1960s:
Peggy Hollingsworth (‘68 MLS) is keeping involved in education, following a 36-year career as a high school librarian in the Hoosier State, through her appointment, as a Friend/Quaker, to the Board of Trustees at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. Following an 11-year tenure, 2007-2018, she had a 4-year break. But when the opportunity came, she accepted appointment again, and is now completing a 3-year term, and beginning another term this summer. There are many challenges for higher education today, especially for the private liberal arts schools like Earlham. But she is honored to be able to utilize the wisdom and knowledge gained in a lifetime of experience to help be the solution, not the problem!
1970s:
Charles Random (’74 MLS) created a digital collection including Oral Histories of the creation of the William Monroe Trotter Multicultural Center. The WMTMC has been on the University of Michigan’s campus 54 years.
Marjorie Lock (’77 MLS) is finishing a career which included solo librarianship in several corporate libraries and consulting. She is looking forward to retirement at the end of 2025.
Lisa Browar (’78 MLS) retired in June 2023 after 15 years as President of the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology in Kansas City, MO. During this time the Linda Hall Library became the country’s print library of last resort for science and technology publications and a member of CRL’s Global Resources Network. Additionally, the Linda Hall Library became an international destination for research and scholarship in subjects supported by its collection. Prior to joining the Linda Hall Library, she served as university librarian for The New School, Lilly Librarian at IU-Bloomington, Assistant Director for Rare Books & Manuscripts at The New York Public Library, Curator of Special Collections at Vassar College, and Assistant Curator for the Yale Collection of American Literature at the Beinecke Library, Yale University.
Miriam Joseph (’78 MLS) joined the faculty of Pius XII Memorial Library at Saint Louis University in 1979 where she served as a reference and instruction librarian for 43 years. In 2014, she was recruited to concurrently work in the University’s Provost Office, which she did increasingly until she retired in June 2024. Miriam’s primary role in that office was as an assistant provost with wide-ranging responsibilities for academic policy and educational compliance. In retirement, she continues some University-related activity as Professor Emerita in the University Libraries. She also volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri and with Big Brothers Big Sisters, enjoys working on family genealogy and spending time with her dogs and cat, and looks forward to learning and playing pickleball.
Keith Buckley (’79 MLS) after spending his entire professional library career at the I.U. Maurer School of Law’s Jerome Hall Law Library, retired in November of 2019 after two years as Director and had progressed from Reference Librarian in 1980 to Collection Development Librarian in 1999 and Assistant Director for Public Services in 2012. He stepped down to devote more time to family (five grandchildren), the happiness of his Golden Retrievers, and his research and writing. On the academic side, Keith continues his work on the 19th century Indiana gravestone carvers and the treatment of Civil War widows under the U.S. Pension Bureau during the early 20th century. On the decidedly recreational side, he has written several novels and collections of short stories. He remembers with great fondness his fellow classmates from 1978-79, and hopes all of them are happy and well.
1980s:
William Harroff (’81 MLS) has a 4-book morning glory series approved into the SIUE Authors Collections by Dean Marlee Graser of Lovejoy Library at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Each book’s images represent a moment in the day-long life span of a morning glory. The series includes over 100 drawings and photographs. The project was partially supported by a major grant from the Illinois Arts Council. In May, his show “Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men and Women in St. Louis” was an exhibition at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Express Branch. This show tells the story of comic book burning in the St. Louis Metro area and across the Midwest.
Frances Yates (’81 MLS; ’91 SpLS) retired after 15 years as Library Director at IU East (Richmond campus) and 43 years in the library profession.
Nancy Higgs (’85 MLS) is now Director of Public Services at Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library.
Nancy George (’86 MLS) has been employed by Salem State University’s Berry Library for almost 30 years and currently serves as the Collection Management Librarian. This includes overseeing collection development, electronic resources, serials, cataloging, and acquisitions. In addition, she is the Reference and Instruction librarian for the Music and Dance Department. Nancy received the highest librarian rank of Senior Librarian a number of years ago. She enjoys playing the clarinet in the university’s chamber orchestra and concert band, especially when she is playing alongside students. In her non-work time she continues to enjoy bicycling, walking, working out, swimming, being in the mountains and by the ocean, skiing (alpine and cross country), and spending time with her now grown children.
