2020 MPLA Leadership Institute Fellow Cohort

Rachel Martinez - Arizona State University I’m the STEM in the Engagement and Learning Department at Arizona State University (ASU) Library. Prior to working at ASU, I provided reference services at the University of Arizona Libraries, Pima County Public Libraries, and Raytheon Missile System's Technical Research Center & Library in Tucson. My experience as a Latina in higher education and as a University of Arizona Knowledge River (Cohort 14) scholar taught me that diversity and inclusion is both lacking and necessary in libraries and it is my goal to provide outreach to not only STEM students, but to any student who identifies as part of a historically marginalized population. Working in a library, especially academic libraries, lends itself to the need for self-growth. This is why I'm seeking opportunities to connect with other so that I may learn how to grow and influence others to grow as well. I earned a Master’s of Information and (MLIS) from the University of Arizona, and I'm currently taking graduate courses at ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teacher's College in the hopes of gaining more skills in instructional design and technology. My research interests include digital literacy and data literacy in undergraduate students. I hope that my outreach and research efforts will impact students, faculty, and fellow librarians outside ASU.

Linde Furman - Mesa Public Library, Arizona I started my career in public librarianship eight years ago. Born and raised in southwest rural Virginia, my first public library job was a library assistant position working in adult services. I soon transitioned to youth services, where I found my true calling serving children and families. I thrived in that environment, creating programs, leading storytimes, and working on collection development. I experienced several public library renovations and served on advisory committees. Eventually, I was promoted to a branch manager position. It was during this time that I discovered the heart of my calling , Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma-informed care practices in public libraries. I began delving into information on the subject and attended sessions at conferences focusing on the topic. I introduced all the staff in my former system to information on ACEs and trauma through training. I applied for jobs in Arizona after graduating with my MLIS in the summer of 2018. I landed in Mesa, Arizona as a youth services librarian in December of 2018. Since arriving, I wrote and received an LSTA grant for Mesa Public Library (MPL) to purchase circulating telescopes and create astronomy programs for children. I have also begun the process of training all the staff at MPL on ACEs and trauma-informed care. I presented on this topic at the Arizona Library Association conference and presented on my grant with the National Space Institute at the Mountain Plains Library Association conference in the fall of 2019. Sarah Hulsey - Summit County Library, Colorado A mix of an East Coaster and a Midwesterner, I received my MLIS in 2011 from Dominican University in River Forest, IL with an emphasis in archives. However, after a few internships, it became clear to me that working within public libraries was more of my passion. After relocating to Breckenridge‚ CO where I'd lived for a ski season after college‚ I feel lucky to be working in a wonderful library system in the location I love. I have worn many hats over the years including a focus on circulation, adult programming, outreach, volunteer coordinator, marketing and branch management. I was recently promoted to Operations Manager to oversee our 3 branches. My new role includes streamlining and standardizing our policies and procedures and the management and development of library staff. Although I have recently completed an 8-month Leadership course through Colorado Mtn College, I feel that the opportunity to focus on leadership in libraries is essential in preparing me for my professional future. When I'm not working, I enjoy reading, snowboarding, yoga, hiking with my dog and traveling.

Kristen Bodine - Louisville Public Library, Colorado I've worked as a teen librarian, children's librarian, and am now the Youth Services Supervisor at the Louisville Public Library. My background includes experience with library redesigns, implementing major changes to the summer reading program, working with my team to create a new reading program just for 1st graders to encourage reading at grade level, and running a busy youth services department in a library with a service population of 30,000. After becoming a CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) Steering Committee Member in 2014, where I became the training committee chair and created several trainings on early literacy that were presented throughout the state, I started to intentionally look for more ways to be a library leader. 3 years later I was promoted to supervisor of my department, and then was promoted again to Interim Public Services Manager when the library director retired. I'm always looking for ways to make my department and team better: how can we better serve our community through improved processes, programs, and customer service. I love how libraries bring communities and families together. In my role, I strive to build close relationships with our community and make my department welcoming and inclusive to all.

