Chris LeBeau, Assistant Teaching Professor, University of Missouri and Librarian for Management and Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City (retired) and RUSA President, was selected as the 2018 winner of the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award, sponsored by Mergent by FTSE Russell.
In the words of one nominator, Chris LeBeau’s “career illustrates a long-standing commitment to the profession, practice, and teaching of business librarianship.”
LeBeau holds a B.A. from Marymount College, an M.S. in Library Science from Long Island University, and an MBA from Creighton University. Since 2002 she has served as the Business and Public Administration Librarian at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and since 2003 as an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Missouri School of Information Science and Learning Technologies. At the end of 2017, LeBeau retired from UMKC. She continues as adjunct faculty at the University of Missouri.
As liaison to the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC, LeBeau has been prolific in her teaching and outreach. She has contributed to the profession through numerous publications, presentations, and webinars; and has served in many capacities through the Business and Reference Services Section (BRASS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) a division of the American Library Association, contributing on and chairing many committees, including an ALA Emerging Leaders project and an IMLS Sparks! Ignition Grant to develop guidelines and best practices for financial literacy education in libraries. LeBeau was elected and served as Chair of BRASS in 2011-2012, having previously served as member-at-large. She was elected RUSA President for 2017-2018.
Her service mindset extends beyond campus and professional associations. She collaborates with metropolitan public libraries on business resources and entrepreneurship programs. She also teaches business research classes in the Kansas City community through the Kauffman Foundation for the First Step Fund and Operation Jumpstart, which support displaced or disadvantaged entrepreneurs. She also works with KCSourceLink, a small business development resource serving 18 counties.
Chris is a leader, mentor, and friend. She serves with purpose and humility. The scope and impact of her contributions to her institutions, her community, and the profession are an inspiration to all business librarians.
Sponsored by Mergent by FTSE Russell, the award consists of $4,000 and a citation to a librarian that has distinguished themselves in the field of Business Librarianship.
The selection committee includes: Andy Spackman(Chair), Chad Forrest Boeninger and Diane M. Zabel.
