Sarah Park Dahlen, Ph.D., M.S., M.A., B.A.

Assistant Professor (Associate Professor effective August 2017)

Master of Library and Information Science Program

St. Catherine University

spark (at) stkate (dot) edu

http:// sarahpark . com

@readingspark

EMPLOYMENT

Assistant Professor, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, January 2009-current

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009

Dissertation “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Literature”

Dr. Christine Jenkins, Dr. Betsy Hearne, Dr. Moon-Kie Jung, Dr. Eleana Kim

M.S. Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009

M.A. Asian American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004

Thesis “Korean American Children’s Picture Books: Critical Analysis and Annotated Bibliography”

Dr. Clara M. Chu, Dr. Don Nakanishi, Dr. Virginia A. Walter

B.A. History and Asian American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002

SELECTED AWARDS

  • Leadership Award, Library School Alumni Association, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016
  • Friends of the Library Development and Services Award, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, 2016
  • Faculty mentor recognition, St. Catherine University, 2016, 2015, 2013
  • Teaching award nominee, St. Catherine University, 2013
  • Carol Easley Denny Faculty Research Grant, St. Catherine University, 2010-2011
  • Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007-2008
  • Honorable Mention, “All Look Same? Chinese and Korean Transracial/Transnational Adoption in American Children’s Books,” Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Doctoral Student Poster Competition, 2008
  • Finalist, Fulbright Research Grant, 2007

COURSES

Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University

  • Introduction to Library and Information Science
  • Library Materials for Children
  • Storytelling for Adults and Children
  • Social Justice in Children’s & Young Adult Literature
  • Library Materials for Young Adults
  • Services for Children and Adults
  • Internet Fundamentals and Design
  • Touchstone
  • Capstone
  • Communication for Leadership

CORE Global Search for Justice, St. Catherine University

  • Dismantling Racism: Social Justice and Children’s Literature

Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Teaching Assistant, Youth Services Librarianship
  • Teaching Assistant, Libraries, Information and Society
  • Instructor, Social Justice in the Information Profession

Asian American Studies Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Instructor, Asian American Children’s Literature

Asian American Studies Center, University of California Los Angeles

  • Teaching Assistant, History of Asian Americans
  • Reader, Korean American Experience

DISSERTATION COMMITTEE

Lucht, Karla. “Identity Quest: Hapas in Youth Literature.” Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS

(invited and in progress) Dahlen, Sarah Park. “We Need Diverse Books: Publishing, Equity, and Children’s Literature.” In Twenty-First Century Literature and the Child, edited by Nathalie op de Beeck. Palgrave.

(in press) Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Birth Searching: Transnationally Adopted Koreans in Search of Self.” In Growing Up Asian American, edited by Ymitri Mathison. University of Mississippi Press.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2016 June). “On Autonomy: The Intersections of Ethnic Studies and Young Adult Literature.” Voices of Youth Advocates Special Issue on Race and Culture in Teen Literature 39 (2).

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2016). “Who Is ‘The Other?’ Alvin Ho: Not Allergic to Playing Indian, Feathers, and Other Stereotypical Things.” In The Early Reader in Children’s Literature and Culture, edited by Jennifer Miskec and Annette Wannamaker. Routledge Press.

EDITED WORKS

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Lies Wesseling (eds.) (2015). Orphanhood, Foster Care and Adoption: A Special Issue of Children’s Literature Association Quarterly. Children’s Literature Association.

Naidoo, Jamie Campbell and Sarah Park Dahlen (eds). (2013) Diversity in Youth Literature: Opening Doors Through Reading. Chicago: ALA Editions.

PUBLICATIONS

(in press) Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Teaching LIS, Children’s Literature and Social Justice to Undergraduate Non-LIS Majors.” In Teaching for Justice: Implementing Social Justice in the LIS Classroom, edited by Miriam E. Sweeney and Nicole A. Cooke. Library Juice Press.

Low, Jason. (2016 January 26). “Where is the Diversity in Publishing? The 2015 Diversity Baseline Survey Results.” The Open Book blog: Lee & Low Books. New York. 

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Lessa Kanani’Opua Pelayo-Lozada. (2015 Fall). “Day of Diversity: Extending the Dialogue, Encouraging the Action.” In Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, pp. 21-25.

(contributor) Naidoo, Jamie Campbell (2014). Diversity Programming for Digital Youth: Promoting Cultural Competence in the Library. Libraries Unlimited.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2013 December). “Windows and Mirrors: Reading Diverse Children’s Literature.” Land of Gazillion Voices Magazine. Minneapolis: Gazillion Voices.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2013). “Evaluating Children’s Books about Transracial Asian Adoption.” In Diversity in Youth Literature: Opening Doors Through Reading. ALA Editions, edited by Jamie Campbell Naidoo and Sarah Park Dahlen. Chicago: ALA Editions.

Dahlen, Sarah Park (lead author). (2016, 2013, 2010). “Asian Pacific American Book List” for Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture, a literacy program jointly presented by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and American Indian Library Association, with support from the American Library Association under then-President Camila Alire’s Family Literacy Focus Initiative (http://www.talkstorytogether.org/)

Park, Sarah. (2011). Asian American Folklore and Children’s Literature. Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife, Volume 1, edited by Jonathan H. X. Lee and Kathleen M. Nadeau. ABC-CLIO.

Park, Sarah. (2010). “Ethnic Ambiguity and Transnational Adoptee Identities in Children’s Picture Books.” In Proceedings of the Second International Korean Adoption Studies Research Symposium, edited by Kim Park Nelson, Eleana Kim, Tobias Hübinette and Kim J. Seoul, Korea: International Korean Adoptee Associations.

Park, Sarah. (2008). “Colonialism and War in Children’s Literature: Korea 1935-1953.” In An Invitation to Explore: New International Perspectives in Children’s Literature, edited by Laura Atkins, Nolan Dalrymple, Michele Gill and Liz Thiel,  pp. 115-127. Staffordshire, UK: Pied Piper Publishing.

Chu, Clara M., Rebecca Dean, and Sarah Park. (2008 Winter). “What about a Ph.D? APA LIS Doctoral Student Research, Experiences and Perspectives, Part I.” Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Newsletter 28 (1), pp 8-11.

Park, Sarah. Contributing writer to “Storytime.” (2008 January). Korean American Journal 19 (1), pp. 78-79.

Park, Sarah. (2007). “‘I Flew to My Parents on a Spaceship’: Adopted Koreans in Children’s Picture Books.” In Proceedings of the First International Korean Adoption Studies Research Symposium, edited by Kim Park Nelson, Eleana Kim and Lene Myong Petersen, pp. 165-183. Seoul, Korea: International Korean Adoptee Associations.

Park, Sarah. (2007). Book Reviews and Author Biographies: Caroline Hwang, Marie Lee, An Na, Frances Park, Ginger Park, Jane Jeong Trenka, David Yoo. In Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature, 5 Volume Set, edited by Seiwoong Oh. Volume of Asian-American Literature. New York, NY: Facts on File.

Park, Sarah. (2007). Racist Stereotypes and Asian Americans: Yesterday, Today, and Not Forever. Public bulletin display at the Asian American Cultural Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Park, Sarah. (2007 Winter). “Illustrating the Unspeakable: The Korean War and Family Separation in Children’s Books.” Society for the History and Childhood of Youth: SCHY Newsletter 9.

Park, Sarah. (2006 Fall). “Mirrors.” The OAK: Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link Newsletter.

Park, Sarah. (2007, 2005). “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Bibliography” on Center for Children’s Books Website. Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS – JURIED

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Jason Low. “Ideas Exchange: Increasing Diversity in the Publishing Industry and Library Workforce.” Conversation Starters: American Library Association, Orlando, FL. June 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “The Hamline MFAC Program: On Kindness and Disgruntlement, White Fragility, and the Future of Writing Children’s Literature.” Animation: Children’s Literature Association, Columbus, OH. June 11, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Korean Transracial Adoption: Through the Years, Through the Literature.” Adventures Through a Cultural Looking Glass & What We Found There: Trends in Diverse Children’s Literature in the US and Beyond, Through the Looking Glass: Exploring the Wonderland of International Children’s Literature: International Board on Books for Young People Regional Conference, New York, NY. October 17, 2015. (international)

Dahlen, Sarah Park, organizer and panelist. “Day of Diversity: Minnesota Edition.” Search, Create, Inspire: Minnesota Library Association annual conference, St. Paul, MN. October 9, 2015.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Praxis and Partnership: Collaborating with Hennepin County Library to Empower and Transform Incarcerated Youth.” Transforming Youth Services in Library and Information Science: A Participatory Panel of Best Practices for Social Justice Action and Praxis. Youth Services Special Interest Group panel, Mirrors & Window: Reflections on Social Justice & Re-Imagining LIS Education: Association for Library and Information Science Education, Chicago, IL. January 27-30, 2015. (invited)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Social Justice as Topic and Tool in the LIS Classroom.” Multicultural, Ethnic and Humanistic Concerns Special Interest Group panel, Mirrors & Window: Reflections on Social Justice & Re-Imagining LIS Education: Association for Library and Information Science Education, Chicago, IL. January 27-30, 2015. (invited)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Ching Chong Cho Chang: What Happens when you ‘Happen’ to be Asian in the Wizarding World.” Diverging Diversities: Plurality in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Then and Now: Children’s Literature Association, Columbia, SC. June 19, 2014.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Library Programming, Collections and Outreach Services to MN’s Adoptive Families” as part of the panel Serve All the Youth! Library Programming for Minnesota’s Culturally Diverse Young Patrons. Libraries Rock!: Minnesota Library Association, St. Cloud, MN. October 10-11, 2013.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Mediating the Angry Adoptee.” Colloquium Mediating Adoption. Children’s Literature and Media Cultures: International Research Society for Children’s Literature, Maastricht, The Netherlands. August 10-14, 2013. (international)

