Her work has included facilitating a division-wide collaboration on bystander intervention, implementing a pilot ALSC Equity Fellowship, and executing a pilot ALSC Research Agenda Grant. Rivers received an MLIS with a certificate in youth services from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, where she was a graduate assistant in the Butler Children’s Literature Center. She … Continue reading 11 Questions: Alena Rivers
Before joining ALA, Headrick was chief technology director at Illinois CPA Society, where she helped the organization migrate to cloud-based infrastructure. Prior to that, she held multiple technology roles with the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Headrick has a bachelor’s in business analysis and IT project management from DePaul University and a master’s in business … Continue reading 11 Questions: Rebecca Headrick
Over the past year, Gwizdala had been serving as associate publisher of ALA Editions/ALA Neal-Schuman. In between her 15 years at ALA, she spent six years at the American Bar Association (ABA) where she was managing editor of periodicals (with readerships up to 40,000) for multiple ABA sections. She returned to ALA in 2014. Gwizdala … Continue reading 11 Questions: Angela Gwizdala
Welch has nearly 25 years of nonprofit management experience and started her career in environmental education and community engagement after receiving a master’s degree in biology. Before joining ALA, Melanie founded the Great Lakes Conservation department at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and was a 2010 Catto fellow at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. She answered … Continue reading 11 Questions: Melanie Welch
A licensed certified public accountant, Tsourdinis holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and is a member of the Illinois CPA Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Tsourdinis has worked in finance at several nonprofit and educational institutions in Chicago, including UIC, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, … Continue reading 11 Questions: Dina Tsourdinis
Freeman is a Chicago native who lives in the near-north suburbs with his wife and two sons. He holds an MLIS from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He answered our 11 Questions to reintroduce himself to ALA members. Coffee, tea, other? Loose green tea—consumed hot when it’s cold out, iced when it’s warm. What’s the … Continue reading 11 Questions: Dan Freeman
As ACRL’s new executive director, Malone will lead the largest of ALA’s eight divisions, which includes more than 9,000 individual and institutional members. Prior to ALA, Malone worked at the History of Science Society, where he served for 23 years, helping the organization further its advocacy goals; promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; create a fundraising … Continue reading 11 Questions: Robert “Jay” Malone
As head of ODLOS, Strowder will oversee a unit that manages prominent programs, initiatives, awards, and relationships that support equity and inclusion through a lens of social justice. Strowder answered our 11 Questions to introduce himself to ALA members. Coffee, tea, other? Tea is the best! I specifically love a brand of Earl Grey tea … Continue reading 11 Questions: Kevin Strowder
Prior to ALA, Fournier worked in neighborhood development, as program director at the nonprofit Near South Planning Board in Chicago. There she directed the Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, and the Authors in the Schools literacy program. She also worked in higher education as programming associate at … Continue reading 11 Questions: Mary Davis Fournier
Kendall studied literature and literary studies at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he’s not working or spending time with his family, he writes poetry and plays the French horn. As editor and publisher of Booklist, he drives both content and revenue. He answered our 11 Questions to … Continue reading 11 Questions with George Kendall
A former US Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, Walling studied business administration at University of Michigan and is pursuing an MBA at University of Illinois. At ALA, she’ll lead efforts to develop, implement, and measure strategic initiatives around membership and oversee a fast-paced customer service center. Walling answered our “11 Questions” to introduce herself to … Continue reading 11 Questions: Melissa Kay Walling
Reyes has previously held roles in the American Health Information Management Association in Chicago and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Park Ridge, Illinois. She studied health information management as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a dual master’s in public health and management information systems from Benedictine University. … Continue reading 11 Questions: Sheryl Reyes
