Thank you to everyone that attended the ACRL Digital Badge Interest Group's (DBIG) webinar entitled, "Digital Badging: Bridging the gap between Non-Credit and Credit Credentials." This session was presented by Melissa Jimenez, MBA, and Torrie Costantino was held February 18, 2026.
If you weren't able to attend the live session, here is the link to the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5RGORxuYQI
Save the date!
We also hope you'll join us for our April event on April 8 at 1pm CST! This webinar will be hosted by librarians from Vanderbilt University. See details below!
Webinar title: From Silos to Synergy: Badging for a Holistic Student Experience
Date: April 8
Time: 1pm CST
Registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/V2dkTF1pT6m7e9UyBsSZ7Q
Description: Digital badges are a popular and well-established platform for students to showcase "power skills," such as communication and critical thinking, so they can leverage themselves in an ever-competitive job market. In this session, librarians at Vanderbilt University will discuss the adoption of digital badges by their university's career center, and the development of two new badges accessible to all undergraduates via the libraries. These badges promote lifelong information literacy and democratize educational opportunities, bypassing the exclusivity of Greek life and competitive campus programs. The presenters will share the development, activities, and marketing of these badges, highlighting administrative support and providing actionable tips for attendees to implement similar initiatives at their institutions.
Presenters:
Robbi De Peri, MLIS, has over 20 years of research experience across corporate and academic library environments and has been with the Walker Management Library at Vanderbilt University since 2008. She currently serves as Librarian for Business, providing research and reference support to the Owen Graduate School of Management and the broader Vanderbilt community.
She is an active member of the American Library Association's Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). De Peri is the creator of the VU Business Insights digital badge, which introduces undergraduate students to essential business research skills. She is also co-author of the BRASS Digital Badging and Microcredential Research Guide.
Leslie Foutch, MLS, serves as Librarian for Student Engagement and Success at Vanderbilt University. With over 28 years' experience in academic libraries, she demonstrates a sustained commitment to holistic student development and academic success. In her role, she leads initiatives that identify, implement, and assess student engagement opportunities across diverse disciplines and learning environments. Foutch is the author of the Heard Libraries 4 U digital badge which provides a foundation for student connection, engagement, and learning within Vanderbilt's Heard libraries.
Melissa Mallon, MLIS, is Associate University Librarian for Teaching & Learning at Vanderbilt University. Mallon has published, presented, and taught professional development courses in the areas of academic library leadership and management, online learning, instructional design, and the impact of information and digital literacies on student learning. Her books include Partners in Teaching & Learning: Coordinating a Successful Academic Library Instruction Program; The Pivotal Role of Academic Librarians in Digital Learning; and the co-edited volumes, The Grounded Instruction Librarian: Participating in the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning and Exploring Inclusive & Equitable Pedagogies: Creating Space for All Learners.
------------------------------
Sarah Morris
Assistant Director of Academic Engagement
University of Georgia Libraries
She/Her/Hers
------------------------------