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Jamie Campbell Naidoo. “Digital Lives, Diverse Stories: Connecting Youth, Books and Digital Media to Promote Cultural Competence.” Children’s Literature and Media Cultures: International Research Society for Children’s Literature, Maastricht, The Netherlands. August 10-14, 2013. (international)

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Anna Nielsen (co-conveners). “The Beauty of Subversion: Asking the Difficult Questions in Youth Research, Teaching, and Practice.” Always the Beautiful Question: Inquiry Supporting Teaching, Research and Professional Practice: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. January 24, 2013.

Park, Sarah. “Asian American Children’s Literature & Programming: Imagine the Possibilities” as part of the “A Día Gathering: Celebrating and Embracing Diverse Children, Cultures, and Books” panel, Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, Kansas City, MO. September 20, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Diversity in Youth Services and Beyond” as part of the panel “Extending ALISE’s Reach: Expanding our Diversity Horizon.” Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Dallas, TX. January 19, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Mis/Understanding the ‘Angry’ Adoptee” as part of the panel “Sliding Doors in a Pluralistic Society: Reframing Images of America and Inclusion.” Revolt! Rebellion! Protest! Change and Insurrection in Children’s Literature: Children’s Literature Association, Hollins, VA. June 23, 2011.

Park, Sarah and Thomas Crisp (co-conveners). “Resisting ‘Americanization’ in Literature for Young People.” Revolt! Rebellion! Protest! Change and Insurrection in Children’s Literature: Children’s Literature Association, Hollins, VA. June 2011.

Park, Sarah. “Consuming Stories and Searches: Adopted Koreans in Young Adult Literature.” Consuming Asian America: Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. May 18-22, 2011.

Park, Sarah. “Picturing Adoption.” The Fifth Annual Conference of the Children’s Literature Symposium: Images and Illustrations in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Florida. February 5, 2011.

Park, Sarah. “Redefining ‘Adoption Triad’: Three Categories of Korean Transracial Adoption on Children’s Literature.” InterCountry Adoption Summit, Ontario, Stratford, Canada. September 23-26, 2010. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Writing Children’s Stories about Adoption.” The Gathering, International Korean Adoptee Associations, Seoul, Korea. August 4, 2010. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Adopted Koreans, Birth Searching, and Burdensome Barriers.” Children’s Literature and Media: Children’s Literature Association, Ypsilanti, MI. June 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Let’s Skype!” Youth Services Special Interest Group’s Program, “Inclusive Voices: Embracing Diversity in Youth Services”: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Boston, MA. January 13, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Transracially Adopted Koreans’ Information Seeking Behaviors, Needs and Resources.” Works-In-Progress Poster Session: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Boston, MA. January 12, 2010.

Park Sarah, Susan Griffith and Margaret Jensen. “Bringing What is Hidden to Light: Jane Addams Award.” Children’s Books: Where Worlds Meets, 8th IBBY Conference, St Charles, IL. October 3, 2009. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Redefining ‘Adoption Triad’: Three Categories of Korean Transracial Adoption on Children’s Literature.” The Best of Three: Children’s Literature Association, Charlotte, NC. June 12, 2009.

Park, Sarah. “All Look Same? Chinese and Korean Transracial/Transnational Adoption in American Children’s Books” (Doctoral Student Research Competition Honorable Mention). Doctoral Research Poster Session: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. January 9, 2008.

Park, Sarah. “Power and Privilege: American Children’s Books about Transracial Adoption from China and Korea to the U.S.” Power and Children’s Literature: Past, Present and Future, The 18th Biennial Congress of International Research Society for Children’s Literature, Kyoto, Japan. August 25-29, 2007. (international)

