2019-2020 ALASC Officers – SJSU ALA Student Chapter (ALASC)

2019-2020 Executive Board

Chair: Elizabeth (Liz) Lesso

Hello! I’m Liz, chair of the ALASC for the 2019-2020 academic year. I’m in my second year as an iSchool student. I live in Connecticut, where I currently manage the circulation desk (and student workers) at a small academic library. I also work one day a week at a public library and I’m pondering a switch to public librarianship once I earn my MLIS. My professional strengths include readers advisory, advocating for students’ needs and a passion for freedom of information. In my spare time, I enjoy knitting, cooking, reading fiction and YA literature, and being a Hufflepuff.

Co-chair/Webmaster: Lourdes Johnson

Hello! I am excited to serve my fellow members as Co-Chair and Webmaster. I am from Peru, have lived in Minnesota and San Francisco and now I am based in Portland, Oregon. This is my second year as MLIS student at SJSU. I am also pursuing an advanced certificate in Digital Assets Management. For the last 5 years, I have worked for public libraries. I was also in charge of a K-5 elementary school library providing English language learners with bilingual story time, reference, and circulation services. I am looking forward to entering the job market with the title of Digital Librarian! In my spare time, I enjoy sewing and tinkering with my antique sewing machines, cooking, and reading.

Treasurer: Stephanie Murakami

Hi everyone, it is such a pleasure to be here! I am a second-year MLIS student who is fortunate to have attended San Jose State University physically (when I received my teaching credential) and now via iSchool! I am earning my MLIS with a teacher librarian credential so that I can pursue a career as either an elementary or middle school teacher librarian. You can often find me enjoying a cup of milk tea, hiking around the Bay Area, and playing video games. I look forward to monitoring finances and arranging fundraisers so that all iSchool members can benefit from the many events and resources that the ALASC has to offer!

Secretary/Archivist: Greta Marti

My name is Greta Marti and I am the new ALASC Secretary/Archivist. I have just started my second semester in the MLIS program at SJSU. I am from San Francisco and was raised in admiration of the San Francisco Public Library system. My current focus/path is on Public Librarianship. Other interests of mine include Performing Arts Librarianship, and disability and accessibility at the library. I completed my MA in Theatre Arts from SFSU in May 2018. I am looking forward to this leadership experience in hopes that it might propel me into new comfort zones, and new academic and professional horizons.

Social Media Manager: Sharaya Olmeda

Sharaya Olmeda is in her second year at SJSU and plans to graduate this December. She is especially interested in public librarianship with an emphasis on combining social programs and basic needs resources into library programming. In her free time, Sharaya enjoys writing poetry, hosting dinner parties, and going to the swap meet.

Events Coordinator: Beth Cartier

Hi Everyone, I grew up in Georgia, went to college in Utah at the University of Utah and now currently live in Maryland. I work as a Library Associate for Frederick County Public Libraries. I am earning my MLIS to further my career in hopes to move into a management position. I am also interested in data management and digital curation. I consider myself an Anglophile. I love all things British! Plus, cats and quilting. I am excited to be part of SJSU ALASC team. My goal is to help plan exciting and interesting events for the enjoyment and benefit of iSchool students.

Blogging Assistant: Violet McCrigler

Hello! I’m a second year iSchool student, following the Youth Services pathway. I have an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies, and currently work as the User Accounts Coordinator for the library at Humboldt State University. My interests include early childhood literacy, information access, and lifelong learning. In addition to assisting with the ALASC blog, I serve on the ASIS&T student chapter executive committee and am a member of Phi Kappa Phi. When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy crafting, reading, gardening, and spending time with my husband and our chihuahua mix, Barley.

Blogging Assistant: Elizabeth Borges

Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am excited to be joining the ALASC Executive Board for Spring 2019. I grew up outside Chicago and moved to the Bay Area almost seven years ago. I taught middle school English for five years and am now a library assistant at a middle school while I work on my degree. This is my fourth semester as an iSchool student and I am interested in pursuing academic or special librarianship after graduation. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, Pilates, drinking wine and eating cheese.

Faculty Advisor: Debbie Faires

Debbie Faires is the faculty advisor for ALASC. She serves as the Director of Online Learning at the School of Information. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree at SJSU and was a student member and officer in ALASC.

Spring 2020 Executive Board Members

Chair: Elizabeth (Liz) Lesso

Co-chair/Webmaster: Meghann Weldon

I’m Meghann Weldon and I am excited to be working and learning with all of my peers in ALASC. I’m inching my way through SJSU’s MLIS program two classes at a time while I work as the Resource Sharing Coordinator at Humboldt State University Library. In addition to all things Interlibrary loan my role there gives me the opportunity to work with great colleagues in the CSU and globally, explore data and support data informed decisions, connect with library users at Access Services, and engage in many collaborative projects. Through ALASC I hope to connect, learn, and collaborate with this community like I do

Treasurer: Liza Schlosser

Liza Schlosser (she/her) is thrilled to join the ALASC team! Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Liza works full-time as the Academic Innovation Studio program coordinator at UC Berkeley, where she also studied PoliSci and Modern Standard Arabic as an undergrad. She is pursuing the Data Science career pathway in the MLIS program at San José State. Liza lives in Richmond, CA with her partner and two dogs and her free time enjoys cooking, reading, camping, crosswords, and photography. Thank you so much for welcoming me!

Social Media Manager: Violet McCrigler

Hello! I’m a third year iSchool student, following the Youth Services pathway. I have an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies, and currently work as the User Accounts Coordinator for the library at Humboldt State University. My interests include early childhood literacy, information access, and lifelong learning. In addition to assisting with ALASC, I serve on the ASIS&T student chapter executive committee and am a member of Phi Kappa Phi. When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy crafting, reading, gardening, and spending time with my husband and our chihuahua mix, Barley.

Events Coordinator: Elizabeth Borges

Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am excited to continue serving on the executive board for my third semester. I grew up outside Chicago and moved to the Bay Area almost eight years ago. I taught middle school English for five years and am currently working as a library assistant at a private school. This is my final semester as an iSchool student and I am interested in pursuing academic after graduation. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, Pilates, drinking wine and eating cheese.

Blogging Assistant: Alyssa Key

Alyssa Key is currently a second-year, full-time student in SJSU’s MLIS program and she will be serving as a blogging assistant for SJSU ALASC for the 2019-2020 school year. A Southern California native, she is currently the associate editor of, as well as a content manager and contributing writer at, Hack Library School. Additionally, she is an active student leader in SJSU’s chapters of ASIS&T, SAASC, ALASC, as well as SJSU’s First Generation Student Group. Lastly, she is currently pursuing public or academic librarianship in her studies and anticipates graduating from the program in Spring 2021.

Blogging Assistant: Natasha Finnegan

Hello! I’m Natasha, blogging assistant for ALASC. I currently work in an academic library and used to work in tiny rural public libraries. I’m in my second year at SJSU’s iSchool and working towards a general/reference/management track. It is the long, slow track due to my young children. I love reading, hiking, playing guitar, and funny memes. My favorite foods are mangoes, avocados, and garlic bread.