MiALA Candidate Information
MiALA Board Candidate Information
Vice President/President-Elect (three-year term, one as Vice President, one as President, one as Past President)
Julie Garrison | |
| No Photo | Prior leadership experience: Julie has served on a myriad of boards, both local, statewide, and national. Julie has served in a variety of capacities within MiALA, including on the Conference Planning Committee, as the Advocacy Committee Chair, chair of the Administrative Section (pre-Interest Groups), and on a host of other committees. She also served as member-at-large of the Michigan Library Association (MLA) Board of Directors (2011-14) and was chair of the MLA ACRL Task Force (2011). Nationally, Julie has served on many committees, including serving as president of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). She also served as director-at-large on the ACRL Board of Directors (2012-16) and was a member of the ACRL Project Outcome Task Force (2017-18), the ACRL Standards for Libraries in Higher Education Task Force (2017) and the ACRL Research Coordinating Committee (2008-11), where she also served as chair (2010-11). She served as a member of the ACRL/DLS Guidelines Committee (2005-07), and the ACRL/DLS Web Committee (2003-07), where she also served as chair (2004-07). Why would you like to serve on the Board? Julie would be an excellent vice-president, president, and past president. She has a deep knowledge of MiALA and the statewide organization, as well as lasting relationships with multiple stakeholders in organizations across the state. She has been a member of MiALA since it's inception, including coordinating/spearheading the creation of MiALA. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? Julie has been active in MiALA for many years, and would be a great leader for our organization. |
Treasurer (two-year term)
| Caitlyn Stypa | |
| No Photo | Prior leadership experience: I have been serving on the board of Spartan Child Development Center for over three years, and I've been the vice president for the past two+ years. I am very comfortable with numbers, and I have a personal interest in finances, saving, and investing. I would like to continue the work of growing MiALA's financial foundation so that it can continue to grow as it pleases. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I want to become more involved in MiALA for the sake of giving back to the Michigan library community; additionally, I love the MiALA conference and believe I would enjoy and benefit greatly from better knowing and working with the people who help run MiALA and put on the conference. I also look forward to taking on a leadership role within such a far-reaching organization. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I am hoping to gain additional leadership experience, as well as additional board experience. I also have a desire to expand my professional network within Michigan and meet movers and shakers in the field. |
| Emilia Marcyk | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I have served in several MiALA positions over the years, including as the Public University Representative, the User Experience Section Board (when sections still existed), and the Information Literacy Interest Group Board. I was also on the taskforce that created the Interest Group Coordination Council. These experiences give me a firm grounding in MiALA's priorities and needs going forward. Why would you like to serve on the Board? MiALA is an important resource for academic librarians in Michigan, and I'd like to contribute to its ongoing vitality. I have served on MiALA boards and committees since the organization was founded. The role of treasurer specifically allows me to help translate member needs into reality and support the Board in using our resources for the greatest good. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? A greater understanding of MiALA's financial resources and the opportunity to give back to an organization that has supported me throughout my career. |
| Jessica Hronchek | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I have served several years on the MiALA conference committee, including one year as Chair for the 2022 virtual conference. This experience exposed me to the MiALA budget somewhat as we considered expenses and goals for the conference. I am currently on a 3-year term on the ACRL Budget and Finance Committee and have learned a lot from this bird's eye view of ACRL's finances. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I have had great experiences through MiALA since its inception. While serving in other volunteer capacities I always appreciated the insights shared through contact with the board and would like the opportunity to think more big picture about where MiALA is heading. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board?I think that the Treasurer is in a unique position to help facilitate both the goals and vision of the organization and its long-term financial health. I would look forward to learning more about how MiALA uses funds to accomplish its mission and advance conversations on the Board and beyond about MiALA's financial priorities. |
Publicly Funded College or University Representative (two-year term)
