2010-2012

JaTara Barnes
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JaTara Barnes
Syracuse University

JaTara Barnes is a student at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies. She holds BS degrees in computer science and mathematics from Southern University and a master’s degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University. JaTara is active in the American Library Association where she serves as chair of the New Members Round Table (NMRT) Annual Conference Location and Information Committee and a member of the NMRT Web Committee. In addition, she is the 2010-2011 ACRL Spectrum Scholar. She is interested in using her technology skills to become either a systems librarian or an emerging technologies librarian.

Bertha Chang
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Bertha Chang
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bertha Chang is pursuing a master’s degree in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Bertha received both her SB and PhD from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, Bertha worked for over twelve years at Applied Materials, where she held positions of senior process engineer, senior member of technical staff, and senior engineering manager. Currently, Bertha works as a graduate assistant at the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center at UIUC. She is interested in working in science and engineering libraries with a focus on reference and information services.

Steven Chong
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Steven Chong
San Jose State University

Steven Chong received his BS from the University of California, Davis in biology with a minor in Chinese. He has a passion for the field of biodiversity informatics and upon completing his MLIS hopes to assist researchers in the creation of logical and meaningful organizational schemes for data collection. Steven also has a strong interest in studying geographic information systems (GIS) and digital preservation. He hopes to combine these skills and interests in a position in technical services at a university or natural history museum. He has completed two internships at the Smithsonian Institution.

Manuel de la Cruz-Gutierrez
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Manuel de la Cruz-Gutierrez
Texas Woman's University

Manuel de la Cruz Gutierrez is currently a graduate student in the Texas Woman’s University’s School of Library and Information Studies. He holds a BS in Physics from Universidad de Guadalajara and a PhD in optics from University of Rochester, where he attended on a Fulbright Scholarship. During postdoctoral fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston he discovered his interest in librarianship. His interests include promoting diversity in the workplace and using the latest research and technologies to solve present issues in reference and user experience.

LaNesha DeBardelaben
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LaNesha DeBardelaben
Indiana University Bloomington

LaNesha DeBardelaben lives by the motto “to whom much is given, much is required.” Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, LaNesha is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Indiana University with a specialization in archives management. She is interested in the preservation, propagation, and digitization of U.S. historical documents. Prior to attending Indiana University she was the project manager of a Teaching American History grant program, and she served as an assistant curator at a history museum. LaNesha received her BA from Kalamazoo College and an MA in history and museum studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Mariaelena de la Rosa
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Mariaelena de la Rosa
University of Arizona

Mariaelena de la Rosa’s interest in the sharing of information began while working as a pediatric nurse and continued while pursuing her MPH in health behavior and education. But, it was only after she began working as an associate librarian at an elementary school that she found that she could combine her academic, professional, and personal experiences to facilitate others’ access to information. With this aim she is currently attending the University of Arizona as both an ALA Spectrum Scholar and University of Arizona Knowledge River Scholar. Upon graduation she wants to work as a health sciences librarian in a multi-lingual setting.

Hoan-Vu Do
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Hoan-Vu Do
San Jose State University

Hoan-Vu Do’s educational background is in biology and ecology, which has informed his desire to become a science librarian in an academic setting. Hoan-Vu is passionate at about science and continually follows and reads the latest scientific research. Besides science his interests include copyright, web technologies, and digital libraries. After completing his MLIS he intends to pursue a masters degree in ecology. Currently, he is an intern at the San Diego State University Library and clerks at the San Diego Public Library.

Angel Durr
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Angel Durr
University of North Texas

Angel Durr is an MLIS student at the University of North Texas. She received her bachelor’s in political science from Texas State University (TSU). It was at TSU’s Alkek Library that her career in librarianship began. During her time there, she provided reference services and helped maintain the periodicals collection. Currently, Angel works as a graduate library assistant at Willis Library at the University of North Texas, where she provides reference assistance, website development, and assists with special projects. After obtaining a position in an academic library, Angel intends to pursue a PhD and eventually become the deal of an academic library.