Scarlett Fisher-Herreman - Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, KS I am the Technical Services Manager at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka, KS. In my role at the library, I lead a team of 16 library staff responsible for selection, cataloging and management of the library's physical and digital collections. I’ve been the lead manager working to create and manage large, robust collections for our library patrons. Our collections budget about approx $2 million annually with over 50% of that budget going to digital products from vendors like Overdrive and hoopla. I love digging into budgets and data and also connecting directly with readers. I feel honored to work in a wonderful library that’s always striving to spark curiosity and connections within our community. I'm a native of Omaha, Neb. and attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha. My husband and I moved to Kansas so I could attend library school at Emporia State University and nearly 20 years later, we’re still in Kansas and are parents to 2 native Kansans (ages 13 and 11). Shortly after moving to Topeka, we purchased a century-old Craftsman bungalow near the library. We were one of the first homes in Topeka to have a "little free library" in our yard and enjoy serving readers in our neighborhood. I love reading, learning, animals, volunteering, and making my community an even better place to call home.

Robin Hastings - Northeast Kansas Library System Robin has been working in libraries for over 20 years, starting as a computer services assistant in Jefferson City, MO in 1998 and moving on through being the IT Manager to becoming the Director of Technology for NEKLS in 2012 and, after receiving her MLS, the Library Services Coordinator for NEKLS in 2016. She has presented all over the world on library topics and has 4 books, a library technology report and several magazine articles to her credit. She's active in the profession.

Valarie Lamoreaux, Leavenworth Public Library, Kansas The ultimate career goal has always been professional librarian. I gained early experience as a librarian in a public then an academic setting. While employed at a theatre and museum, a public school and an institute, I honed skills in public relations, marketing, client services and project management. Now back in public librarianship I have unique abilities, perspectives and knowledge to share.

Shanna Smith-Ritterhouse - Mulvane Public Library, Kansas Libraries have been my passion as long as I can remember. I was a patron of libraries as a child, my first "real" job at 15 years of age was as a Library Assistant in my hometown's library, my education is in libraries, and I have built my career around libraries. Within the field of public librarianship, my experience is broad in scope. I spent 3 years as a Library Assistant in Mulvane, Kansas, 4.5 years as a Librarian for Teens in Grand Junction, CO, 2 years as a Library Director in Farmington, NH, and the past 4 years as the Library Director in Mulvane, KS. During my years in the profession, I have also been extremely active serving on professional boards, which have included the Colorado Association of Library's Public Library Board, three different book committee boards within the Young Adult Library Services Association, the Kansas Library Association Board, and the Mountain Plains Library Association Board. My professional involvement had included numerous presentations on various stages: state-wide, regional, national, and international. My return to the Mulvane Public Library in 2015 was spurred by the desire to raise a family near my loved ones. However, I do not anticipate staying here forever. My ambition and drive moves me to seek new challenges. For now, those challenges come in the form of participating on professional library boards, but in the future I would like to manage a larger library and even someday teach public library courses at a University. Taylor Schultz - Montana State University Taylor Schultz has been tucked in the mountains of Montana for the past fifteen years, earning degrees in English at Montana State University and briefly venturing into the museum world, before returning home to libraries. She has worked at MSU Library in Bozeman for the past five years as a Technology and Research Support Specialist, with a special interest in user communities, service design, and general library magic. With her new MLIS degree, earned in the Spring of 2020, Taylor is excited to continue to learn from and contribute to the library profession.

Christine Vance - University of Montana I started working in The Vande Bogart Library at Northern Montana College, as it was called then, while I was getting my undergraduate degree. I worked in serials. When I came to UM to get my graduate degree I started at the Mansfield Library as a student employee. I worked in Cataloging, Copy Center and Reserves and then landed in Serials. When I finished school, I got a permanent job in the Serials unit. From there I moved to Interlibrary Loan. The next step for me was the position of Assistant manager of Circulation, ILL and Copy Center. For the last 3 years I've been managing Circulation, ILL and Building Projects. From the beginning I knew libraries were a good fit for me. And even though things have changed so much from when I started, the fundamentals of libraries remain, we help people connect with information and help them get educated.

