Executive Board

Chair : Jade Dean (Fall 2024)

Jade Dean (she/her) is in her final semester of earning her Masters in Library and Information Science. She is using this program to facilitate a career change and currently volunteers at libraries across Southern California to gain experience while growing her professional network. Her professional interests lie in creating community, advocacy, strategic thinking, and leadership. Jade previously served as the Vice Chair for ALASC and is both honored and excited to lead the Executive Board for the Fall semester.

Chair : Alva Fong (Summer 2024)

Alva is a forever library kid and a Sesame Street kid at heart. She thanks her Mom for the greatest gift: teaching her how to read early and their weekly walks to the neighborhood library.

Her favorite quote and life advice is by Ray Bradbury: “I spent three days a week for ten years educating myself in the public library, and it’s better than college. People should educate themselves – you can get a complete education for no money. At the end of 10 years, I had read every book in the library, and I’d written a thousand stories.” 

Alva believes in the limitless power of representation and storytelling!

She works at her local public library. 

A fan of audiobooks and Kindle, Libby is her favorite app.

Alva writes weird stories daily. You can also find her playing ball with her rescue mutts, building Lego, and swimming.

Web Coordinator : Tiffany Runyan

Tiffany Runyan (She/Her) is in her second year at SJSU where she is earning her Masters in Library and Information Science, and a Teacher-Librarian Credential.  She has been a science educator for over a decade and has had the opportunity to teach many students at the elementary through college level.  Her love of library science began early in life when she started volunteering at her high school library, and then worked in both the music listening room of a university library, and as a page in a public library to help pay her way through college.  She has a B.S. in Geology from Sacramento State University, A Secondary Teaching Credential in Geoscience and Biology from CSU Long Beach, and her current academic interests include both academic science librarianship, and K-12 school libraries. Outside of school she is a mom with two children, two dogs,  a blue tonged skink, and a cat, and loves reading and crocheting.

Treasurer : Missy McCollum

Missy McCollum, a devoted mother of two residing in Danville, CA, is an accomplished individual driven by a passion for equality and social justice. With a BA in Gender Studies and Communication and Culture from Indiana University, Missy actively volunteers with the Trevor Project, demonstrating her commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Currently pursuing an MLIS degree, she seeks to expand her knowledge and contribute to the world of information and knowledge. In her leisure time, Missy enjoys playing pool, programming Christmas lights to create magical displays synchronized with music, indulging in video games, and showcasing her creativity through crochet. Notably, she had the extraordinary opportunity to meet Brandi Carlile at a private concert, an experience that left a lasting impression. Through her dedication to family, advocacy, and personal growth, Missy strives to positively impact her community. Her journey exemplifies resilience, empathy, and a desire to create a better world for those around her.

Secretary/Archivist : Kim McMilin

My name is Kim McMilin and I serve as the Clerk/Archivist for ALASC! I have worked at a local rural public library in Alaska for 9 years and recently accepted a promotion as the full-time Adult Services Library Clerk and Program Coordinator. I decided to slowly work towards getting my library degree to improve my chances for future opportunities. Before beginning my MILS journey with SJSU in the fall of 2023, I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s in elementary education. I keep myself plenty busy with a 12yo, 8yo, and husband as well! When I do have free time, I play hockey with the local women’s team.

Membership Coordinator : Eddie Lagos

I started off in library work as a school librarian for a private school in the Bay area. I moved back to southern California where I began working for a public library doing outreach. I now work for the San Bernardino County library as a library assistant. I am interested in academic librarianship and digital preservation. I enjoy playing music, watching movies and photography.

Social Media Coordinator : Rebecca Natali

My name is Rebecca and I reside in Atlanta, Georgia where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Georgia State University. I am a year into the MLIS program and I am absolutely loving it! I am a member of Phi Kappa Phi’s honor society and I have a passion for creative design, information organization, and data services. I hope to gain further knowledge and experience in the LIS field pertaining to data management and digital assets. I’ve been published in Georgia’s Emerging Writers and America’s Emerging Literary Fiction Writers. In my free time, I love reading, writing, and baking.

