Community Profiles
Community Profiles
Get to know our students, alumni and instructors by reading about their backgrounds, interests, professional goals, favorite courses, accomplishments, careers, and more fascinating experiences. These stories cover a wide range of topics and showcase the talents of our vibrant global community.
iSchool Distinguished Alumna Lisa Rosenblum Likes Big Library Systems
“Part of the benefit of education is to learn new things, even if you don’t think you need them for your future career. There are so many options now…and a lot you can do.”
Lisa Rosenblum
Chief Librarian, Brooklyn Public Libraries
Brooklyn, New York
iSchool Distinguished Alumna (MLIS, 1994)
Kimberlee Wheeler: Representing for California Library Students
Just seeing the diversity across the profession had a huge impact, and that was what made me decide I wanted to be a librarian.”
Kimberlee Wheeler
Chico, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2016
Crystal Schimpf and the DIY LIS Career
“I knew how to do the training work, and I knew how to put the team together, and I knew how to work with the clients: it’s creating an organization that works that’s the hard part.”
Crystal Schimpf
Founder, Kixal Consulting
Pleasant Hill, California
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2007)
No Such Thing as Beginner’s Luck
“Applying for a grant is more than just submitting applications to whatever is out there. Locating a grant that truly fits the library requires a thorough understanding of the requirements of the grant, and the needs and mission of the library [and] community.”
Yu Ting Lin
Los Angeles, California
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2015)
“Because of the grant, [the library was] able to give their diverse community a spectacular program that connected them to local history, each other, and the joy of reading.”
Stefa Witt
Los Angeles, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation Fall 2016
Brittany Austin: A Grand Pas to Success
“Two of my major motivations for going back to school for my MLIS were to build communities and to share information and resources within these communities. My overall academic goals were to take classes that gave me new experiences that I could not learn on the job at my current position in a college library.”
Brittany Austin
Becket, Massachusetts
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2014)
Essraa Nawar: We Need Diverse Librarians
“All of these experiences added up to who I am today, and what kind of work I will be able to do and contribute to the library profession. They made me who I am.”
Essraa Nawar
Coordinator of Development and Co-Chair of Arts and Exhibits
Chapman College Library, Orange, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation Fall 2017
Alumna Vanessa Holm Reaches New Heights, With Help From the MLIS
“iSchool taught me great skills that I can apply to work, and made me more confident in the work I do. I would recommend the iSchool to anyone.”
Vanessa Holm
Ontario, Canada
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2015)
Food for Thought
“I wasn’t sure I saw myself as a librarian. But having gone through [the MLIS program], I now understand the professionalism associated with this role. Now I have a larger view, and the values behind this role and why we do what we do.”
Sharon Tani
Pasadena, California
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2011)
Teen Services Librarian Amy Kirchofer Thrives in iSchool Open Classes
“I want to ensure that I have lots of options, since librarianship has so many possible applications.”
Amy Kirchofer
Lexington Park, Maryland
iSchool Open Classes Program Participant
Canadian Student Simon Lum Thinks Globally and Acts Locally
“My goal is to use my skills and knowledge to build on my past successes and experiences, and to play a vital role in supporting and affecting positive change in my communities—locally and globally.”
Simon Lum
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2016
Talking TechSoup for Libraries with Alumna Ginny Mies
“I love doing the research and finding librarians who have done a really amazing project… I love finding them, giving them the platform to tell their story, supplementing libraries with all of the resources we can, and allowing other libraries to find their story and get help for themselves.”
Ginny Mies
San Francisco, California
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2013)
iSchool Lecturer Patty Wong Transforms Communities, One Grant at a Time
“I should call it community-engaged grant writing. That’s the critical difference between how I teach grant writing and how others do it. I really do want to have a positive impact on a whole community.”
Patty Wong
iSchool Lecturer
County Librarian and Chief Archivist for Yolo County, California
The Story of Paula Pereira: Immigrant, Teacher, Librarian and Self-Published Author
“The book I wrote is the book I wish I’d read when I was an ESL student.”
Paula Pereira
Norwalk, California
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2009)
Patty Mapes Turns Teacher-Librarian and Earns Post-Master’s Certificate
“I feel like I am officially a teacher-librarian… Having the Post-Master’s Certificate validates and qualifies me for my position.”
Patty Mapes
Atlanta, Georgia
iSchool Alumna (Post-Master’s Certificate, 2015)
Baby Steps: Librarians and Reading Readiness
“I’m passionate about this, and that makes all the difference. I love what I do, and it’s so important for children. It’s been a really good experience, and so worthwhile.”
R. Lynn Baker
Frankfort, Kentucky
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2015)
Scholarships, Internships and Conferences—Oh My!
“I just like information… Ever since I started reading, I wanted to know, and to share information. I enjoy helping other people find the information that they need.”
Emily Agunod
Chesterfield, Virginia
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation December 2015
Nilo Sarraf Takes Smart Data to the Next Level
“I see it as my responsibility, while I’m alive, to do something that can… contribute to the body of information science knowledge.”
Nilo Sarraf
San Francisco, California
San José Gateway PhD Student
Expected Degree Confirmation August 2016
Tom Schween Rocks Digital Storytime
“I wanted to make a difference and be of service. I wanted to promote things I valued and cared about, such as stories, the arts, reading and lifelong learning.”
Tom Schween
Walnut Creek, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2017
Jill Klees Wants You to Land Your LIS Dream Job
“Career development is a passion of mine.”
Jill Klees
SJSU iSchool Career Counselor
San José, California
Melissa Solis Connects the Dots: Library, Literacy and Community
“Anyone in a library degree program would really benefit from volunteering in an adult literacy program in a local library. Understand the people in your neighborhood, and understand different educational experiences: not everyone gets the same opportunity.”
Melissa Solis
San Diego, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation 2016