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

Associate Professor

Master of Library and Information Science Program

St. Catherine University

spark (at) stkate (dot) edu

http:// sarahpark . com

@readingspark

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

  • Faculty Research Award, Children’s Literature Association, 2019
  • Faculty Research and Scholarly Activities Grant, St. Catherine University, 2019-2020
  • Diversity Award, Children’s Literature Association, 2017
  • 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
  • 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

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

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS

Rhodes, Cristina and Sarah Park Dahlen. Activism. (under contract; publication projected 2022). In History of Children’s Literature in English Volume 3: 1914-Present, edited by Katharine Capshaw, Kenneth Kidd, and Zoe Jacques. Cambridge University Press.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2020; under review). Authenticity. In Keywords for Children’s Literature 2nd edition, edited by Philip Nel, Lissa Paul, and Nina Christensen. New York University Press. 

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (in press). 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. 

Dahlen, Sarah Park. Asian American Children’s Literature. (2019 February 25). In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature, edited by Josephine Lee (general editor), Floyd Cheung, Jennifer Ho, Anita Mannur, and Cathy Schlund-Vials. Oxford University Press.

Backman, Antonio, Chayse Sundt, and Sarah Park Dahlen. (2018). Asian American Teen Fiction: An Urban Public Library Analysis. In Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2018). “Birth Searching: Transnationally Adopted Koreans in Search of Self.” In Growing Up Asian American, edited by Ymitri Mathison. University of Mississippi Press.

Amelia Gibson, Renate Chancellor, Nicole Cooke, Sarah Park Dahlen, Shari Lee, and Yasmeen Shorish. (2017). In “Never Neutral: Positioning Libraries and Librarians in the Fight for Social Justice.” In Black Lives Matter for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Special issue. Emerald Group Publishing.

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. (This book received the Children’s Literature Association Edited Book Honor in 2018.)

BOOK

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Paul Lai. (under contract and in progress; projected 2019). Asian Pacific American Children’s and Young Adult Literature. ALA Editions.

EDITED WORKS

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Gabriella Atwood Halko (co-founders and co-editors.) (2017-2019). Research on Diversity in Youth Literature. St. Catherine University Master of Library and Information Science and University Library.

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.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Dahlen, Sarah Park. (2017 May). “A Step from Heaven: On Being a Woman of Color in Children’s Literature Studies” In Forum: #WeNeedDiverseScholars, edited by Karin Westman and Katherine Slater, The Lion and the Unicorn 41.

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.

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/)

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS – JURIED

Halko, Gabrielle Atwood and Sarah Park Dahlen. “Creating the Space We Need: Inquiry, Representation and Community on the Path to a New Scholarly Journal.” Spirited Inquiry: National Council of Teachers of English annual conference, Baltimore, MD. November 2019.  

Lai, Paul and Sarah Park Dahlen. “Hello, Universe, Hello, Asian American Children’s and Young Adult Literature in Public Libraries.” Stronger Together: Minnesota Library Association, Mystic Lake Center, MN. September 19-20, 2019.

Harstad, Jane, Hannah Buckland, Meghan Crandall, McKayla Schafer, Robyn Westrem, and Sarah Park Dahlen. “Indigenous Representations: Evaluating Resources and Creating Partnerships.” Stronger Together: Minnesota Library Association, Mystic Lake Center, MN. September 19-20, 2019. 

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Silence, Sorrow, and Separation: Birth Mothers and Birth Searching in Children’s Fiction.” Silence and Silencing in Children’s Literature: International Research Society for Children’s Literature biennial congress, Stockholm, Sweden. August 14-18, 2019. (international)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “The ‘Most Celebrated Cohort’: Asian American Children’s Literature By and About the Children and Grandchildren of 1965.” Sanctuary, Fugitivity, and the Ungovernable: Association for Asian American Studies annual conference, Madison, WI. April 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “The Most Celebrated Cohort”? Asian American Children’s Literature. Refreshing Waters/Turbulent Waters: Children’s Literature Association annual conference, San Antonio, TX. June 2018.

Dahlen, Sarah Park, Jamie Naidoo Campbell, Edith Campbell, and Irania Patterson. “A Radical Interpretation of the New ALSC Competencies.” American Library Association annual conference, Chicago, IL. June 2017.

Dahlen, Sarah Park, panelist. “Teaching for Racial Justice.” Communities in Crisis: What Everyday Acts of Terrorism Tell Us About Social Responsibility in LIS, Community Engagement & Social Responsibility: Association for Library and Information Science Education annual conference, Atlanta, GA. January 18, 2017.

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.

PLENARIES & KEYNOTE SPEECHES

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Title TBD” (plenary).  University of Antwerp Children’s Literature Summer School. Antwerp, Belgium. July 2020. (international)

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Title TBD” (keynote).  ITEM Fall Conference. Minneapolis, MN. October 12, 2019. 

Dahlen, Sarah Park and Shannon Gibney. “Diversifying Books, Especially for Children” (keynote). MN Writing & English Conference: Connecting Reading and Writing. Minneapolis, MN. April 5-6, 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Power Up TOGETHER: A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” (keynote). Power Up Conference. University of Wisconsin-Madison the iSchool, Madison, WI. March 28-29, 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity in Youth Literature: History, Context, and Issues.” The Friends of the Library Fall Gathering, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. October 9, 2017.

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

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity and Activism in and Through Youth Literature.” Reading Partners. Minneapolis, MN. March 2019. 