Mayu Ishida
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Mayu Ishida
University of British Columbia

Mayu Ishida earned a BSc and MSc in computer science from Simon Fraser University prior to beginning her MLIS studies at the University of British Columbia. Her interests include the influence of technology on scholarly communication and preservation and its impact on research collaboration. Mayu also serves on the committee of Immigrating Women in Science (IWIS); a program that supports women internationally trained in science and technology. In this position she has organized career workshops and provided information resources for female immigrants who strive to overcome barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Abraham de Jesus
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Abraham de Jesus
University of British Columbia

Abraham de Jesus is a student at University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies. During previous studies at UBC he obtained a BA in Chinese and an MA in Asian Studies. His accomplishments so far include, presenting papers at regional conferences for the American Academy of Religion and an upcoming presentation at the national conference for the Association of Asian Studies. His interests include the promotion and management of digital collections, information literacy programs, and information architecture and web development.

Soyeong Jeon
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Soyeong Jeon
University of British Columbia

Soyeong Jeon is an MLIS student at the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia. Soyeong obtained her BS in Physics from Sogang University and her MS in Physics from the University of Oregon, where she also studied psychology. Her interests include assessment, geospacial information systems, science, and psychology librarianship.

Ashley Rayner
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Ashley Rayner
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Ashley Rayner has always been fascinated by technology; a fact, which lead her to pursue a BS in science, technology, and society from Stanford University. She worked at Deloitte for two years configuring enterprise software applications, developing training programs, and conducting training sessions before beginning her MLIS at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Along with her MILS coursework, she works at the Instructional Technology and Design Office at UIUC. Ashley has interned at Northeastern Illinois University's Ronald Williams Library, where she worked in reference services.

Yasmeen Shorish
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Yasmeen Shorish
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yasmeen Shorish obtained a BFA from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and a BS in biology from Northeastern Illinois University, prior to beginning her MLIS. It was during her studies in biology that she realized that librarians have a mandate to provide information to whoever needs or wants it. With this in mind she founded the Chicago chapter of the American Society of Afghan Professionals and eventually began her MLIS studies at UIUC. In the future she hopes to work as a liaison librarian promoting open access to resources and enhancing scholarly communication practices.

Marina Torres Aiello
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Marina Torres-Aiello
San Jose State University

Marina Torres Aiello graduated with her BA in English and philosophy from the University of the Pacific, and it was there that her experience in libraries began. She worked in various roles and departments at the University Library including technical services, special collections, and as the coordinator at the Health Sciences Branch, a position she still holds. As coordinator she helped to facilitate reference training for paraprofessional staff and presented a discussion and poster chronicling the project at the California Academic and Research Libraries 2010 Conference and the 2010 American Library Association Annual Conference respectively. Her interests include library management, diversity, and intellectual freedom.

Qinqin Zhang
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Qinqin Zhang
University of British Columbia

Qinqin Zhang graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with her bachelor’s in computer science and from LeHigh University with her MS in instructional technology before beginning her MLIS at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her interests in libraries began at LeHigh University where she worked in a variety of on-campus libraries and felt instantly connected with the patron-centered role of librarians. Qinqin has extensive experience in training and instruction, and she currently provides information literacy instruction to first-year students and virtual reference services at UBC. Her interests include library systems, technology, and instruction.

2009-2011

Anissa Ali
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Anissa Ali
Wayne State University

Langston Bates
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Langston Bates
University of North Texas

Johnnie Blunt
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Johnnie Blunt
Wayne State University

Roy Brooks
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Roy Brooks
University of Wisconsin at Madison

Jeffrey Cruz
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Jeffrey Cruz
University of Arizona

Kiyomi Deards
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Kiyomi Deards
Drexel University

Marcela Estevez
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Marcela Estevez
University of South Florida

Emmanuel Faulkner
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Emmanuel Faulkner
University of Maryland at College Park

Xiaomei Gu
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Xiaomei Gu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Stacy Harris
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Stacy Harris
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Christina Herd
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Christina Herd
San Jose State University

Jennifer Huck
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Jennifer Huck
University of Wisconsin at Madison

Sheetija Kathuria
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Sheetija Kathuria
University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Samip Mallick
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Samip Mallick
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yasmin Mathew
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Yasmin Mathew
Pratt Institute

Rolando Garcia-Milian
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Rolando Garcia-Milian
Southern Connecticut State University

Myrna Elsa Morales
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Myrna Elsa Morales
Simmons College

Derek Mosley
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Derek Mosley
Simmons College

Laksamee Putnam
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Laksamee Putnam
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Umesh Thakkar
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Umesh Thakkar
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign