Describe yourself in three words:

Inquisitive, dedicated, reflective.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)?

I just finished "The Witch Elm" by Tana French and am now reading "On a Sunbeam" by Tillie Walden. I also have a heavy roster of podcasts that I listen to on my commute and runs, including CodeSwitch, More Perfect, Reply All, and 99% Invisible.

Describe ACRL in three words:

Engaging, collaborative, community.

What do you value about ACRL?

ACRL has helped me make connections with so many academic librarians. I’m active in both the Instruction Section (IS) and the Education and Behavioral Sciences Section (EBSS), through which I have met librarians who support and challenge me professionally in very positive ways. I also appreciate the many opportunities for professional development through ACRL, from webinars to more in-depth experiences like Immersion and the roadshows. I was fortunate enough to participate in Immersion when I was a fairly new librarian, and now I am a presenter for the Framework roadshow.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus?

I am our liaison to the students, faculty, and staff in education and psychology, which means that I provide research assistance and instruction to folks in these disciplines, and I manage our research collections in these areas. I work with first-year undergraduates through doctoral students. Most years, I interact with close to 1000 students through instruction and research consultations. The librarians at UNLV are actively involved in the educational mission of the university. Through our library’s faculty institutes, I have worked with faculty to develop or redesign assignments and whole courses in order to more effectively integrate research assignments into the curriculum. I was a high school English teacher before I became a librarian, so this work is a happy fit for me given my background in education.

In your own words

I work in the vibrant community of Las Vegas, at one of the most diverse universities in the nation, so this work is important to me. I get to teach, support people in their research, and explore research of my own. I’m thankful every day to be doing this work that I love so much.

Credentials:Presenter with Engaging with the ACRL Framework: A Catalyst for Exploring and Expanding Our Teaching Practices

Title:Education Librarian, Associate Professor

Workplace:University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Location:Las Vegas, NV