Park, Sarah. “‘I Flew to My Parents on a Spaceship’: Adopted Koreans in Children’s Picture Books.” First International Korean Adoption Studies Research Symposium, International Korean Adoptee Associations Gathering, Seoul, Korea. July 31, 2007. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Truth Be Told: Multiple Versions of Japan’s Colonization of Korea.” Anniversaries, Histories, and Colonialisms: Children’s Literature Association. Newport News, VA. June 14-17, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Transracial Adoption in Children’s Literature.” Crosstown Connections: Asian American Urbanism and Interracial Encounters, Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, New York, NY, April 4-8, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Perpetual Foreigner: Korean American Children in School Stories.” Immigration, Transnationalism, Diaspora: Issues for Asian/American Communities, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization Conference, University of Illinois Chicago. March 16-17, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Double Vision: Korean Adoptees in Children’s Literature.” Doctoral Research Poster Session: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. January 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Illustrating the Unspeakable: The Korean War and Family Separation in Children’s Books.” Works-In-Progress Poster Session: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. January 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Silence in Children’s Fiction: Memories of Korea, 1935-1953.” Modern Language Association Convention, Philadelphia, PA. December 29, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “My Family is Forever: Korean Adoptees, Family and Race.” Family, Youth, and Literature: Youth Literature Interest Group Allerton Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. October 20-22, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Whiteout: The Transformation of Korean Adoptees in Children’s Fiction.” Transformations: Children’s Literature Association’s 33rd Annual Conference, Manhattan Beach, CA. June 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Colonialism and War in Children’s Literature: Remembering Korea 1935-1953.” The Child and the Book, University of Newcastle, England. April 7-9, 2006. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Trauma in Children’s Fiction: Memoirs of Korea 1935-1953.” Bodies, Communities, Regions: Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. March 2006.

Park, Sarah. Roundtable participant, “Building Community and Scholarship: The Asian Pacific American Graduate Student Movement at UIUC.” Bodies, Communities, Regions: Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. March 2006.

Park, Sarah. “The Search for Jane Jeong Trenka: The Portrayal of Korean Adoptees in Children’s Literature.” Works-in-Progress Poster Session: Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX. January 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Trauma in Children’s Fiction: Memoirs of Korea 1935-1953.” Libraries in Times of War, Revolution, and Social Change: Library History Seminar XI, Graduate School of Library and Information Science , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. October 2005.

Park, Sarah. “School Stories: The Lore of Korean American Students’ Experiences in Picture Books.” Globalization, Regionalism, and Identity: Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. April 21, 2005.

Park, Sarah. “School Stories: The Lore of Korean American Students’ Experiences in Picture Books.” Activism, Ethnic Studies and Diaspora and Beyond: Commemorating the 1995 Hunger Strike for Asian American Studies at Northwestern University, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. April 15, 2005.

Park, Sarah. “Breaking Through: Korean American Children’s Literature.” Manifold Destinies: 35 Years of Arts, Advocacy and the Academy, Association for Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. May 8, 2003.

KEYNOTE SPEECHES

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Korean Adoption and Children’s Literature.” Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network Conference, Minneapolis, MN. June 28, 2014.

Park, Sarah. “Storying Adoption.” Stranger in a Strange Land: Exploring Texts and Media for Young People Across Cultures and Continents, Graduate Student Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. April 28, 2012. (international)

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

(upcoming) Dahlen, Sarah Park. Co-convener and panelist. “We Need Diverse Books Everywhere: Addressing Diversity Across Multiple Spaces.” National Diversity in Libraries Conference, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. August 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. Panelist with Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Marilisa Jimenez-Garcia, and Laura Jiménez. “Career Panel – Needs of Minority Scholars.” Sponsored by the ChLA Membership and Diversity Committees. Animation: Children’s Literature Association, Columbus, OH. June 11, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Windows, Mirrors, and Why They Matter: Diversity in Children’s Literature.” Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN. February 20, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity in Every Storytime.” Storytime-Palooza, MELSA: Metro Public Libraries, Roseville Library, Roseville, MN. December 11, 2015.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity in Picture Books.” November Picture Book Salon, The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN. November 4, 2015.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. Panelist, “Whose Stories Get Told by Whom?” Children’s and Young Adult Literature Conference, The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN. May 2, 2015.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Building a Diverse Collection: The Imperative for Diverse Children’s Books.” Wixom Public Library Youth Services Committee In-Service Workshop (online). March 13, 2015.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Reading Adoption: Korean Transracial Adoption in American Youth Literature.” Hawai’i Association of School Librarians Spring Conference (online). March 7, 2015.

Dahlen, Park Sarah. Workshop Facilitator. “Show Me the Diversity.” Day of Diversity: Dialogue and Action in Children’s Literature and Library Programming. Hosted by the Association for Library Service to Children, in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council, at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference, Chicago, IL. January 30, 2015. (Participation was by invitation only)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Teaching Social Justice In and Through Youth Literature: Content, Context and Compassion.” Syllabus Exchange at Diverging Diversities: Plurality in Children’s and Young Adult Literature Then and Now: Children’s Literature Association, Columbia, SC. June 18, 2014. (invited)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. Reading Rainbow Rowell: A Community Forum on Kids’ Right to Read. Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN. October 29, 2013.

