Nicole Sari Stith, Business Librarian, East Carolina University, named winner of the 2026 BRASS Academic Business Librarianship Travel Award sponsored by Finaeon
“Thank you to the BRASS Committee and Finaeon for supporting me to attend my first ALA Annual in Chicago where ALA is based; it is an honor. I have been lucky to meet amazing business librarians and members of the business librarianship community this past year, especially the NC IDEA team through the Libraries for Entrepreneurial Advancement Fellowship (LEAF) Program. I also want to thank Steve Cramer at UNC-Greensboro for offering support and getting me involved with the Business Librarianship in North Carolina (BLINC) Section of the North Carolina Library Association.
I want to thank my family who encouraged me to apply, especially my late husband, Francis Blackwell Stith, Jr., who always supported me in my academic endeavors.” – Nicole Sari Stith
“Nicole has made an immediate impact as Business Librarian at East Carolina University. Through instruction, research support, and participation in the NC IDEA LEAF Fellowship, she is strengthening connections between libraries, entrepreneurs, and business communities.
Her dedication to student and faculty success, entrepreneurial initiatives, and community partnerships are evident throughout her professional work and accomplishments.” – Award Committee statement
The BRASS Academic Business Librarianship Travel Award Committee was chaired by William Parker
The grant consists of $1,250 and is awarded to an individual new to the field of academic business librarianship in order to support attendance to the ALA Annual Conference.
“We’re honored to support initiatives like this Travel Award and to see emerging leaders engaging so meaningfully with the business librarianship community. Congratulations Nichole on a well-deserved experience—we’re excited to see what’s ahead.” Mike Cerneant, VP Enterprise Sales, FINAEON