November Member Spotlight

Jen Fiero Reference and Instruction Librarian Jackson College

What are you currently reading? An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (I highly recommend it!); Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue by Dr. Christia Spears Brown; Saga: Book 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (graphic novel/comic series). I'm also part of a sci-fi & fantasy romance book club and we read something new every month! What are your research interests? Distance learning & online learning; active learning for one-shot instruction; community college-specific interests (competency based education and first-year experience, specifically); OER Do you have hobbies or interests outside of the library? Spending time with my husband and 4-year-old son, which often means lots of kids TV shows and books! As a singer, I'm an active member of the Jackson Chorale (1st Soprano) and Jackson Chamber Choir (1st Alto). I'm also a cantor and choir member at Our Lady of Fatima in Michigan Center. I love to collect hats of all kinds - but mainly the sort you'd be likely to see at an English wedding!  What drew you to the library profession? I was ready for a change shortly into my post-undergrad career as a buyer for a large corporation - not my thing at all. I was very good at helping people find information, though, and a friend who was a librarian said I should really look at it as a career. It turned out to be the perfect fit for me! What do you value about MiALA? MiALA has connected me to so many great library and information professionals throughout the state. I am able to use those networks constantly. It has also helped me to further my development as a librarian in many ways, but especially through the annual conference! I'm really pleased to be part of MiALA and also to serve as a community college rep on the Board! Is there anything else that you would like to share/include in your member spotlight?? Fun fact: I appeared on three episodes of Jeopardy! in July 2014. I won twice! I've used this fame to host the inaugural library and student life trivia nights on JC's campus. I love all kinds of trivia!