American Library Association Office for Diversity & Spectrum Doctoral Recruitment Webinar Series organized by Gwendolyn Prellwitz (online). April-August 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Selecting Multicultural Children’s Literature.” El día de los niños/El día de los libros: ALA Association for Library Service to Children (webinar). March 17, 2011.

Park, Sarah. LIS representative on “Children’s Literature Career Panel.’” Children’s Literature and Media: Children’s Literature Association, Ypsilanti, MI. June 2010.

Park, Sarah. Panelist. “Innovative Pedagogy.” Children’s Literature and Media: Children’s Literature Association, Ypsilanti, MI. June 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Intersectionality and Interdisciplinary: Information Studies and Studies of the ‘Other.’” iFutures: Systems, Selves, Society–Roundtable at iConference 2008, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. February 29, 2008.

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Adopted Koreans in American Children’s Literature.” Andersen Library Research Forum, Social Welfare History Archives and the Children’s Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota Andersen Library, Minneapolis, MN. November 27, 2008.

INVITED GUEST LECTURES

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Library Programming, Collections, and Outreach to Adoptive Families.” Intercultural Perspectives in Youth Literature, Professor Jamie Naidoo, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. March 26, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Being Asian in the Wizarding World: Harry Potter, Cho Chang, and Me.” Six Degrees of Harry Potter, Gryffindor Tower, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. March 8, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Writing the Other: A Discussion of Writing Culturally Diverse Literature.” MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. January 15, 2015.  

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Being Asian in the Wizarding World: Harry Potter, Cho Chang, and Me.” Six Degrees of Harry Potter, Gryffindor Tower, Professor Jenny McDougal, English, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. October 13, 2014.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “What’s Wrong With Being Exotic? A Guide for Writing Children’s Culturally Diverse Literature.” MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. July 14, 2014.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Library Programming, Collections, and Outreach to Adoptive Families.” Global Contexts and Social Justice in Youth Literature, Instructor Karla Lucht, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. June 24, 2014.  

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Library Programming, Collections, and Outreach to Adoptive Families.” Intercultural Perspectives in Youth Literature, Professor Jamie Naidoo, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. March 8, 2014.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Being Asian in the Wizarding World: Harry Potter, Cho Chang, and Me.” Six Degrees of Harry Potter, Gryffindor Tower, Professor Cecilia Konchar-Farr, English, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. November 4, 2013.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Library Programming, Collections and Outreach to Adoptive Families.” Global Perspectives in Library and Information Science, Professor Rae-Ann Montague, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. October 31, 2013.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Asian American Children’s Literature.” Literature for Children and Adolescents, Professor Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. September 16, 2013.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Storying Adoption: Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Youth Literature.” Global Contexts and Social Justice in Youth Literature, Instructor Karla Lucht, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. July 15, 2013.

Park, Sarah. “Transracial Adoption and the Library.” Intellectual Freedom and Censorship, Instructor Loretta Gaffney, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. April 18, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Picturing Adoption: Issues in Transnational Korean Adoption.” Local, Regional, and Global Intersections in Library and Information Science, Professor Rae-Anne Montague, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. March 8, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Picturing Adoption: Representations of Transracially Adopted Koreans in Children’s Literature.” Intercultural Youth Literature, Professor Jamie Naidoo, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. March 3, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Information Seeking Behaviors of Transnationally Adopted Koreans.” Information Seeking Behavior, Professor Joyce Yukawa, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. April 10, 2011.

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Books.” Children’s Literature, Professor Melanie Kimball, Department of Library and Information Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. August 12, 2010. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Korean Transracial Adoption: History, Issues & Representations.” Social Change in Modern Korea, Professor Paul Y. Chang, Underwood International College, Yonsei International Summer School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. July 29, 2010. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Books.” Literature in a Diverse Society, Professor Thomas Crisp, Childhood Education and Literacy Studies, University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, Fl. March 24, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Books.” Intercultural Youth Literature, Professor Jamie Naidoo, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. February 27, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Information Seeking Behaviors of Transnationally Adopted Koreans.” Information Seeking Behavior, Professor Joyce Yukawa, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. February 27, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Mirroring Adoption: Illusions of Transracially Adopted Koreans in Children’s and Young Adult Literature.” Adoption in the American Heartland Speaker Series, Professor Kim Park Nelson, American Multicultural Studies Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN. March 11, 2009.

Park, Sarah. “Good Enough? Korean American Young Adult Literature.” Young Adult Literature, Instructor Loretta Gaffney, Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. October 15, 2008.