Melissa Gomis - Doane University Perkins Library, Nebraska Melissa Gomis has been the Library Director at Doane University since August 2017. Previously she was the Instructional Technology Librarian at the University of Michigan for 9 years and before that was the Informatics Liaison and Instructional Technology Librarian at IUPUI. Melissa earned her MA-LIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Chantel Clark - West Las Vegas Library, Nevada I am originally from Minneapolis, MN and currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am married and have four children that I can proudly say love books and libraries (almost) as much as I do. I began my career in the nonprofit sector working in youth and family services. I transitioned into providing mental health and homelessness case management in both Washington DC and Minnesota. After many years of working in nonprofits, I was looking to make a career change where I could still connect people with vital resources and information and contribute meaningfully to my community. My love of libraries and learning made becoming a librarian a natural fit. Since changing careers, I have had the opportunity to work in both academic and public libraries in various roles. Currently, I am the Branch Manager of the West Las Vegas Library on the historic west side of Las Vegas. I have a passion for helping others and think there is no more exciting time than now to work in public libraries. Libraries are one of our most vital community resources and I am fortunate to be a part of such an amazing profession. Wynne Prindle - Lyon County Library System; Silver Stage Branch, Nevada

I am Wynne Prindle. I have been a passionate public library user since before I could read: my family visited the local library every Saturday and we each took home new books. Throughout my youth, college years, career, and 15 years of homeschooling my daughter, I continued to frequent the library for both pleasure and research. In 2013 I was hired as a Library Assistant at the local library. After a week I knew it was the best job I had ever had. Subsequently I was promoted to Library Technician, responsible for cataloging for the five branches in the library system, and in 2018 I was promoted to branch manager. Concurrently, I took library science classes at University of Nevada, Reno. Desiring a professional degree, I am currently enrolled in the University of North Texas MLS program. In my current position as branch manager and sole staff member of a small, rural library, I assist patrons in all aspects of public library service including technology, Readers' Advisory, and reference. I have created and facilitated several new youth and adult programs, and I wrote and am currently administering an LSTA mini grant for 3D technology. I also direct several library volunteers. My husband and I live 13 miles outside a small farm town in the high desert of northern Nevada in an off grid strawbale house we built ourselves. Our three kids are grown: one of our sons is an astronomer, the other a wildlife biologist. Our daughter is attending college.

Morgan Tiar - Washoe County Library, Nevada I am a wife and mother of two, a preteen and a teenager. We live happily with two dogs and a cat. I like to cook, and we enjoy camping in warmer months. I love thrift stores, garage sales, and own an extraordinary amount of vintage Pyrex. After a varied employment in everything from the medical field to owning my own business, I worked as a librarian in an elementary school library, securing the position using the little experience I had working as a library aid a few years prior. I began working part time for the public library after leaving the elementary school when I decided to finish my degree. After years of looking for a career, I decided that I had found a place that inspired and emboldened me to grow. I have worked with Washoe County Library for over 5 years. I am still driven by the same gratification I found as a school librarian. I finished my degree in educational studies and even earned a graduate degree, something I never had planned or thought I would do. I have been able to grow and thrive in my career, while continuing to contribute to the organization’s mission and strategic plan.

Ann McGinley - Rio Rancho Public Library, New Mexico Ann McGinley is the branch manager for the Rio Rancho Public Library in Rio Rancho, NM. She worked as a library page in college but didn't realize at that time that libraries were her future. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Santa Clara University and a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Georgetown University, she spent more than a decade teaching ESL to adults (which she loved) and then five years delivering mail (which she didn't love). Needing a change, Ann decided to go back to school, enrolling in the online MLIS program at San Jose State University. In 2010, during her first semester of library school, she took a job as the circulation supervisor at University of New Mexico- Gallup. While working at the college library for more than two and a half years, Ann thought that she was headed for a career in academic libraries, but in 2013 she landed a job as the Adult Services Supervisor at the main branch of the Rio Rancho Public Library and never turned back. In 2015, Ann was promoted to Branch Manager for RRPL where she leads an outstanding staff of ten at Esther Bone Memorial Library. As the manager, she emphasizes teamwork and doing what's best for the customer. Her experience teaching adults has contributed to her love of programming and her dedication to empowering staff. Ann owns a Harley that she doesn’t ride and still has her summer reading certificates from the 1970s.

Laura K. Smith - Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico A native of Wichita, Kansas, I started volunteering at the local branch of my public library at age 12. I am an alumna of St. John’s College, a unique liberal arts school whose all-required interdisciplinary curriculum is based on close study of the great books of Western civilization. I have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for about 15 years, where I am currently the Collections & Instruction Librarian at the Community College. My library interests include access and technical services; I think interlibrary loan just might be the pinnacle of human endeavors. My favorite thing about working in libraries is the people you get to work for and with: intelligent, curious people who are both interesting and interested. I am an avid reader of mystery novels, especially historical stories; I also enjoy reading history non-fiction. I live with my husband, who is a special-education teacher, and our beloved menagerie of animals.

Erin Renee Wahl - New Mexico State University Erin Renee Wahl is an Assistant Professor and Instruction Coordinator at New Mexico State University Library. She has worked in libraries on and off since starting out shelving books in her hometown public library in high school. She has worked in a variety of libraries, from public to academic to archives, in a variety of positions. Her research interests include implementing sustainability in research practices and information literacy education, issues of open access, and rhetoric by and about libraries. In addition to being a librarian, she is a proud published author across many genres, and maintains a modest web presence that can be found using a crafty Google search.

April Miller - Southwestern Oklahoma State University April is the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Sayre Campus Librarian, the Promotions Team Leader for SWOSU Libraries, as well as an Assistant Professor at SWOSU. In these roles, she oversees the daily operations of the McMahan Library on the Sayre Campus, plans and promotes various programs and events for both the Al Harris Library (Weatherford) and McMahan Library (Sayre), and teaches Freshman Orientation and various Library Instruction classes. April has worked for SWOSU since August 2008, although she started her library career at the Clinton Public Library, a part of the Western Plains Library System in September 2001. In 2005, she became the Interlibrary Loan Librarian (2005-2007), and handled the webpage and all graphic and marketing materials for the library system (2005-2008). She has been a member of the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) since 2006, and an active member of the Marketing Committee since 2008, serving as chair 2013-2015. She maintains membership in the University & College Division of OLA, serving as secretary of the division from 2017-2018. She is a member of many other committees and roundtables in the association. April has been a member of MPLA since 2014, and presented programs at three conferences. Aside from serving as the Oklahoma state representative, she also served as co-chair of the MPLA Communications Committee (2018-2019). She is a member of ALA, ACRL, and many other divisions of ALA. In 2018, she served on the ALCTS- LITA-LLAMA Activities Working Group, has participated in the ALCTS and LLAMA Mentorship Programs.

Bob Holzmann - Tulsa Community College Library, Oklahoma

Bob Holzmann is the Systems and Digital Technologies Librarian at Tulsa Community College. Since coming to TCC in 2007, Bob has supported the full range of library systems, technology, cloud-based services, and electronic resources for the TCC Libraries. Bob recently led the Library Services Assessment Project Team, is a member of the Library Website and E-Resources Team and serves as Technical Services Team Leader. Bob has worked with the Sabre systems at American Airlines and Electronic Data Systems, Williams Corporation, Virginia Beach Public Library, and Regent University Library in Virginia. Bob is a member of the Oklahoma Library Association, OK-ACRL, Mountain Plains Library Association, and American Library Association. He served on the VTLS International Users Group Executive Committee including one year as Chair in the 1990's, and founded the Information Technology Interest Group of the Oklahoma Credit Union League in the early 2000's. Bob earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music, his M.B.A. at the University of Phoenix, and is starting a post-Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics at the University of Oklahoma.

Elizabeth Szkirpan Estes - University of Tulsa, Oklahoma Elizabeth Szkirpan is a double-graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism, as well as an MLIS in Information Studies with a focus on academic libraries and information organization. She holds a Certificate in Project Management from Tulsa Community College and is preparing to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. Over the past ten years, she has worked in congressional archives, library acquisitions, reference and instruction, and lastly worked as a catalog and metadata librarian. She has recently been hired as the Director of Bibliographic Services for the University of Tulsa McFarlin Library, where she supervises electronic resources, acquisitions, and cataloging. Current projects include updating the university’s catalog to RDA standards, while evaluating the possibility of reconciling the university’s card catalogs with the online catalog. She is deeply involved in the library community and participates on a professional level with the Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA), the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) where she serves on the Marketing Committee and is the Chair-Elect of the Technical Services Roundtable (TSRT), the Lambda Chapter of Beta Phi Mu (the international honor society for library and information studies), the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), and the Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (OK-ACRL). Elizabeth is a graduate of several leadership institute cohorts, including the National Endowment for Women (NEW) Leadership Institute (2013), the Oklahoma Summer Policy Institute (2015), and the OLA GOLD Leadership Institute (2019). Outside of work, Elizabeth was recently married and enjoys spending her free time renovating her 1942 bungalow, and spending time with two rescue dogs and her rescue cat.

