2021-2022 Executive Board Members
Chair: Carlos Bugarin
Hi, my name is Carlos Bugarin and I am a first-generation master’s degree student, soon to be a second year! I’m excited to serve as ALASC‘s chair for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. I currently live in San Leandro, CA. I am originally from Spring Valley, CA with parents from Tijuana, Mexico. I am excited to learn about the public librarian field and hope to work as the head librarian in a rural community. My interests outside of Library and Information science include education, hiking and traditional Mexican folkloric dancing.
Co-Chair: Sadie Davenport
Hi! My name is Sadie Davenport, and I am a second-year student in the MLIS program at San Jose State University. I plan to graduate in Spring 2022. I earned my bachelor’s degree in history at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2019. Now I live in Wilton, California! I work part-time as a library assistant at California Northstate University, and part-time as a park aide at Sutter’s Fort. I also enjoy writing for the Warped Spacers, a speculative fiction writing group based in Sacramento. And in my spare time, I love to read, run, and garden.
Webmaster: Sabrina Gunn
Sabrina started her MLIS journey in Spring 2021 and is primarily interested in the Information Organization and Digital Curation pathways. While she is a California native, she spent three years between the ages of twelve and fifteen living with her family in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has enjoyed many solo travel experiences all around the world in the years since. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of San Francisco and currently resides in Sacramento, CA. While attending grad school part-time, Sabrina also works as a Digital Content and Operations Manager for an e-learning company. In her spare time, you can find Sabrina with her nose buried in a book, going for long walks while listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, learning new hobbies, and playing with her beloved cat, Elphie.
Treasurer: Elizabeth Kuykendall (Fall 2021)
Hello! I’m in my third year (!!) of the MLIS program. I’m taking just one class at a time, so I have two more years to go. When I’m not studying (very) part-time, I work full-time in Access Services and Communications at a university library. I live in the Pacific Northwest and spend any free time reading, volunteering at my local chimpanzee sanctuary, and worshipping my cats, Tilly and Roo.
Secretary/Archivist: Gabrielle Bianca Visco
Gabrielle Bianca Visco is a first-generation master’s degree student and finished their first semester at the end of Spring 2020. *YAY* Gabrielle is excited to join the dynamic ALASC team and will be serving as Secretary/Archivist for the 2020-2021 school year. Currently, Gabrielle lives in a small rural mountain town in Northern California about 3 1/2 hours north of the Bay. She is pursuing a new career path and is bubbling with joy for the new opportunities that are brewing. If Gabrielle doesn’t have her nose in a book or working online for school, you can find her outside hiking, wildcrafting, gardening, and being a lizard by the river.
Membership Coordinator: Laura Zupan
Laura Zupan is a part-time MLIS student planning to graduate in the Spring of 2022. She is currently working as a Customer Success Manager in the technology industry and has a passion for teaching technology and digital literacy. After graduation, she is hopeful to find a position in public librarianship, working on programming, outreach, or instruction. Outside of work and school, you can find her trying new restaurants, chasing her active 1-year old son, or curled up with a good book.
Social Media Manager: Amelia Smith
Amelia is a first-year iSchool student, considering several career avenues as an academic librarian. She has a Bachelor’s in Writing & Rhetoric from Oakland University, and currently works in the Circulation Department at Ann Arbor District Library. Her interests include philosophy, history, and alternative medicine. In addition to assisting with ALASC, she serves as the Blog Editor for SJSU’s First Generation Student Group. When she’s not working or studying, she enjoys reading, writing, drawing, walking, and spending time with her highly active and social cat, Jake.
Social Media Assistant: Avril Frasché
I’m in my first year of the MLIS program, exploring the Teacher Librarian Services Credential and the Youth Services Career Pathway. I live in Los Angeles, where I graduated from UCLA with my bachelor’s in American Literature and Culture and then got my K-6 teaching credential from CSU Dominguez Hills. Currently I’m a full-time student here but next year I’ll be part time while teaching elementary school! I love spending time with my girlfriend as well as my pets (three cats and six chickens), reading, baking, camping, and going to the beach.
Events Coordinator: Kelli Roisman
I’m in my final year in the MLIS program and expect to graduate in Spring 2022. I now live in Los Angeles but grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in history. I’ve worked as a teacher and in grants, finance, and administration for nonprofit organizations. I’ve been the events coordinator for the ALA Student Chapter since fall 2020. I enjoy creating innovative programming to provide iSchool students with opportunities for networking, professional development, and engaging with the wonderful world of librarianship. I’m also the managing editor of Archeota, a publication of the Society of American Archivists Student Chapter. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and watching British television. I live in the Van Nuys neighborhood of LA with my husband, son, dog, and three cats. I’m grateful to all of them for supporting me throughout my MLIS journey.
