Chicago, IL -- April 9, 2025. The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that Teresa Anderson will become the executive director of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of ALA. Anderson begins her new role May 19.
A Certified Association Executive (CAE), Anderson has spent more than three decades at ASIS International, a professional organization for security management professionals. Within ASIS, Anderson has held several positions, most recently as vice president, innovation and outreach. Anderson created cross functional teams to develop and execute product strategies that align with market needs and company goals, resulting in an annual revenue increase. She also cultivated strategic partnerships in alignment with business objectives and growth strategies. She oversaw content strategy, guiding the editorial team in curating content around products and services.
Anderson holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications from Eureka College in Illinois.
In her role at ACRL, Anderson will lead one of ALA's largest divisions, home to 8,500 individual and institutional members.
"We are thrilled to welcome Teresa to ACRL and look forward to working with her to advance programs, products, and services for the academic and research library community," ACRL President Leo Lo said. "I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to Allison Payne, our Interim Executive Director for almost two years, whose dedicated work and leadership during this period have been instrumental in our continued success."
Payne, who became the interim executive director in 2023, will continue her work in ACRL with a promotion to associate director, operations and strategic initiatives.
In this role, she will manage and implement special programs and projects, including those pertaining to ACRL's equity, diversity and inclusion goal area; review, develop and update policy; and serve as a leader for ACRL operations and efficiency. Payne will also continue to manage ACRL's governance functions by supporting the work of the ACRL Board of Directors and ACRL Budget and Finance Committee.
Special acknowledgement to the search committee: Leslie Burger, ALA interim executive director; Erin Ellis, associate dean, organizational strategy and scholarly communication, Indiana University; Leo Lo, dean and professor of the college of university libraries and learning sciences at the University of New Mexico and ACRL President; Beth McNeil, dean, Purdue University; Dina Tsourdinis, ALA Chief Financial Officer; Lorelle Hopkins, associate executive director, ALA Human Resources and Organizational Operations.
About the Association of College and Research Libraries
The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for academic libraries and library workers. Representing nearly 8,500 individuals and libraries, ACRL (a division of the American Library Association) develops programs, products, and services to help those working in academic and research libraries learn, innovate, and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning, transforming scholarship, and creating diverse and inclusive communities. Find ACRL on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and YouTube.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.