Andrew Lundeen | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I served on the MiALA Interest Group Coordination Council (IGCC) from 2021-2023, including as Chair from 2022-2023. I also served on the MiALA Advocacy Committee from 2019-2020. I have been an active member of many MiALA Interest Groups. Why would you like to serve on the Board? MiALA is a vital organization for librarians and library staff throughout the state, enabling collaboration, resource sharing, and professional development across a wide variety of institutions. I have been an active member of MiALA for many years, and would be honored to have the chance to give back to the organization by serving on the Board. Professionally, my dual background in digital curation and special collections librarianship has allowed me to bring a modern, data-focused approach to traditional special collections work, as well as to apply a historical, collections-based lens to the digital arena. Moreover, I have worked in a variety of library positions over the years, starting as a temp/on-call worker, moving into a library staff position, and eventually taking on a role as a tenure-track academic librarian. I believe I have valuable experience to bring to the MiALA Board and a unique perspective to share. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how MiALA works and how the organization can continue to serve the interests of its members. I also hope to make new professional connections and seek out new avenues for collaboration, especially across institutions. |
Angela Brcka | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I have held a leadership position in the MiALA Web/UX Interest Group since March 2019, including: Vice Chair, 2019-2021; Chair, 2021-2022 and 2023-present. I have also served on the Western Michigan University Web Users Group leadership team since September 2018, including: Vice President, 2018-2021; President, 2021-present. Why would you like to serve on the Board? Serving on the MiALA board offers a unique opportunity to contribute to and shape the future of academic libraries across Michigan. I want to serve on the MiALA board to ensure that publicly funded university and support staff voices are part of the conversation. It's a chance for me to collaborate with other library folks, share my experiences and expertise, and ensure that MiALA remains a vital and growing organization. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? By serving on the MiALA board, I hope to build valuable connections, learn from other library professionals, and expand my leadership skills. |
Beth Wallis | |
 | Prior leadership experience: At my University I have served in countless service roles, including founding and serving as chair of our library's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee (2021-present); leading the library's Events, Exhibits, and Marketing Committee (2021-present); serving as the library representative on the University's DEI Council; serving on the University's Native American Advisory Council (2022-present); serving as advisor the Native American Student Organization (2023-present); and serving as Vice President and Interim President of the OU faculty union (2019-2020). Regionally, I have served as a MiALA Conference volunteer for the last two years. At the national level, I served as NMRT (ALA) President from 2003-04. Why would you like to serve on the Board? MiALA provides vital professional development and networking opportunities to academic librarians throughout the State, and I myself have benefitted greatly from these opportunities. I would like to give back to the organization by serving on the Board, and helping to guide MiALA into the future. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I would like to learn and grow with fellow Board members, and I would like to further network with colleagues on the Board in order to enhance connections with libraries and librarians across the State. |
Edward Eckel | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I am currently the chair of the Interest Group Coordination Council (IGCC), with this being the second year of my two year term. Prior to this service, I served on the IDEA Committee for the 2021-22 academic year, and as the chair of the STEM Interest Group for the 2020-21 academic year. Finally, I served as the Member-at-Large of the User Experience Section for 2018-19. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I have been serving on the MiALA board for the 2023-2024 academic year as the representative of the IGCC (I'm currently serving as chair). In this time period, I have enjoyed serving on the MiALA board. I have learned about the challenges MiALA is facing as it grows and develops, particularly retaining members, increasing committee and interest group activity, and attracting new members. We are currently beginning work on developing a new strategic plan for MiALA. I would like to serve on the board as the Public College Representative in order to continue work on the board's strategic planning discussions, and help MiALA grow to be a professional organization that most academic librarians in Michigan wish to be a member of. Finally, I have really enjoyed getting to better know my colleagues at other institutions in Michigan. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I feel that I've just begun to figure out how MiALA works and what challenges MiALA is dealing with at this time as it transitions from a new professional organization to a permanent and stable organization. Serving another term on the board would help deepen my knowledge of MiALA and enable me to contribute to making MiALA stronger and more relevant to academic librarians in Michigan. |
