualities — and the results they produce — very much,” said Library Journal Executive Editor Lisa Peet. 

Founded in 1876, Library Journal is a trade publication serving librarians and library workers. Sharing important news and perspectives that shape the field, surfacing best practices and innovations to invest in, identifying emerging leaders, guiding purchasing decisions, and acting as an advocate for librarians and libraries, Library Journal has been leading the field through the great changes and innovations required to keep libraries strong for nearly 150 years.