Park, Sarah. “Imagining Adoption: Adopted Koreans in American and Korean Children’s Literature.” Children’s Literature, Dr. Ilgu Kim, English Literature and Languages, Hannam University, Daejeon, Korea. September 28, 2007. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Windows and Mirrors: The Asian Diaspora in the Asian/American Imagination.” Bibliotherapy, Instructor Hyunae Kim, Department of Library & Information Science, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea. September 18, 2007. (international)

Park, Sarah. “Korean American Children’s Literature.” The Korean American Experience, Dr. Nancy Abelmann, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. April 17, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Korean American Children’s Literature.” Literature and Resources for Young Adults, Instructor Loretta Gaffney, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. February 21, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Korean American Children’s Literature.” Literature and Resources for Young Adults (LEEP), Instructor Anna Nielsen, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. February 21, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Asian American Children’s Literature.” Asian American Popular Culture, Dr. Kent A. Ono, Asian American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. September 14, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “The Five Chinese Brothers: Orientalism and Children’s Literature.” Chinese American Experience, Instructor Shanshan Lan, Asian American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. September 13, 2006.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “The First Ever Diversity Baseline Survey.” Faculty Research Coffee Hour, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. April 18, 2016.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Storying Adoption: Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Youth Literature.” Summer Chautauqua, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. August 5, 2013.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Who is ‘The Other’? Alvin Ho: Not Allergic to Playing Indian, Feathers, and Other Stereotypical Things.” Faculty Research Coffee Hour, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. February 18, 2013.

“MLA and YOU: Knowledge Networking for New Students and Librarians.” Session organized by the St. Catherine University MLIS Program’s ALA Student Chapter for the Minnesota Library Association – Minnesota Libraries: A Capitol Idea conference. October 4, 2012.

Park, Sarah. “Diversifying the Academy: Going to Graduate School for Asian American Studies.” Midwest Asian American Student Union Conference, Minneapolis, MN. April 9, 2011.

Park, Sarah. “Asian American Studies Courses in College.” Parent Workshop, Kamp Kimchee: Korean Family Camp, Brainerd, MN. July 14, 2010.

Park, Sarah “Adoption: History, Advocacy and Social Justice.” Midwest Asian American Student Union Conference, Columbus, OH. April 10, 2010.

Park, Julie and Sarah Park. “Diversifying the Academy: Going to Graduate School to be a Professor or Student Affairs Administrator.” Midwest Asian American Student Union Conference, Columbus, OH. April 10, 2010.

Park, Sarah “Transracial Asian Adoption: History, Advocacy and Social Justice.” Asian Women’s Association, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. March 18, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Information Seeking Behaviors of Transnationally Adopted Koreans.” Monday Night Community Gathering, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. March 15, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Books.” St. Catherine University Scholars’ Circle at the Minneapolis Campus, St. Catherine University, Minneapolis, MN. March 11, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Representations of Transracial Korean Adoption in Children’s Books.” St. Catherine University Scholars’ Circle at the St. Paul Campus, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. February 25, 2010.

Park, Sarah. “Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards.” 8th Annual Booked For the Evening:  Children’s and Young Adult Literature Review, Alumnae Association, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. November 2, 2009.

Park, Sarah. “Mirroring Adoption: Illusions of Transracially Adopted Koreans in Children’s and Young Adult Literature.” Monday Night Community Gathering, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. February 23, 2009.

Park, Sarah. “Truth be Told: Learning East Asian History through Children’s Literature.” Parent Workshop. Kamp Kimchee: Korean Family Camp, Brainerd, MN. July 10, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “‘I Flew to My Parents on a Spaceship’: Adopted Koreans in Children’s Picture Books.” IMLS Project Athena Workshop, American Library Association, Washington, D.C, June 22, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “Issues in Chinese American History and Chinese American Children’s Literature.” Parent Workshop, Illinois Chinese Adoptee Sibling Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. April 21, 2007.

Park, Sarah. “4-29 in the Public and Private Spheres: The 1992 Los Angeles Riots.” Korean Culture Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. April 15, 2007.                                                                                                                                    

Park, Sarah. “Double Vision: Korean Adoptees in Children’s Literature.” Research Forum, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. December 6, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Doctoral Research in Children’s Literature.” Youth Services Meeting at the Center for Children’s Books, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. September 11, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Networking and Mentoring: A Guide to Creating a Successful Graduate Studies Career.” Graduate Students of Color Welcome, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. September 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Issues in Korean American History and Korean American Children’s Literature.” Parent Workshop. Kamp Kimchee: Korean Family Camp, Brainerd, MN. July 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Beyond the Library: Getting a Ph.D in LIS.” SILS Student Association. School of Information and Library Science, Pratt Institute, New York, NY. April 18, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Diversity in Children’s Literature.” PULSE Knowledge Seminar. School of Information and Library Science, Pratt Institute, New York, NY. April 18, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “Welcome Address.” Emerging Critical Scholarship on Asian Pacific American Issues: A Graduate Students Conference, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. March 3-4, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “‘We Can and Wish to Speak for Ourselves’: Korean Adoptees in Children’s Literature.” Emerging Critical Scholarship on Asian Pacific American Issues: A Graduate

Students Conference, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. March 3-4, 2006.