Lee Parker | |
 | Prior leadership experience: Prior to moving to Michigan, I worked for 9 months as a cataloging assistant at Harvard University and roughly 1.5 years as a reference assistant at Boston College. I have up to this point worked for 4 months as Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Central Michigan University. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I would like to serve as one of the Public College Representatives on the MIALA board for a few reasons. The main reason why I would like to serve on this board is because, as someone who is relatively new to the library field and the youngest within my university's Library Research and Instruction Department, I feel like I could bring a unique perspective on the state of things at publicly funded Michigan Academic Libraries such as that of Central Michigan University. In addition to that point, I also would like to serve on the MIALA board due to the way that being able to serve on the board would hopefully allow me to build connections in the Michigan Library Community (something which is especially important given that I just moved to Michigan for work in January 2024), and would allow me to learn of new developments in library instruction and spread my new discoveries I am currently making as Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Central Michigan University. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? As mentioned above, some of the main things I would hope to gain from my time on the MiALA board include being able to make connections with other Michigan Academic Librarians in the state, learn about new library instruction strategies, and potentially spread knowledge of the instructional tools I am developing. |
Privately Funded College or University Representative (two-year term)
Gina Bolger | |
| No Photo | Prior leadership experience: Gina has been on a number of a MiALA committees and has previously served as secretary on the MiALA board. She has a deep knowledge of MiALA and is a great collaborator and contributor. She has unique perspectives from a private college, and her background and experiences make her a valuable board member. Why would you like to serve on the Board? My previous involvement with MiALA has made a positive impact on my professional life and I would like to serve the organization again. I am eager to use my experience at two private university libraries to advocate for their unique needs and to work with the diverse voices on the board to further the mission of MiALA. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I have two goals in mind for being on the MiALA board. The first one relates to my own personal growth through meeting and learning from new colleagues. My second goal is to contribute to the work of the board by being a productive member and serving the organization in any way I can. |
Community College Representative (two-year term)
Kelli Herm | |
 | Prior leadership experience: Current- Reference Lead and Liaison Librarian at Lansing Community College Library (Feb 2023-present), previously worked at LCC as a Reference and Instruction Librarian (Nov 2010-Aug 2014). Worked as a Faculty Librarian at Tallahassee Community College (TCC) Library (Aug 2014-Aug 2021). And as Instruction Librarian at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) (Aug 2021-Feb 2023). Current service at LCC includes- member of the library's reference services team, instruction services team, and communication and outreach team. College services includes Beyond the Book committee member (summer and fall 2023), and Academic Senate Engagement Committee Member (March 2023-present). National service includes ACRL Science and Technology Section hot topics committee (June 2022-present) Previous service at IUPUI includes Secretary of the University Library Faculty Organization (Sept 2022-Feb 2023) Secretary of the Academic Libraries of Indiana Information Literacy Committee (July 2022-June 2023), and Board of Advisors Member for the Indiana Academic Library Association (Feb 2022-Feb 2023) At Tallahassee Community College I served on various college-wide committees and co-chaired the college's undergraduate research symposium in 2021. I also was a member of the Association of Florida Colleges and attended regional conferences. Other service includes board member of the Florida Association for Student Success (2021). I'm a previous member of the Michigan Library Association and presented at an MLA conference (2012) and attended Michigan Academic Libraries Conferences and MIX conferences before MiALA was formed. I presented at the Michigan Virtual Reference conference in 2014. While in Indiana I was a member of the Indiana Library Federation and attended annual conferences. In Florida I was a member of the Florida Library association and attended (2015, 2016) and presented (2016) at annual FLA conferences and at the Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference (2019). Previously at LCC and also at TCC I was the site coordinator for virtual reference/chat collaborative service for our statewide chat reference collaboratives. I'm happy to provide a copy of my current CV if you would like to learn more. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I have worked as a community college librarian in both Michigan and in Florida totaling five years in MI at Lansing Community College and seven years at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, FL. With a combined 12 years of experience in community college libraries I know that community colleges are both similar and different than four year colleges and universities and that community college libraries can often be underrepresented at conferences and in professional library organizations. From my experience, part of this stems from lower funding for organizational/professional association memberships and professional development funding overall. I would like to represent community colleges in MI by helping to boost community college MiALA memberships and I would also like to help encourage more community college library workers to participate in MiALA events and to serve on committees, as well as to submit proposals for the annual MiALA Conference and biannual MIX conference, among others. I would like to help increase scholarship funds so more community college library workers can both become members and maintain memberships of MiALA and also attend conferences. Though I've only been an individual member of MiALA for a short time, I attended the last two MiALA conferences and noticed that most presentations were from university libraries. By encouraging more community college library workers to participate, the membership and conferences could have a more balanced representation. I would also like to serve my fellow community college library workers in the state of MI to help them become MiALA members and to see that their needs are heard by the MiALA board. Thank you! What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I have been looking for more ways to be involved with MiALA. Since I am still a newer member I would like to learn more about the history of the organization since it was formed while I was living out of state. I am hoping to become better connected with Academic Library colleagues in the state of MI and to assist my colleagues with any challenges that may arise within MiALA or at their home institutions. Since I am newly in a leadership position at my library I am also hoping to gain more skills from my MiALA colleagues to help me to become a better leader and mentor. |
Samantha Minnis | |
 | Prior leadership experience: During my time in Mi-ALA, I have participated in several interest groups and committees, including serving in the past as co-chair for the Critical Librarianship Interest Group and currently as co-chair for the IDEA Committee. I would like to put those leadership skills and experiences to use on the Board. Why would you like to serve on the Board? As a long time member of Mi-ALA, I have benefited greatly from the events, interest groups, and networking that Mi-ALA has facilitated. I would like to serve on the Board to give back to Mi-ALA and to my library colleagues. I have just finished my second year as the Information Literacy and Outreach Librarian at Grand Rapids Community College and have spent that time learning about community college libraries and how they serve the unique needs of community college students. It would be an honor to represent community college librarians on the Board. I am especially excited about the prospect of serving on the Board during a time of strategic planning, as I have experience participating in and providing leadership for strategic planning phases in previous academic library roles. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? By serving on the Board, I hope to gain greater insight into the workings of Mi-ALA, build strong relationships with other librarians who are deeply involved in our organization, and have a chance to learn more about the great work all of our members are doing. I?m also confident that serving on the Board will build on my existing leadership and organizational skills and develop them further. |
Kyle Ceci | |
 | Prior leadership experience: I have served on Delta College's Council of Innovation and Belonging (CIBE). I chaired the Diversity and Equity Education sub group for CIBE. In my position on the Council I helped advise and consent on new projects that the college was bringing forward. As chair of the sub group I helped formulate and execute new ideas related to Diversity and Equity education at the college. Why would you like to serve on the Board? I want to help promote and grow the interests of community colleges across Michigan. I believe in the mission of MIALA and want to add my perspective to the organization's leadership. In addition, I want to give back to an organization that provides so much to its members. I hope to be a voice for community college librarians and promote our role in the organization. What would you like to gain from your time on the Board? I hope to gain more leadership experience. I also want to learn more about organizational success and how leadership can contribute to that. I believe this opportunity will help me grow into further leadership opportunities. |
Current board members who will remain on the board for the 2024-2025 year:
| Incoming President | Mies Martin |  |
| Immediate Past President | Darlene Johnson-Bignotti |  |
| Secretary | Katrina Rouan |  |
| Community College Representative | Jennifer Mikesell | No Photo |
| Publicly Funded College or University Representative | Sheila Garcia Mazari |  |
| Privately Funded College or University Representative | Rebecca Tull |  |
Click here for IGCC Nominee Information
All members will receive a ballot by email on Monday, June 3. The deadline to submit your ballot is Friday, June 14 at 5:00 pm.