Erica Saito MI’19 is a librarian at the World Bank, based in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Brazil, she came to the United States in 2014. She holds a Master of Information from SC&I, as well as master’s degrees in Libraries and Digital Information Services and Libraries and Documental Heritage from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid as well as a bachelor’s degree in Librarianship from Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil.

Shortly after receiving her MI, Saito was selected as a 2020 ALA Emerging Leader by the American Library Association. When she learned of this honor, Saito said, “I was extremely blessed in 2019. I graduated, I got a new job, and now I just heard the news about the ALA Emerging Leaders Program. ALA is recognized internationally among the library community, and I never imagined that I could achieve such honor far from my home country Brazil.” Currently, Saito is serving a two-year term (2023-2025) as secretary and treasurer for the ALA International Relations Round Table (IRRT).

Saito puts her strong background in international organizations and cross-functional systems to good use working as part of teams that collaborate to provide research and reference services to internal clients within a fast-paced environment.

SC&I: What led you to choose the Master of Information program at SC&I?

ES: While exploring programs in the U.S. to pursue my MI, I had the opportunity to meet Rutgers alumna Kayo Denda ’97 at a conference. Denda is the head of the Margery Somers Foster Center at Douglass Library and a Librarian for Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers. She is an excellent professional and spoke highly of the program, which inspired me to apply.

SC&I: What SC&I classes or instructors had the most impact on you?

ES: I have taken many classes that have had a significant impact on me, but I want to highlight two in particular: Information Policy with Teaching Professor Nancy Kranich and Competitive Intelligence with Zena Applebaum. Competitive Intelligence has always fascinated me, and the concepts I learned in that class are directly applicable to my current work. Information Policy, on the other hand, opened my eyes to the pressing issues we face in the United States, such as cybersecurity, digital inclusion, intellectual property, etc.

SC&I: What advice do you have for current and prospective SC&I students?

ES: First, as someone who completed the program a few years after arriving in the U.S., I highly encourage international students to apply for the program. For current students, I advise that you don't wait until you graduate to find a job in the library field. While what we learn in school is important, applying this knowledge in a real-world setting will significantly boost your chances of securing a job in the future. Don't be afraid to ask for help; reach out to former students for advice.

Image: Erica Saito