Previous Positions (last 10 years)

No others in the last 10 years.

Official MLA Activities (last 10 years)

National

• AAHSL/MLA Educational Research Task Force: cochair 2024-present;
• 2018 National Program Committee: member 2016-2018;
• PHPartners Advisory Board: MLA representative member 2013-2019;
• 2014 National Program Committee: CE Committee: liaison 2012-2014.

Caucus

• PH/HA: member 2005-present, chair 2012-2013.
• EMTS: member 2012-present.

Chapter

• Liberty: member 2007-present; Chapter Council Representative 2024-present.

Professional Experience (last 10 years)

Professional Activities

• NYU Health Sciences Library, NYU Langone Health: Department Chair and Director, 2020- present; Associate Curator (Tenured) and Vice Chair for Education, 2017-2020; Course Director for Intro to Systematic Reviews, 2015-2021; Assistant Curator and Education & Curriculum Librarian, 2011-2017.

Professional Honors

• MLA Research Award, 2023.
• Estelle Brodman Award for Academic Medical Librarian of the Year, 2020.

Candidate Questions from the Nominating Committee

How can we (MLA) as an organization provide the maximum value to our members and provide opportunities for involvement and relevance in these changing times?

MLA provides the most value when it helps individual members do their work better and navigate real challenges in their jobs. That means focusing on practical, timely programming around skills that matter right now. Today, that might look like incorporation of AI into teaching and assessment, research rigor, leadership, and evolving search and discovery tools. Providing value also means rethinking how members get involved. Not everyone can commit to multi-year committees, but might be eager to contribute in smaller, more focused ways. Ideally, this would be tied to strategic objectives that help support all of us. Clearly communicating about short-term projects, task forces, and communities of practice would make it easier for members at all career stages to participate and see the impact of their contributions.

What would you, as a board member, do to help build community within our association and create an environment where members feel a sense of belonging?

Community doesn’t happen by accident; it requires intention. As a board member, I would focus on creating structures that help people connect across roles, institutions, and career stages. That includes supporting mentoring and peer-support models that are flexible and reciprocal, recognizing that learning goes in all directions. I also believe transparency and communication matter. Members are more likely to feel invested when they understand how decisions are made and how they can shape the association’s priorities. More senior members of MLA should be involved in doing more direct outreach to include newer members. A personal touch will go a long way in helping members feel that MLA is their professional home.

What one strategic initiative do you think would be most helpful for ensuring that MLA remains a vibrant and useful association?

Many initiatives will be required to ensure MLA remains vibrant and useful for members, but I would focus on the area where I have worked the most, education. Initiatives focused on providing tools and frameworks for librarians on the ground to help integrate themselves and their work into educational teams will help individual members. At the same time, work needs to be done to demonstrate the value of librarians to leadership members from our employers. Targeted efforts to be present and a part of discussions at other organizations, like AAMC, will continue to be necessary to raise the profile of our profession and support members.