Virginia Library Association Names KT Vaughan Inaugural Academic Librarian of the Year

(Fishersville, VA - 09/17/2026) — The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is pleased to announce KT Vaughan of Washington & Lee University as the recipient of the inaugural Academic Librarian of the Year Award.

Established in 2026 by VLA President Nancy Falciani (University of Richmond), the Academic Librarian of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in academic librarianship across the Commonwealth. As the first recipient of the award, Vaughan is recognized for a body of work that includes 25 years of service.

KT Vaughan’s accomplishments span nearly every facet of academic librarianship, from staff development to fundraising, programming, and community engagement. Among her most significant recent achievements was her leadership of a major special collections reading room renovation and rededication. Vaughan secured $1.35 million in funding for the project, coordinated collaboration among library staff, architects, contractors, and university partners, and guided the project through its successful reopening in October 2025. She has also worked to strengthen the library’s long-term infrastructure and services by securing funding for preservation, digital initiatives, and improvements to library spaces.

Vaughan’s leadership has been equally significant in building an inclusive and supportive library workplace. She helped establish residency opportunities designed to recruit and support librarians from backgrounds underrepresented in the profession, mentored emerging professionals, and contributed to regional and national conversations about recruitment, retention, disability, accessibility, and equity in academic libraries. Her scholarship and professional service have included work focused on disability in the academic library workplace as well as presentations and leadership within library organizations at the state, regional, and national levels.
On campus, Vaughan has expanded the library’s visibility as a center for scholarship, culture, and community. Her leadership has supported faculty author programs, events addressing censorship and intellectual freedom, collaborative campus initiatives, improvements to the library’s web presence, and new opportunities to highlight the scholarship and creative work of the university community. She also secured grant funding and led planning for the library’s 250th anniversary, bringing together campus and community partners for programs celebrating the library’s history and continuing role in academic life.

Vaughan has also played an important role in strengthening the profession beyond her institution. Her leadership as the 2022 President of the Virginia Library Association helped guide the Association through structural and inclusion-focused improvements. Vaughan's work included support in revitalizing the Virginia Library Leadership Academy (VALLA), establishing a formal Virginia Academic Library Consortium (VIVA) liaison to VLA Council, and guidance in the awards program to better reflect the the Association's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The multiple nominations for Vaughan consistently emphasized her ability to pair ambitious strategic goals with tangible improvements for students, faculty, staff, and the community. Through her leadership, the library has become more visible, accessible, and deeply integrated into the academic and cultural life of Washington and Lee University.

The Virginia Library Association also added two academic subcategories to existing awards in 2026. VLA is proud to recognize Rebecca “Becca” Arm, George Mason University Libraries, the inaugural Outstanding Professional Associates Award winner in the academic category and Rachel N. Hogan, William & Mary Libraries, the inaugural Academic Up and Comer Award winner. Arm received the award for expanding student-centered collections and integrating graphic novels into the university library. Hogan received the award for her work in building a digital humanities program that has expanded support for faculty and student research.

By selecting KT Vaughan as its first Academic Librarian of the Year, VLA recognizes her individual accomplishments and the essential contributions academic librarians make throughout Virginia. The Association congratulates all of the inaugural academic award winners and their impact on the Commonwealth's student learners.