Written by Jacklyn Roussin & Wendy Thompson
Cat’s Journey with ALASC:
Cat first joined ALASC as a Social Media Assistant in Spring 2023. Her main goal was to improve the Chapter’s Goodreads account. In an attempt to achieve this goal, Cat made a new Goodreads group and worked to boost engagement, but despite her efforts, it didn’t gain the traction she had hoped for. Although social media interested her, she knew it wasn’t where her passion truly lie. Cat had long hoped to join the Events team, and while no positions were available at the time, she still found opportunities to contribute, most notably by designing the giveaway tote bags for the 2023 Around the World Library Tour.
After her experience on the social media team and a small taste of events work, Cat kicked off the new year in 2024 as the Events Coordinator. During her time as Events Coordinator, she planned eight events for the year, and while it was a lot of work, she had a lot of fun doing it. Cat experienced a learning curve during her transition from assisting to coordinating, as the responsibilities increased significantly. She was especially grateful to have a supportive, understanding, and patient team that was also new to event planning. “Special shout out to Connor, who went way above and beyond. I would not have been able to do it without him,” Cat said, mentioning that she felt that Connor was the backbone of the Events team during this time.
Cat really felt like she started to find her groove with event coordinating in the fall semester, where she hosted five events in just one semester! While she loved the role and the work it involved, the Chapter was in desperate need of a new Chair. After some difficult nomination cycles, Cat knew strong organizational knowledge and an internal promotion would be most helpful for the organization, so she took a hesitant yet determined step forward.
One priority Cat had as she stepped into the role of Chair was ensuring that her successor would be in a stronger position and face a smoother transition than she had experienced. “We had a lot of documentation from the previous Chair, Brianna, and I wanted to build on and expand what Brianna started,” Cat explained. Continuing that work, Cat created a comprehensive Executive Committee handbook to serve as a central resource for all members. She also encouraged each Officer and Team to develop role-specific handbooks with additional detail, which were then linked within the main handbook, and created a dedicated Chair handbook as well. In addition, Cat collaborated with the Executive Committee to establish clear, concise expectations, helping ensure the Executive Committee operated smoothly, equitably, and effectively.
Along with these personal projects Cat took on in her role as Chair, she also oversaw and ran several subcommittees: the Constitution Revision Subcommittee, where Executive Committee members worked on updating the organization’s constitution; the Alt/Text Subcommittee, which improved accessibility across social media platforms and the website through the integration of alt text; the Organizational Preservation Subcommittee, focused on strengthening and improving the organization’s internal structures; and the SCOTYA Subcommittee, which compiled and organized documentation for the Student Chapter of the Year Award application.
Reasons for Joining the ALASC:
When Cat began the MLIS program, she set one personal requirement for herself: to get involved. If she was going to return to school, she wanted to fully engage with others and build meaningful peer connections. Her undergraduate experience had been cut short and primarily online, leaving her without the chance to participate in in-person interactions, creative writing workshops, collaborative projects, and the sense of community often found in college. As she contemplated going back to school, Cat researched various student groups but remained uncertain about what area she might specialize in. Joining a broad-based student organization seemed like a wise choice that would complement any direction her studies might take. Already familiar with the American Library Association (ALA), she began exploring the SJSU ALA Student Chapter as one of her first options.
Before officially entering the MLIS program, Cat attended ALASC’s Connect Over Coffee event, hosted by then-Events Coordinator Eori Tokunaga, to learn more about librarianship and the field’s diverse career paths. Hearing about opportunities across public, academic, and special libraries both inspired her and reinforced her interest in public librarianship. During the event, she also reflected on how school naturally fosters a sense of community, but maintaining that connection after graduation can be more challenging—especially when trying to find others who share similar interests outside of an academic environment. The Connect Over Coffee event resonated deeply with her, and she decided to become involved with ALASC because she admired the events they organized and the welcoming community they cultivated.
Although Cat initially lacked experience in programming and event planning, she valued ALASC’s emphasis on active participation and saw it as the perfect opportunity to develop those skills. Since she wasn’t using them in her current job, volunteering with ALASC would allow her to gain hands-on experience she could later apply professionally. Through her involvement, Cat aimed to build new skills, expand her experience, and connect with others while deepening her understanding of librarianship.
Cat’s Key Take-Aways from the ALASC:
Cat’s favorite part of being in the student chapter has been the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. She explained that the person she is now is very different from who she was when she first began volunteering as a member of the ALASC Executive Committee. Through her involvement, she has developed as a leader and acquired many new skills. Having served alongside multiple Executive Committee cohorts, she has enjoyed observing how each unique combination of people creates a distinct environment and dynamic. She has had the chance to connect with mentors who have guided her, peers she has collaborated with, and newer ALASC members she has supported and taught. These varied connections have allowed her to build relationships in meaningful ways and have played a significant role in her personal growth.
