Magen Bednar, CULLS

Name:

Magen Bednar

Title:

Assistant Professor

Department:

College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences

Describe your research in about 200 words.

I’m interested in how leadership and communication practices shape the everyday experiences of library employees and users. My work draws from professional experience in user services and supervision, and explores topics such as trauma-informed leadership, boundaries, avoidance, and conflict management. I’m especially curious about how dysfunctional leadership behaviors at the senior level affect employee empowerment, equity, and student success. Through reflective case studies and practice-based inquiry, I hope to contribute to conversations about creating more transparent, inclusive, and supportive library workplaces. My long-term goal is to better understand how interpersonal dynamics and structural decisions intersect—and how we can lead more intentionally because of it.

What’s the most interesting thing you have learned from a student?

A student once taught me about the intricacies of typography design and how deeply type influences visual culture. It made me see everyday text—signs, websites, even library materials—in a completely new way.