Shari Theroux - South Dakota State University Shari has worked in libraries since 2007, beginning as a paraprofessional in the library at Northern State University. At Northern, I worked in the Archives and handled events, displays and publicity. In 2011, while I was working on my master's degree, I became the Electronic Resources Librarian and the interlibrary loan manager. When I received my degree in 2012, our Systems Librarian retired and I took on that position, as well as continuing with interlibrary loan. I stayed in that position until 2018, when I was hired at South Dakota State University as the electronic resources librarian. In July of 2019, I became the Systems Librarian and am currently doing both jobs until the new electronic resources librarian begins. During my time in libraries, I have worked with systems, archives, digitization, electronic resources, serials, interlibrary loan and of course general reference work. I am the chair of the SDLA academic section, as well as being South Dakota's representative for the UMWUG conference planning committee. I am also currently chair of the Academic Affairs committee, which keeps the library involved in campus-wide curriculum decisions. I am leading our Open Educational Resources task force, which has made great strides in the last year in increasing awareness of OER on campus and around the state. Throughout my time in libraries, I have taken on increasing responsibility and involvement, and I feel that I have a lot to contribute to the profession, now and in the future.

Vaughan Hennen - Dakota State University, South Dakota Vaughan Hennen is the Digital Design and Access Librarian at Dakota State University (DSU) in Madison, South Dakota. In this position, he wears many hats including managing databases, troubleshooting the Integrated Library System Alma/Primo, providing instruction to art and business students, managing the library's social media accounts, and scheduling programming and outreach. Social activism and community service are core values that Vaughan holds fast to. At DSU, Vaughan is the chair of the Committee for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; in Madison, he is an active arm of Madison Area Stands Together, a grassroots social justice organization; the secretary of Lake County Democrats; and the secretary of Equality South Dakota. Vaughan’s research is rooted in the intersections of critical pedagogy, Visual Thinking Strategies, and better understanding how libraries can foster vulnerable conversations. When not working at the library, Vaughan can be found working in his back yard or playing cello in local orchestras and chamber groups. He is a registered Suzuki cello teacher of books 1-5 and is interested in the praxis of cello pedagogy, bringing the theory of etudes together with the practice of performance pieces.

Krista Ohrtman - Augustana University, South Dakota I am currently the Access Services Librarian at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, but spent the approximately ten previous years of my career wearing many hats as a rural, public librarian in Washington state. In 2016 I returned to the Midwest to begin the next phase of my career at my undergraduate alma mater. I find many joys and challenges in my position, but I particularly enjoy the opportunity to work closely with Augustana’s exceptional students and guide the experiences of our nearly 40 library student workers (a program that I oversee). I enjoy spending time outdoors, cooking, baking (and eating) and listening to podcasts while driving my two middle-school-aged children to their various activities.

Marie Erickson - Utah State Library I grew up on a farm in rural Utah. When I wasn’t changing sprinklers, herding cows, picking rocks, or performing any other kind of farm task my father needed done, I spent most of my time running free in true country, tom-boy fashion. My first library memory is dragging my little wagon from my mom's old station wagon into the little public library and loading it up with any book that didn't look familiar. I burned through them and went back for more every week. My appetite for learning and reading was never really quenched. After high school I got my undergrad and planned to go into secondary education, but I had a roommate who told me she was going to graduate school for a degree in Library Science to become a librarian. It took me about two seconds to make up my mind to completely switch my course for the future. I received my MLS from the Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Shortly before graduation, I was offered a job at the State Library of North Dakota. I was living the dream! Eventually, I started looking for a job closer to home and took a job with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. I was there for 16 years before deciding it was time for a change and was presented with the opportunity to work as the Library Resources Program Manager. Now I spend my days working to provide libraries across the state with resources and services that enable them to successfully serve their communities. It is the best job ever! I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about how to lead in this capacity.