Impressions & Memories:
“From the moment I joined ALASC, Cat made me feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported. Throughout my time in the chapter, I’ve watched her flourish in a variety of roles—from Social Media Assistant and Events Assistant, to Events Coordinator, and ultimately, Chair. In every position, Cat’s dedication and hard work have continually stood out. She consistently goes above and beyond to strengthen the chapter, steps in wherever support is needed, and has led the Executive Committee with resilience and grace.I am deeply grateful for the leadership Cat has brought to ALASC and for the friendship we’ve built along the way.” – Jacklyn Roussin, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Social Media Coordinator
“When I first met Cat, what stood out most to me was her kindness and willingness to jump in and help wherever help was needed. She brings warmth and creativity to every project she’s involved in, turning collaboration into genuine friendship. She cares deeply, not only about the ALASC, but about the people within its community, which shows through her respectful communication, consistent support, and genuine interest in seeing others succeed.” – Wendy Thompson, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Social Media Assistant
“I’ve known Cat for a few years and am always in awe of her dedication to whatever she touches. I am so incredibly proud to have had the honor of working beside her with ALASC and seeing her develop into a strong, dedicated leader. She has always set high standards for herself and handles pressure with ease. She’s the type of leader who motivates everyone, while supporting her colleagues no matter what. Joining ALASC and becoming close friends with Cat was a major highlight during my time at SJSU. Her contributions to ALASC, the iSchool, and the library field are inspiring, but to me, her friendship and our connection is what I will hold dear for years to come.” – Rebecca Natali, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Social Media Coordinator
“As the faculty advisor, I can say without hesitation that Cat’s dedication to the well-being of the ALASC is unmatched. Even before she decided to run for Chair, her top concern was whether taking on the role would truly serve the organization. Throughout her time in office, she has remained focused on securing a strong future for the ALASC, doing the hard work of establishing the policies, documentation, and expectations that will support the organization for many years to come. During a turbulent season with several vacant positions, Cat refused to let the organization lose momentum. She personally stepped into whatever roles were needed. Under her leadership, the ALASC delivered a full schedule of events even at a time when we didn’t have an actual Events team in place.” – Alison Johnson, ALASC Faculty Advisor
“In my time at SJSU and in the ALASC, Cat was always the most hard-working, coordinated, and kind person on any project or call. I worked with her on the Events team in my final year at SJSU, and she was instrumental in our success—she is a great leader and a wonderful person. Congrats Cat!” – Connor Dandridge, SJSU Alumnus, Former ALASC Events Assistant
“It was such a treat to work with Cat during my time at ALASC. She is incredibly passionate about librarianship and always looking to uplift others. I wish her all the best in her endeavors post-graduation. I know she will be a phenomenal librarian!” – Brianna Morales, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Chair
“Cat has been a steadfast leader in the time that I have known her in ALASC. She provided stability, accountability, and cheerfulness to our organization and her leadership guided the chapter to be its best. Working with Cat in ALASC was a joy, and I wish her success in her future and hope to see her around at future conferences!” – Sabrina Bobadilla, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Blogging Coordinator
“From my time as Webmaster to ending my final semester as an Events Assistant, I worked with Cat in a variety of areas, including the Constitution Revision Subcommittee. She gave her best in everything she did, including co-presenting a poster with past Chair Brianna Morales on the subcommittee’s work at the national ALA conference in San Diego. Cat possesses a passion, both for her field and the people who are a part of it, in everything she does. I am pleased to see her growth from supporting roles into leadership of student organizations.” – Shannon Broden, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Web Coordinator & Events Assistant
“Cat has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills during my time as Secretary/Archivist. What I appreciate the most about Cat is her communication and her willingness to make time for the Executive Committee members. I had a lot of self doubts in my role and was struggling immensely with work and personal matters, but Cat scheduling time with me to discuss my concerns gave me the confidence to continue my duties as Secretary/Archivist. As a leader, it’s important to provide help when your team is struggling, and I believe Cat excels in this.” – James Le, ALASC Secretary/Archivist
“Working with Cat has been a great experience. I learned a great deal about leadership while working with her in my role as Vice Chair. She is a forward thinker who considers the needs of both current and future chapter members. She genuinely cares about the chapter and the success of iSchool students. She also brings a welcome sense of humor to her leadership, something I deeply appreciate.” – Eddie Lagos, Former ALASC Vice Chair
“I knew from the moment I met Cat that she would be a great addition to ALASC. She brought an abundance of enthusiasm and was determined to make ALASC even better than it was. From the get-go, we knew she was destined to be Chair. I believe we will continue to see great things from Cat in the future. She is a star!” – Amelia Smith, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Social Media Manager
“Cat has truly been a beacon of light, knowledge, and creativity at ALASC. I still remember when Cat reached out to me via email after I hosted my first Connect Over Coffee event in Fall 2022. It was my first semester as Co-Events Coordinator and I wanted to make sure that attendees felt like they were able to network with folks. I knew that the previous Events Coordinators had left a strong impression on the chapter, so I wanted to make sure that I didn’t disappoint anyone. The fact that she not only reached out, but asked about how she could join ALASC once she enrolled, left such a positive impression that I was determined to make sure she could help out with events in some capacity. Her passion for libraries clearly extends past SJSU and ALASC. I’ve met with Cat outside of the online space at a number of library conferences and workshops. We have also spent time exploring various parts of Southern California by going to cat cafes, eating acai bowls, and driving through Koreatown. I am so proud to call her a librarian, but I’m even more proud to call her my friend. Congratulations Cat!” – Eori Tokunaga, SJSU Alumna, Former ALASC Co-Events Coordinator
“Cat has shown me what excellent leadership looks like. From the moment I joined, it was clear how deeply she cares about the success of the ALASC and ischool students. Cat welcomed the other members and me warmly, and gave me the confidence to believe in my own leadership, even when I had self-doubts. I feel both honored and a little nervous to carry forward the torch from such a dedicated Chair. I’m so excited to see where this next chapter takes her. It has been a privilege to learn from and work with Cat. I know she will be the best librarian. Congratulations Cat!” -Devina Martinez, Incoming ALASC Chair