Park, Sarah. “‘We Can and Wish to Speak for Ourselves’: Korean Adoptees in Children’s Literature.” Research Showcase Poster Session, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. March 2006.
Park, Sarah. Panelist, “Life After College: Pursuing Asian American Studies in Grad School.” East Coast Asian American Student Union Conference, Washington, D.C. February 19, 2006.

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

St. Catherine University

  • University
    • Faculty Co-Advisor, Asian Women’s Association, 2009-current
    • US Department of Education grant for institutions serving Asian American students committee (2016-current)
    • Member, School of Business and Professional Studies, Course Capacities Ad Hoc Committee, 2015
    • Member, School of Business and Professional Studies, Meetings Ad Hoc Committee, 2015
    • Focus on Academic and Community Environments (FACES), 2011-2013
    • Department Assessment Lead, MLIS Program, 2009-2010
  • Information Management Department and MLIS Program
    • Member, Marketing Committee, 2016-current
    • Faculty advisor, American Library Association Student Chapter, 2011-current
    • Chair, Faculty Development Committee, 2015-current
    • Chair, Student Services Committee, 2010-2015
    • Convener, Twin Cities Youth Literature Interest Group, 2009-2014, 2016-current
    • Reviewer, Student ePortfolios, 2014-2015
    • Admissions Committee, 2013 fall, 2013 spring, 2010-2011
    • Co-Chair, New Faculty Search, 2012
    • Faculty Assessment Committee, 2009-2010
    • Syllabus Committee, 2009-2010
    • Scholarship Committee, 2009-2010
    • Advisory Council, 2009-2010

Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

  • Judge, Doctoral Poster Session, 2015, 2013, 2010
  • Chair, ALISE/LMC Paper Award Committee, 2013-2014
  • Co-Chair, Youth Services Special Interest Group, 2012-2013
  • Chair, University of Washington Graduate Student Travel Award Jury, 2013
  • Member, ALISE/University of Washington Information School Youth Services Graduate Student Travel Award Committee, 2009

American Library Association (ALA)

  • Appointed Member, Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, Editorial Advisory Committee (2016-2018)
  • Appointed Member, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) ALA Annual President’s Program Planning Task Force, 2016
  • Appointed Member, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Cultural Competencies Task Force, 2014-2015
  • APALA representative, ALA Committee on Education’s Joint Working Group on Diversity and LIS Education, 2011-2014
  • Chair of Children’s Literature Bibliography, Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, ALA Family Literacy Focus Task Force, 2010-current
  • Member, Spectrum Doctoral Scholarship Jury, 2013

University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Children’s Literature Research Collection, Kerlan Friends Board

  • Elected Member, 2011-current
  • Co-Chair, Kerlan Award Ceremony, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015
  • ALSC Arbuthnot Lecture Planning Committee, 2013-2014
  • Member, Kerlan Award Ceremony planning committee, 2014, 2013, 2012

Institute of Museum and Library Services

  • Member, Advisory Board, Project READY: Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth: A Professional Development Curriculum, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2016-current
  • Member, Advisory Board, App Gap, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014-2015

National Endowment for the Humanities – Humanities Collection and Reference Resources

  • Member, Advisory Board, International Directory of Special Collections in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, 2016-current

Children’s Literature Association

  • Elected Member, Diversity Committee, 2010-2013
  • Co-Convener, Diversity Panel, 2010-2011

Manuscript Reviews

  • Amerasia Journal
  • Children’s Literature journal
  • Children’s Literature Association Quarterly journal
  • Children’s Literature in Education journal
  • Journal of Family Issues
    Journal of Graduate Research in Young People’s Materials and Culture
  • Routledge

Literary Awards Committees

  • Chair, Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Literature Awards Committee for Children’s Literature, 2011-2013
  • Member, Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Literature Awards Committee for Picture Books and YA/Children’s Literature, 2009-2011
  • Member, Jane Addams Children’s Books Award Committee, 2006-2010

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Mentor, Asian American Cultural Center Mentoring Program, 2005-2007
  • President, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization, 2006-2007
  • Member, Asian American Cultural Center Advisory Committee, 2005-2007
  • Designer, Bibliographies and Book Displays for the GSLIS Center for Children’s Books (Black History Month, President’s Day, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month), 2004-2007
  • Graduate Student Representative, Asian American Studies Program Assistant Director Search Committee, 2006       
  • Co-Coordinator, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization Conference, 2005-2006        
  • Vice-President, Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization, 2005-2006

