Aimee Strittmatter brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, operations, program management and capacity building. She is a strategic thinker and collaborator working to solve problems and drive impact, both in cross-functional teams and as an individual contributor. Since 2021, Strittmatter has provided independent consulting services. She most recently provided project management support to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom with the design and implementation of the Law for Librarians/Lawyers for Libraries Initiative and the launch of the State Intellectual Freedom Helplines to defend against censorship in libraries. Prior to her work as a consultant, She most recently served as Executive Director of the Chicago-based Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), a national organization of 4,000 members dedicated to creating a better future for children through libraries. Strittmatter has strongly advocated for library service to children at the national level with Congressional staff; built long-term strategic partnerships with numerous national youth-serving organizations and secured critical funding to advance and expand the reach of the association; worked closely with member leaders and staff to incorporate best practices and align activities with the association’s mission and core values. Strittmatter has been responsible for directing numerous nationally recognized programs. Additionally, Strittmatter was responsible for managing the ALSC book and media awards program, which highlights excellence in children’s literature and includes the prestigious Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Prior to her work with ALSC, Strittmatter transformed communities, advocated for children and families, and served as a trusted community partner as children’s services supervisor for the Public Library of Westland, Michigan, and as a children’s librarian for the Chicago Public Library. With diversity in both lived and professional experiences, Strittmatter is strongly committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has steadfastly worked to increase EDI within the profession as well as children’s literature and programs and services. Organizational mission and core values drives Strittmatter’s steward leadership approach to leveraging opportunities and working through challenges and efficiencies to maximize growth and successfully manage change. As a proponent of life-long learning, she encourages and supports professional development at all levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with an additional major in anthropology from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan. She holds a certification in Women’s Executive Leadership from Cornell University.