New Leader To Advance Diversity, Equity And Inclusion
On January 29th, 2024, Dr. Mark Winston began his tenure as the inaugural Black chief executive officer of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System.
In its 78-year history, Winston marks a significant milestone as the library’s first CEO of color, now leading one of Maryland’s most diverse communities. Prince George’s County is over 60% Black and nearly 21% Hispanic/Latino.
As Winston put it, “It is humbling and motivating to think of my appointment as a milestone.” The Maryland native looks forward to establishing partnerships and engaging stakeholders from county agencies to community groups.
Impressive Track Record In Library Leadership
Winston makes the move from executive director roles at the J. Lewis Crozer Library and Widener University. He also brings over a decade of experience as a library director, university administrator, and faculty member at Rutgers, UNC-Chapel Hill, and other institutes.
As an author and researcher on libraries’ socioeconomic roles with 40+ publications, Winston has received national awards lauding his contributions to diversity in the field. He is already advancing conversations around access and inequality in his new position.
Confidence In Advancing An Innovative, Inclusive Vision
The library system’s Board of Trustees expressed great confidence in Winston’s ability to lead Prince George’s County libraries forward. As chair Angela D. Smith declared,
“We are confident he will move our system forward providing resources and services to our large and diverse communities.”
For his part, Winston conveyed enthusiasm about collaborating with staff and trustees toward the library’s mission around innovation, democracy and equity. Together, they are writing the next chapter in PGCMLS history.