Events Coordinator: Irene Miller
Hello! I’m a first year student in the MLIS program. I have a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, but am also intensely fascinated with foreign languages, public health, and science. My hobbies include hiking (rain or shine), photography, blogging, and reading. I’m excited to start the adventure that is graduate school and hopefully get a job in one of my happy places – a library.
Events Coordinator: Claire Huysentruyt
Hi! My name is Claire Huysentruyt, and I am finishing my second year in the MLIS program. I live in San Francisco with my partner, Jonathan, a recent iSchool graduate. I am seeking a career change and couldn’t be happier with my new vocation. I work as a library assistant for San Mateo County Libraries and hope to become a children’s librarian when I complete my degree. I enjoy hosting backyard barbecues, coastal hiking, and working on hand sewing projects. Looking forward to an exciting year of ALASC events!
Events Assistant: Caitlin Greenwood (Fall 2021)
Hello! My name is Caitlin Greenwood and I am a second year, part-time student of the MLIS program. I live in Sacramento, CA where I am currently the assistant property manager for 6 shopping centers in the area, but I am currently searching for a library position to gain experience. I earned my bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Chico State in 2016. I would like to work in either a public library or academic library at a junior college. Outside of my studies and work, I enjoy doting on my 2 dogs, cat, and hedgehog. I love anything outdoors, especially kayaking and hiking. I am looking forward to be a part of ALASC!
Blogging Lead: Jennifer Dawes
Jennifer began her MLIS journey in Fall 2021, and is primarily interested in the public librarian pathway. She currently lives by the beach in Southern California. When she’s not studying, her time is filled with family, gardening, hiking, playing board games, or reading.
Blogging Assistant: Melony del Real
Hello there! My name is Melony – I’m studying to become an academic librarian. Before pursuing the MLIS, I studied English Literature and Composition, earning a BA and MA in those fields. While studying English, I adored concepts of open access to literature, literacy, and education as a whole. Now, in library studies, I consider myself an advocate for OER and the dismantling of higher-ed gatekeeping. As a future librarian, I hope to excite marginalized communities to the wonderful resources that academic libraries have to offer, and to foster critical information literacy tenets in my work. When I’m not being a school/work nerd, I’m probably boardgaming with my parents and my partner, or trudging through the Stormlight Archives!
Blogging Assistant: Emily Espanol
Emily’s professional adventures in libraries began in August 2019 when she earned her BA in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and became a YPL Page at her local public library. For a while she tried freelance writing, but when the world quieted down a bit, Emily reflected on her passion for the higher goals of the Library as an institution and applied to join the iSchool in Spring 2021. She still works as a YPL Page and has since started working as a Library Assistant at a medical university library. Outside of work, school, or her interminable commute, Emily enjoys reading, writing, connecting with students, and listening to her coworkers’ puppy stories.
Blogging Assistant: Jen Rasmussen (Fall 2021)
Hey there! I’m Jen, a first-year MLIS student at SJSU. I’m interested in becoming a librarian because I support all the values of the industry—access, inclusion, empathy, and empowerment. This will be my second career, after more than a decade in tv news. In my free time, I love reading, playing piano, or getting lost in a good show. More often, I’m wrangling my kids while trying to keep my sanity. Looking forward to being a part of ALASC!
Blogging Assistant: Mary Harrison (Fall 2021)
I can’t wait to get started and help grow the SJSU ALASC and event participation. Previously I used WordPress a lot as I worked for Pageant Planet, which is an online pageant coaching and resource website. I wrote a large portion of our content and everything from coaching advice to outfit suggestions from our advertisers to some fun, seasonal Buzzfeed style articles.
I also worked for Radio Disney back in the day and the University of Oklahoma’s Licensing and Athletics Marketing departments so creating a show/event/moment that people wanted to come to has been a task in the past. For Radio Disney and OU Softball, I was our MC/Live Mic, so I was hosting the event and making it fun. Right now, I teach 2nd grade and build out Bitmoji classrooms in Google Slides for each subject for my kiddos to find and access information on the topic we are studying for the week. They come out super cute and the kids love them. I look forward to working with you all and helping to make the hard work you put into this worth the energy and effort.
Faculty Advisor: Alison Johnson
Alison Johnson serves as the faculty advisor for ALASC. She is a full-time Lecturer at the iSchool focusing on INFO 202 Information Retrieval System Design. Formerly, she was an academic librarian and loved working in the areas of reference, interlibrary loan, access services, systems, marketing, and information literacy. She lives in Indiana where she enjoys spending time outdoors amidst the cornfields, cooking, eating, and reading to her children.