Lynn Gullickson Spencer (’86 MLS) has been the Head of Cataloging & Resource Management at the University of Missouri, Kansas City University Libraries since July 2021. In March 2024, she became the Interim Director of Special Collections and Archives. She also co-authored a book chapter entitled “Trauma-Informed Information Literacy” with Leanne M. VandeCreek which was published in Music Information Literacy: Inclusion and Advocacy (Library Juice Press, 2024).
Lisa Dunn (’88 MLS) is continuing her focus on STEM as a research librarian, particularly in earth resources. At Colorado School of Mines, she recently completed a term as interim University Librarian and is now back to the research/reference side and looking into interests including AI applications in databases and tailored in-person research services. In her other role as head of the library’s Special Collections, she’s been providing historical information for projects during the university’s 150th anniversary (which resulted in several short papers in the regional historical society’s journal) and working with the team to get archive content into our digital repository – a large image collection of mineral specimens is in the works.
Helene Williams (’88 MLS) retired in December 2024 as a Teaching Professor Emeritus from the University of Washington Information School. Her focus was on updating the MLIS curriculum to reflect the applied nature of library and information work, and is honored to say that her students have gone on to be wonderful leaders and mentors in the profession. There’s a brief write-up here: https://ischool.uw.edu/news/2024/12/warrior-social-justice-helene-williams-retires
JoAnn Balingit (’89 MLS) was awarded 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar fellowship in literature, creative writing in the Philippines. Dr. Balingit carried out research for her memoir-in-progress, What Were the Names of the Trees? In February 2025 she made a second visit to Pampanga province during which she gave a talk at the Angeles City Library in their series Pamamdúlap Singsing, In search of singsing, or, the Kapampángan spirit. Other recent honors include creative writing fellowships in 2022 from The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and the Delaware Division of the Arts, as well publications in Poetry, The Common, and The Atticus Review.
Carmela Kinslow (’89 MLS) is now retired.
1990s:
Michael Harrell (’90 MLS) is the Director of Alternative Fuel and Resource Recovery, dedicating 26 years to Ash Grove Cement, a CRH company, and having a career spanning 34 years with CRH companies, he is proud to have contributed significantly to the recycling sector. His work primarily focused on utilizing hazardous waste as a substitute for fossil fuels in the manufacturing of cement clinker, spanning over 38 years of experience in this field. In addition to my professional career, Michael currently serves as the Technical Chair for the Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition (CKRC) and as a Board Member and Water Group Chair for the Arkansas Environmental Federation. He is also actively involved as a contributor to ASTM and a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), where he continues to engage in industry advancements and collaborations.
Lisa Davidson (’92 MLS) is currently in Evansville working as a staff attorney, focusing on issues related to eviction and habitability. She also recently got a Privacy and Data Security certificate from Cornell University.
Julia Esparza (’93 MLS) Professor and the Stafford and Marianne Comegys Endowed Professor in Medical Library Science, was promoted to Executive Director of the Library for LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) effective June 1, 2024. Ms. Esparza, since she started at LSUHS in 2007, previously served as Associate Director of the Library, Head of Education and Outreach, and as a Clinical Medical Librarian.
Elizabeth (Estes) Walker (’95 MLS) after taking many, many years off from libraries to pursue other life and work events and opportunities, is thrilled to return to libraries. Currently a Reference Services Librarian at North Central College, Naperville, IL.
Melanie Harper (’97 MIS) changed careers in 2019 to work in behavior analysis. She passed the board certifying exam in 2020 and has been practicing as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for the past 4 years. She is currently the lead BCBA in a small private practice in Fayetteville, GA. She is privileged to work with young children and their families, and to share in their growth. The database experience and data analysis skills developed in the IU MIS program have served her very well in this field, as have her other IU degrees in education.