Meg Flynn - Grand County Public Library, Utah Meg Flynn is currently the Assistant Director of the Grand County Public Library in Moab, Utah. As a high school student, her first job was shelving books in her hometown library. Meg has lived and worked all over the U.S. and has held various jobs in bookstores, restaurants, retail shops, and outdoor education organizations. In 2006, she decided to call Moab home and in 2010 she was delighted to return to a job in public library service. Meg completed her MLS with the University of North Texas Nevada-Utah Cohort in 2017 and obtained two graduate academic certificates in advanced management in libraries and digital content management. In her 10 years at the Grand County Public Library she has worked as a library clerk, head of adult services, and was promoted to the assistant director position in the summer of 2019. Meg enjoys river running and hiking in Utah's canyon country. As a volunteer, she lends some of her library skills to a small group of river runners that are using historic photo matching to monitor changes occurring along the Colorado River. She also helps her husband run a small welding business and tries to keep their cats from getting into too much trouble.

Daniel Mauchley - Duchesne County Library System - Utah Daniel Mauchley is the Duchesne County Library System Director, overseeing two rural branches and a recently opened History Center since 2015. The libraries serve a population of 20,000 spread over 3,000 square miles. The library recently achieved Quality Library recognition from the Utah State Library due to improved outreach, community collaborations, and marketing. He was also elected as the 2020-2021 Utah Library Association President. ULA will host the joint Mountain Plains Library Association conference in May 2021. He has served as a ULA Board Member-At-Large two years as well as on various Utah State Library Committees dealing with state library funds, professional development, and grant reviewing. He earned his Masters of Library Science from Emporia State University and his Bachelors in Spanish Teaching from Weber State University with University and Department Honors. He worked in the Ogden School District as a District Teacher Librarian two years, and an elementary school librarian one year. Born on the Wasatch Front, he now lives in Roosevelt with his wife Emma and three young children.

Arnessa Dowell - Grand Forks Public Library, North Dakota After almost 20 years in the library profession, Arnessa Dowell’s experiences range from being a Page to sitting in three different Library Director’s chairs. Since receiving her MLS from North Carolina Central University in 2011, Ms. Dowell has used the library as a platform to promote community engagement. Focusing most of her energy toward helping our men and women in uniform, due to her own personal connection as a former military brat and spouse. Currently, Ms. Dowell is the Information Services Director at Grand Forks Public_ leading the combined team of circulation and reference staff. Since her arrival to Grand Forks in October of 2018, Ms. Dowell continues to commit herself to creating and fostering change that will continue to make the library a pillar in the community.

Josh Pikka - Minot Public Library, North Dakota I earned my MLIS Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi in 2011. I served as the Director of the John E. Biersdorf Library at the Ecumencial Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, from 2013-2015. When the Biersdorf Library closed, I decided to pursue public librarianship and fell in love with improving the community in which I live. I enjoy educating children, adults, and senior citizens on a variety of issues, but specialize in technology and online safety.

Katrina Brown- Casper College, Wyoming I first wanted to be a librarian when I was introduced to the LCSH’s “Big Red Book” in college. The structure and organization appealed to me. This was when I first understood the work that went into libraries. I was already an avid reader, and I loved using libraries for research. Seeing the structure behind subject headings, with scope notes and broader/narrower terms, I began to understand how it took people to make a library a library. That library staff helped people understand their world. I was first accepted to library school in the late '80s. Due to family obligations, I started my program 13 years later. I never gave up the desire to serve the public through library work. I volunteered in libraries until I could return to school. I ended up relocating from California to Wyoming less than a month later. In Wyoming, I found a welcoming library community. I was able to work in libraries most of the time I was in school. In 2010, I became the library director at Sheridan College. This summer, I accepted the directorship at Casper College. Working in a two-year college library is the best of two worlds, academic and public.

Betsy O’Neil - Natrona County Library, Wyoming Betsy O’Neil began her career as a Reference Librarian at Natrona County Public Library in 2004 and was promoted to Adult Services Manager in 2015. She received her MLIS from the University of Washington, and has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Master's Degree in Financial Analysis. She lives in Casper, Wyoming with her husband and two children.