Campbell, Edith, Sarah Park Dahlen, Patricia E. Enciso, and Jamie Campbell Naidoo. Big Ideas Session: A is for Advocacy. All Aboard! Embracing Advocacy and Inclusion: ALSC Institute. Cincinnati, OH. Sept 26-29, 2018.

Dahlen, Sarah Park, Alia Jones, Tori Ogawa, Amy Reyes, and Soraya Silverman. “WNDB Presents: To Niche or not To Niche: Shelving Diverse Books in Your Collection.” ALA Midwinter, Denver, CO, February 11, 2018.

Campbell, Edith, Sarah Park Dahlen, Laura Jiménez, and Elisa Gall. “#Indivisible10 Reading, Responding, & Resisting: Anti-Racist Advocacy in the World of Education, Librarianship, & Children’s & YA Literature.” Indivisible 10 Years Later – Conversations in Social Justice: Teaching Through Literature for Children and Young Adults. Center for Teaching Through Children’s Books at National Louis University, Chicago, IL. October 14, 2017.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity in Children’s Literature: An Overview of Contexts and Issues.” Camp-Read-a-Lot. Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, Rochester, MN. August 15, 2017.

Edith Campbell, Oralia Garza de Cortés, Kathleen T. Horning, Ellen Oh, Aisha Saeed, Sarah Park Dahlen, and Tim Tingle. “Why is it so Difficult to Talk about Race, Culture, and Other Marginalizations in Children’s Literature?” ALSC Mini-Institute, American Library Association pre-conference, Atlanta, GA. January 20, 2017.

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, 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)

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.

INVITED GUEST LECTURES

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Being Asian in the Wizarding World: Cho Chang, Harry Potter, & Me.” Residence Life Gryffindor Tower, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. March 18, 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Being Asian in the Wizarding World: Cho Chang, Harry Potter, & Me.” Residence Life Gryffindor Tower, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN. February 26, 2018.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Asian Pacific American Youth Literature.” Literature for Children and Adolescents, Professor Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. September 7, 2017.

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. “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. “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.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Dahlen, Sarah Park, Rashin Kheriyeh, Minh Lê, and Christina Soontornvat. “Asian American Children’s Literature.” Asian American Literature Festival, Smithsonian APAC and Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., August 4, 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “ALSC Nominating and Leadership Development Committee webinar.” Association for Library Service for Children, May 14, 2019.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Asian American Youth Literature.” School Library Journal, Oct 2017, March 2018, Oct 2018, March 2019, May 2019.  

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Writing for Children.” POC Writers Class. The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN, August 1, 2018.

Dahlen, Sarah Park. “Diversity Activism and Youth Literature.” Osseo ISD 279 School Library Media Specialist workshop, Osseo, MN, May 18, 2018.

Dahlen, Sarah Park, Hena Khan, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, and Susan Tan. “Asian American Youth Literature.” Asian American Literature Festival, Smithsonian APAC and Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. July 28, 2017.

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. “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.

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, 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. “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. “‘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.

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

St. Catherine University

  • University
    • Elected Member, University Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure Committee, 2019-current
      • Departmental Norms Sub-Committee, 2019-current
    • Member, St. Kate’s One Read for Racial Justice Planning Committee (Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen), 2019-2020
    • St. Kate’s Parable of the Sower Planning Committee, 2018-2019
    • St. Kate’s One Read for Racial Justice Planning Committee, 2016-2017
    • Faculty Co-Advisor, Asian Women’s Association, 2009-2017
    • 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, SLMS Coordinator/Assistant Professor Search Committee, 2019
    • Chair, Diversity and Inclusion task force, 2016-current
    • Member, Marketing task force, 2016-2017
    • Faculty Advisor, American Library Association Student Chapter, 2011-current
    • Chair, Faculty Development Committee, 2015-current
    • Member, Student Services Committee, 2015-current
    • Chair, Student Services Committee, 2010-2015
    • Convener, Twin Cities Youth Literature Interest Group, 2009-2014, 2016-current

Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

  • Member, ALISE/University of Washington Information School Youth Services Graduate Student Travel Award Committee, 2009
  • 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

American Library Association (ALA)

  • Appointed Chair, 2020 National Institute Planning Task Force, Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), 2019-2020
  • Appointed Member, Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Nominating & Leadership Development Committee, 2017-2019
  • Elected Member, Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Newbery Award Selection Committee, 2017-2018
  • 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) Competencies Revision Task Force, 2016-2017
  • Appointed Member, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) ALA Annual President’s Program Planning Task Force, 2016
  • 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, 2011-2016
  • 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

Association for Asian American Studies

  • Co-chair, Cultural Heritage, Archives, Libraries, and Information Science (CHALIS) section, 2019-2021

Library of Congress, Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader

  • Invited Member, Selection Committee for the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2017-2019

The Loft Literary Center

  • Community Liaison, Mirror and Windows, 2018-current
  • Invited Member, WORD PLAY Advisory Council, 2017-current
  • Teaching Artist, as invited

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
  • Rowman and Littlefield

Children’s and Young Adult Book Consultations and Blurbs

  • Arthur A. Levine Books / Scholastic
  • Capstone
  • Clarion
  • Lerner
  • Penguin Random House / Kokila

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 Wisconsin-Madison

  • Project consultant, School of Education Cooperative Children’s Book Center GeoDeepDive, 2018-present

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • BCALA, 2017-current
  • 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

Updated August 2019