Planning Committee, Library and Information Science Organizations at the 2005 Association for Asian American Studies Conference, 2004-2005


ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • International Research Society for Children’s Literature, 2013-current, 2007-2008, 2013-current
  • ALISE Youth Services Special Interest Group, 2005-current
  • Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), 2004-current
  • American Library Association (ALA), 2003-current
  • ALA Ethnic Materials and Information Exchange Round Table, 2003-current
  • ALA Association for Library Services to Children, 2003-current
  • ALA Young Adult Library Services Association, 2003-current
  • Children’s Literature Association, 2005-current
  • ALA Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, 2008-current
  • International Board on Books for Young People, 2009-current
  • Association of Asian American Studies, 2002-2012
  • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, 2005-2010
  • UIUC Youth Literature Interest Group, 2005-2009
  • UIUC Asian Pacific American Graduate Students Organization, 2004-2009
  • Covenant Fellowship Church Graduate Bible Study, 2004-2007
  • UIUC Korean American Student Association, 2004-2007
  • Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, 2003-2006
  • UCLA Korean Graduate Student Association, 2003-2004
  • UCLA Asian American Studies Graduate Student Association, 2002-2004
  • Asian Professionals Exchange, 2002-2004
  • UCLA Han Ool Lim, Korean Culture Awareness Group, 2000-2003
  • Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church, 1999-2003
  • UCLA Korean Student Association, 1998-2002
  • UCLA Poong Mul / Sa Mul No Ri (Traditional Korean Drumming), 2001

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

  • Asian American Studies Courses in College
    Youth Teacher, Kamp Kimchee, Brainerd, MN, July 14, 2010
  • International Korean Adoptee Associations Gathering 2007
    Volunteer, Seoul, Korea, August 1-5, 2007
  • Contemporary Korean/Korean American Culture
    Youth Teacher, Kamp Kimchee, Brainerd, MN, July 9-13, 2007
  • Contemporary Korean/Korean American Culture
    Youth Teacher, Kamp Kimchee, Brainerd, MN, July 10-14, 2006
  • Chicago Kollaboration
    Korean American Youth Talent Show, 2004-2005
  • Korean American Intercollegiate Network
    National Chair, 2001-2002
  • Korean Culture Night
    Finance Director, Screenwriter and Director, UCLA, 2000-2001

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Graduate Assistant, UIUC Asian American Studies Program, 2006-2007
  • Fellow, Project Athena: Spinning the Web of our Future, 2004-2006
  • Project Athena Outcomes Based Evaluation Workshop, Orlando, Florida, 2004
  • Research Assistant, UCLA Asian American Studies Program, Dr. Henry Yu, Asian Pacific American History Collective, 2001-2004
  • Receptionist and Amerasia Journal Database Editor, UCLA Asian American Studies Center Management, 2001-2002

STUDY PROGRAMS

OTHER FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS & AWARDS

  • UIUC GSLIS Conference Travel Award ($500 Association for Library and Information Science Education Conference), 2008
  • UIUC Outstanding Asian American Graduate Student Leader Award, 2007
  • UIUC GSLIS Reece Fund Award ($1,100 University of Minnesota Research Trip), 2007
  • UIUC GSLIS Lucile Huntington Wilkinson Fellowship Conference Travel Award ($1,000 IRSCL Conference Kyoto), 2007
  • Korean American Scholarship Foundation, 2007
  • IMLS Project Athena Professional Development Fellowship Travel (Association for Library and Information Science Education Conference), 2007
  • UIUC Susan Yung Maul Award for Outstanding Asian American Program/Event, 2006
  • UIUC GSLIS McAlister Travel Fellowship ($3,700 Korea Library and Information Science Study Abroad Program), 2006
  • UIUC GSLIS Lucile Huntington Wilkinson Fellowship Conference Travel Award ($1,000 The Child and the Book Conference Newcastle), 2006
  • IMLS Project Athena Professional Development Fellowship Travel (Association for Library and Information Science Education Conference), 2006
  • Korean American Scholarship Foundation, 2006
  • Korean Embassy Honor Scholarship, 2006
  • Institute of Museum and Library Science Project Athena Fellowship, 2004-2006
  • Korean Embassy Honor Scholarship, 2005
  • UIUC Asian American Leadership Award, 2005
  • IMLS Project Athena Professional Development Fellowship Travel ($370 American Library Association Conference), 2005
  • IMLS Project Athena Professional Development Fellowship Travel (Association for Library and Information Science Education Conference), 2005
  • IMLS Project Athena Professional Development Fellowship Travel ($1,080 East Coast Asian American Student Union Conference), 2005
  • UCLA Provost Honors List, 2001-2004
  • UCLA Dean’s List, 1999-2004
  • Kyunggi High School Alumnae Association Scholarship, 2001

Updated June 6, 2016