Hi folks! I’m Amy Pajewski, an information professional and sort of jack-of-all-trades. I began my career in higher education because of my experience as a first-gen college student. I loved the support I received through my undergraduate and graduate education, and I’ve always wanted to be able to provide meaningful experiences for students as they embark on their journeys. If you’re curious about how libraries can impact students, stick around for some future blog posts or reach out!

What you will find here:

• Personal news, updates, DIY
• State of higher education/academic library news and/or musings
• Book & Product reviews
• Photography, knitting, and other creative endeavors

Quick bio

Amy Pajewski is a Student Success Librarian & Associate Professor at West Chester University. She leads the library’s First Year Writing instruction program in collaboration with a team of teaching librarians focused on enriching the first and second-year student experience and serves as co-chair to the University Library’s Outreach Team composed of library employees & student workers. As liaison to non-traditional departments, she collaborates with student success initiatives across campus, such as WCU’s Academic Success Program and West Chester’s First-Gen Initiative. Additionally, she serves as the subject librarian for the Higher Education Policy & Student Affairs master’s program at WCU and team-liaisons to the Doctorate of Education students within the Higher Ed track. Her research interests include exploring pedagogy practices in gen ed information lit instruction, library impact on student success, & how to close equity and opportunity gaps for our students / deal with the systemic problems within Higher Ed in the US. As a first-gen student, her perspective on student needs and well-being guide her practice, and she strives to lead with compassion & empathy.

Awards & Grants

Faculty Professional Development Council (FPDC), PASSHE, Summer 2023 

• $8,000 | Collaborators: Pajewski, Liu, McColl, Larivee  
• “Meeting the Challenges for Closing Equity and Achievement Gaps in College Completion: Exploring the Role of Academic Libraries.” 

CELT Grant, West Chester University, Spring 2021. 

• $2000 | Collaborators: Liu, Pajewski, McMullin 
• “Good Information for Better Decisions: An Interactive Learning Module of Information Source Evaluation for WCU Students.” 

Digital Learning Objects Initiative, West Chester University, Fall 2018.   

• $500 professional development funds.  
• Built open-source, 2-video information literacy series  available to all FYE courses and WRT 120 for Fall 2019.  

Spring 2017 Faculty Research & Development Grant ($1200.00) | Paul Smith’s College

Spring 2016 Faculty Research & Development Grant($1000.00) | Paul Smith’s College 

Spring 2015 ACRL Early-Career Librarian Scholarship recipient ($635.00) 

Spring 2015 Distinguished Lecture Series Grant ($3606.86) | West Texas A&M University | Funded Western writer, Laura Pritchett to campus and library 

Fall 2013 Distinguished Lecture Series Grant ($5042.00) | West Texas A&M University | Funded Western writer, Rick Bass to campus and library 

Summer 2013 Attended Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians 

Spring 2012 Outstanding Academic Excellence | Millersville University of Pennsylvania 

Spring 2012 Recognized by the Dean of Humanities for the paper, “Digital Poetry and its Convergence into New Media” Student Research Grant recipient ($393.44) | Millersville University of Pennsylvania 

Spring 2009 Laura B. Doering Outstanding Library Service Award recipient | Millersville University of Pennsylvania