W. Tali Hairston, Ph.D. was appointed to the Library Board by Mayor Jenny Durkan in March 2020 and reappointed by Mayor Harrell in May 2023. He directs the Nehemiah Initiative and is the principal researcher and owner of Equitable Development LLC, an education research and community development firm. Dr. Hairston is a published researcher and co-principal investigator for university physics and equity research work under multiple National Science Foundation awards. He is also a recognized scholar on faith, race, liberation, and international community development. Nationally and internationally, Dr. Hairston serves executive leaders, municipalities, non-profits, denominations, schools, universities, and for-profits, including projects in Colombia, Cambodia, South Africa, Jamaica, and Vietnam. He was awarded the Jurisprudence Champion Award – Section on Public Law and Administration (2016) for contributions to the practice of public law and administration and awarded the Franklin High School Public Service Academy “Spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award” (January 2017).

The “Cataloging the Culture” podcast is a groundbreaking platform that amplifies the voices and stories of Black men working in libraries across the nation—through a monthly series. Hosted by Dr. Karlos L. Marshall of the Dayton Metro Library, each monthly episode delves into their unique journeys, from discovering the profession to navigating challenges, and celebrating successes in a field where they remain underrepresented. https://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/catalogingculture/