Social Media Assistant : Jacklyn Roussin

I  started as a Children’s Programming Librarian in August 2022 and shortly after decided to embark on my MLIS journey. Before that, I worked in the public schools and have my teaching license for PreK-2nd grade. As I move through the MLIS degree, I plan to focus on youth services. In my free time I love to read, cook, go for walks, and watch TV (especially Gilmore Girls on repeat). I’m a huge Disney fan and love doing themed movie/dinner nights. I also enjoy spending time on my bookstagram (Instagram account dedicated mostly to books) through creating graphics for it, posting reviews, and connecting with others within the bookstagram community.

Events Coordinator : Cat Tang

Cat Tang (she/her) began the MLIS program in spring 2023 and currently works for public libraries within Los Angeles County, where she delights in thinking up programming, building collections, engaging in outreach, and uplifting young people. As one might expect from that statement, she is most interested in youth librarianship, and her ideal role would include youth services, community engagement, and outreach, but she is open to where other opportunities might take her. She also has strong interests in promoting digital literacy and teaching in non-classroom settings, as well as upholding and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. When she’s not buried in work or school, Cat can be found jamming out to music, trying to concentrate long enough to read for leisure, and attempting to create art. She loves meeting and connecting with other people, so feel free to reach out to her as we embark on our MLIS journeys together!

Events Assistant : Connor Dandridge

Hi! My name is Connor, and I have been enrolled in the MLIS program here at SJSU since January 2023. I have previously received Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. I love watching movies, playing games, hiking, and hanging out with my cat, Sencha. I plan to pursue a career in academic librarianship after getting my degree.

Events Assistant : Shannon Broden

This is my final semester at SJSU. For the 2023-2024 school year, I served as the ALASC Web Coordinator. My goal this semester is to help plan events that educate and inform my fellow students about the wide possibilities in libraries. I am also Membership Director for the iSchool’s UX Student Association (previously Blog Editor in 2023-2024), and am a part of the iSchool’s Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) group, and member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. In early 2024, I was part of a group at ALA LibLearnX that presented on the use of Virtual Reality, and have also presented posters at the iSchool receptions at both the California Library Association and the American Library Association conference.  My work in virtual communities includes being a Board Member with the Community Virtual Library, part of Metaverse Libraries, which brings together librarians, and lifelong learning organizations in Second Life and other virtual worlds. When not doing academic pursuits, I will most likely be found watching animated television or movies, playing board or online games, exploring Second Life or other virtual/augmented/mixed reality worlds, or reading a book – because my love of stories and storytelling all began with books.

Blogging Coordinator : Sabrina Bobadilla

I have an AA in English literature from Cerritos College and a BA in English literature from CSU Long Beach. I am starting my second semester at SJSU. I am interested in academic librarianship, but I also love history and art, and am interested in archival work as well. I live in southern California with my 16-year-old son. My hobbies are playing videogames, anime and manga, and reading.

Blogging Assistant :Andrea Patlan

Blogging Assistant : Becky Steenburg

Becky Steenburg, a lifelong Coloradoan and now a resident of Maine began the MLIS program in Spring 2023. Becky spent 6 years as the Children’s Librarian at Alamosa Public Library in Alamosa, Colorado, and has held leadership positions on the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) board.  As a multi-library conference presenter, Becky teaches others how to find their unique voice and implement music and movement into storytimes and other library programming. Becky holds a BA in Theatre and spent 3 years as a Kindermusik Educator. Currently, Becky offers storytimes at her new rural hometown parks and recreation center and substitutes at various libraries. Becky defines herself as, “a lover of life, music, faith, and rhyming who believes 3-year-olds hold the key to a full and happy life.”

Blogging Assistant : Raines Taylor

I’m excited to join the ALASC as a Blogging Assistant this year as I begin my second year in the MLIS + Teacher Librarian Credential program. I currently live in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, where I have worked for three years as a fifth grade teacher. In 2024, I’ll be taking the reins as my school’s librarian, serving all grade levels in the school. I studied music performance (voice) along with a minor in Italian Area Studies at Southern Methodist University. I also have graduate degrees from Rice University (in music) and the University of Pennsylvania (in international education & development). I have several years of experience teaching English language overseas, including in Korea, Georgia (the country), Germany, Iraqi Kurdistan, and China. I’m thrilled to be entering the world of libraries and information, as I feel the field brings in so many perspectives and backgrounds!

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.