Loretta Parham, chief executive officer and director of the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, has announced her retirement at the end of this academic year after 19 years of service. The Atlanta University Center is the largest consortium of historically Black colleges and universities, including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and the Interdenominational Theological Center.
Over her nearly two decades-long tenure, Parham has advanced access to library resources for the over 9,000 scholars within the Atlanta University Center. Her accomplishments have strengthened both the library’s infrastructure and reputation. Under her leadership, the library has received more than $26 million in funding, renovated its physical spaces, enhanced its holdings and resources, increased staffing, and created the Walter Sessoms Scholarship for Atlanta University Center students. Parham also co-founded the HBCU Library Alliance and served as its inaugural board chair.
Parham’s contributions to the Woodruff Library resulted in awards for the library and herself. In 2016, the Association of Colleges and Research Libraries selected the Woodruff Library as the Academic Library of the Year. The association also named Parham the Librarian of the Year. She also received a distinguished alumni award from the University of Michigan School of Information.
“It has been my privilege to lead the AUC Woodruff Library, guiding it to its current level of excellence,” said Parham. “I am forever grateful for the contributions of the Library staff and the commitment of the presidents of our member institutions who believe, as I do, in the value and strength of the nation’s HBCUs and their students who are deserving of nothing less than the best.”
Parham graduated from Southern Illinois University where she majored in communications. She earned her master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan.
