Invasion of Privacy: Research Instruction Librarian Becky Leathersich

Photo courtesy of Keith Walters

Librarian Becky Leathersich among other librarian staff on campus enjoy helping students on campus, as she was once a student on the Geneseo campus who utilized the library resources.

Rebecca “Becky” Leathersich serves as an associate librarian here on the SUNY Geneseo campus but fills roles as much more than that, becoming an incredibly active and involved member of the campus community since her return to her alma mater as a faculty member in May of 2020. Currently, she takes on the helm of being the Asian Studies Program Coordinator, Korean American Student Association (KASA) Advisor, and a member of both the President’s Commission on Diversity and Community and Library Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee— all while completing her duties as Research Instruction Librarian. 

She got her start in higher learning at Geneseo, majoring in and completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication; she finished as a member of the class of 2014. While there, she sought to become a sports journalist. The Lamron even served as a piece of this journey, where during her time at Geneseo, she was the organization’s assistant copy sports editor, sports editor, and managing editor at one point or another. She gained even more journalistic experience through internships at The Kansas City Star and Albany’s Times Union. 

At the start of her professional career, though, she quickly discovered the journalist lifestyle was not for her, stating, “…I realized it was not the right career choice for me. Being an Asian American woman in sports journalism, I faced microaggressions and other forms of discrimination, plus I knew someday I wanted to start a family, and it didn’t seem like a viable career in that way.” 

These experiences would then lead her to not only becoming a librarian but also an advocate, remarking, “ I hope that my commitment to diversity is clear to our college community and that students, especially Asian Americans, Korean Americans, and transracial adoptees, know that I am here for them in the community. My door is always open to students who may need someone to talk to, especially with someone who may have shared racial or ethnic experiences.”

After wondering which career to pursue outside of journalism, her reflections on her long-standing love for books and their potential power, and her background in the field of education —having completed block I of Geneseo’s Childhood/Special Education program during undergrad— she landed on becoming a librarian. From there, she completed her Master’s in Library and Information Science at Syracuse University, spending four years as a school librarian before returning to her alma mater under an academic librarianship. 

When commenting on Milne Library’s recent reopening, she remarked, “Personally, I was especially excited over the re-opening, as I hadn't worked in the Milne Library building yet,” adding, “As a student, I enjoyed utilizing the library services and space alongside my peers. It was lovingly known as ‘Club Milne.’”

Leathersich encourages all students on campus to utilize library resources to their fullest potential. Being able to access copious amounts of academic research and books for class, personal research, or enjoyment free of cost is truly a luxury each student should appreciate to its fullest. The librarians are also available for one-on-one or small group support if a student struggles with a particular assignment, particularly finding adequate research/resources for a project’s completion. They are available for all Geneseo students to use, and all enjoy getting face-to-face time with the campus’s study body.

In her other roles on campus, she appreciates how she gets “ …to interact with students in ways outside of my primary role” and that “Through these additional roles, I have met students who I may not have known otherwise or gotten to know as well.”

Leathersich’s commitment to her primary role on this campus and to the campus and its community more broadly is incredibly evident. She has a strong enthusiasm for diversity and equity in all that she works on and is a wonderful resource and friendly face on our college’s campus.