Kathy Bach (’98 MLS) serves as Public Services Director for Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library which recently reopened its Main Library after a $43 million dollar renovation. CHPL is currently working on a Facilities Master Plan, a multi-year improvement project called Building the Next Generation Library.
Michael Arthur (’99 MLS) serves as Senior Associate Dean and Professor at The University of Alabama. In this role Michael also serves as the Associate Dean for Research and the Associate Dean for Special Collections. He is pleased to share my most recent publication: Lowry, L., Arthur, M.A., & Gilstrap, D.L. (2024). A Retrospective Look at a DDA-Centered Collection Strategy: Planning for the Future of Monograph Acquisitions. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 50(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102831.
Alicia Caldanaro (’99 MLS) published a poem in Vol. 57:1, 2024 page 16 in “Laurel Review.” and Three published poems in Indiana University South Bend’s 2024 issue of “Analecta.”
Sydney Mccoy (’99 MLS) became the Public Services Director of Boulder Public Library District in September 2024.
Brad Warren (’99 MLS) was elected as the Vice-President / President Elect of the Association of College and Research Libraries, with his term as President starting on July 1, 2025. Since March 2022, he has been the Dean of Libraries at Augusta University.
2000s:
Anne Brownlee (’01 MLS) serves as the President of Apra International, the membership association for those working in prospect development – prospect research, prospect management, data science, and more. Apra members work in and support non-profits in fundraising to advance their missions. Her day job is as Managing Director, Prospect Strategy & Research at Teach for America, leading a team working to identify and analyze donors to support the organization.
Danita Forgey (’01 MIS) received the Health Information Management Legacy award from the Indiana Health Information Management Association at their annual conference in April 2024 and the Maynard K. Hine Medal from IU Indianapolis in November. Danita retired from health care coding and reimbursement consulting in December 2024.
Tiffany Harlow (’01 MLS) is currently working as a high school teacher at Calvert High School in Southern Maryland.
Jacob Nadal (’01 MLS) was appointed President of the Center for Research Libraries in November 2024. (https://www.crl.edu/news/crl-welcomes-new-president-jacob-nadal)
Jessica Whytock (’01 MLS) has a new role/title of Associate Dean of the Law Library, Research Professor of Law at UC Berkeley.
Cheryl Youse (’01 MLS) earned her Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction, 2014-Valdosta State University, now Professor of Library Science, Valdosta State University and Retired School Librarian.
Joe Hardenbrook (’02 MLS) was appointed as Library Associate Dean for Research & Engagement at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.
Barbara Junisbai (’02 MIS) has a new book out, The Pitfalls of Family Rule: Patronage Norms, Family Overreach, and Political Crisis in Kazakhstan and Beyond, from Cornell University Press. Barbara is also under review for promotion to full professor at Pitzer College, a selective liberal arts college in southern California. For more on Barbara’s book, see: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501779060/the-pitfalls-of-family-rule/#bookTabs=1. For more on Barbara, visit: https://www.pitzer.edu/faculty-staff-directory/barbara-junisbai.
James Wiser (’02 MLS) earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2024. His dissertation research on librarian faculty status and inequality regimes has been accepted for publication in The Journal of Academic Librarianship. He currently serves as Dean of Library Services and Educational Technology at Abilene Christian University in Texas.
Christina Jones (’03 MLS) had three publications this year and a poster presentation at ALA Annual in San Diego: Jones, C., Fridmanski, E. , & Lorah, J. (2024). Integrating diverse perspectives in graduate statistics education through academic and library faculty collaboration. Journal of Graduate Librarianship. https://doi.org/10.59942/2995-9063.1012. [peer-reviewed]; Deogracias, M. & Jones, C. (2024). (Re)activating educational displays. J. Lee, L. Okan, F. Rodrigues, C. Huilcapi-Collantes, E. Corrigan, G. Chesner, & H. Han (Eds.), Ways of seeing: The book of selected readings 2024 (pp. 19-29). International Visual Literacy Association. https://doi.org/10.52917/ivlatbsr.2024.012. [peer-reviewed]; Tavernier, W., Romero, U. & Jones, C. (2024). Elevating diverse voices in service of liberatory librarianship. In B.W. Keith, L. Taylor, & S. Renwick (Eds.) Liberatory librarianship (pp. 65-77). American Library Association. [invited]; Poster Presenter. Jones, C. & Deogracias, M. “Creating a culture of f(read)om through visual literacy.” American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition 2024, San Diego, CA, United States. [national, competitively selected].
Tyna Hunnicutt (’04 MLS) is the Director of Clinical Experiences at the IU School of Education and has been working in the office previously as the Director of Early Field Experiences and then Co-Director of Clinical Experiences until the past year for 20 years.
Stuart Griner (’05 MLS/MIS) became Branch Manager of the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago Public Library in June of 2023. We see about 4000 patrons a week!
Erika Qualls (’05 MLS) was promoted to Director of Programming and Outreach for Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in January 2025.
Abubakar Tidal (’05 MLS/MIS) has been appointed to be the Chief Librarian & Department Chair of the Ursula C. Schwerin Library of the New York City College of Technology, CUNY
Krystie Herndon (’06 MLS) was promoted to Academic Advisor-Expert in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences, in July 2024.
Michelle Pearrell (’06 MLS/MIS) is a Senior Conflicts Analyst at Baker Hostetler.
Emily Ford (’07 MLS/MIS) will leave her position as Professor, Urban & Public Affairs Librarian at Portland State University in May. She will be joining the SPARC team as the Director of the Open Research Funders Group. (www.orfg.org)
Eric Meyer (’07 Ph.D.) began a new position as Dean & Chancellor’s Professor of Social Informatics at the UC Berkeley School of Information in August 2024 after successfully completing a six-year term as Dean of the School of Information at UT Austin.
Amy Byers (’08 MLS) serves as President of the Illinois Library Association 2024-2025.
Mikhail Koulikov (’08 MLS) began working on April 29 in a new position as a senior business & legal research analyst with the law firm Venable LLP, resident in the New York office, but meeting the information needs of attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals at the firm’s offices around the U.S.
Casey Mullin (’08 MLS) has new publication: Mullin, Casey A, and Kevin Seiji Kishimoto. Many Pathways for Discovery: Describing Music Resources Using Faceted Vocabularies. Music Library Association technical reports and monographs in music librarianship series; v. 41. Middleton, Wisconsin: Music Library Association, 2024 https://www.areditions.com/mullin-many-pathways-for-discovery-tr041.html
2010s:
Benjamin Keele (’10 MLS) started new position as Scholarly Services Librarian at the University of Minnesota Law Library.
Brooke Newberry (’11 MLS) was a member of the 2024 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee. The 2024 Caldecott Award winner was Vashti Harrison, the first black woman to ever win the award.
Rayla Tokarz (’11 MLS) is a Collections Librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno where she has been awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor.
Lai Mai (’12 Ph.D.) received a 2 million-euro European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant.
Allison Haack (’14 MLS) co-wrote a chapter for an upcoming book. The chapter it titled “Imagined Libraries and Immersive Special Collections Instruction: A Visit to Enlightenment Britain” and the book is titled “Archives and Primary Source Handbook” published by New Prairie Press. Her co-author is Laura Michelson; she is the lead author. It should be published this year. Michelson, Laura and Allison Haack. “Imagined Libraries and Immersive Special Collections Instruction: A Visit to Enlightenment Britain” in Archives and Primary Source Handbook. In Progress. https://newprairiepress.org/archives_handbook/
2020s:
Ezra Engels (’24 MLS/MIS) signed an offer with Towson University in Baltimore, MD for the role of Digital Services Librarian at Albert S. Cook Library IT Department beginning in the spring semester of 2025. The position is a two-year diversity fellowship and also a continuing librarian appointment on track for permanent status (tenure).