Three alumni from the San José State University School of Information were voted into officer positions on the 2024 California Library Association board. Genesis Hansen is the new president-elect. Brandy Buenafe and Darla Wegener assume directors-at-large positions.

Hansen, a 2003 graduate of the Master of Library and Information Science degree program, is the director of the Mission Viejo Library. As director, Hansen has “worked with Mission Viejo staff to expand library services and capacity through grant funding, enabling expansion of early literacy programs and services, technology, local history, teen services, disability needs assessment and more.” Hansen considers it an “honor and a privilege” to be voted president-elect. “CLA has been a huge part of my own professional development, and I look forward to working with the Board to advance our efforts in advocacy and support our libraries and library staff statewide,” Hansen states.

After earning her MLIS degree from the SJSU School of Information in 2007, Buenafe has gone on to work as a librarian in two state prisons and is currently serving as principal librarian for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In her candidate statement, Buenafe says she ran in the election to “continue to ensure that the voices of the diverse library workers in California have a place in our State Association. I believe passionately in the mission of the California Library Association, which is to be the community for California libraries.” Buenafe previously served on the CLA board from 2019-2022.

Wegener’s career has spanned many different cities and counties in California, as well as positions from library page to librarian. The 2020 MLIS graduate is currently the county librarian for Tulare County and oversees 17 branches and a literacy center. Her interest is in continuing to grow in the Rural and Tribal Libraries Interest Group. The interest group is part of the CLA, which “is creating a network of support for rural and tribal libraries of all types to increase awareness, collaboration, advocacy, and access to resources.” In her new role on the CLA board she will focus on “rebuilding library systems.”