Student Biographies

Saleh Aljalahmah is an international student from Kuwait. He grew up in Kuwait City and has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in library and information science from Kuwait. He is currently a graduate student working towards a Master’s in Library and Information Science at the University of Denver. He likes sports especially swimming, and music and Arts in general. For more information, please check his portfolio: http://portfolio.du.edu/saljalah/page/56091

Kathryn Bodnar is an MLIS student at the University of Denver graduating in June 2016. She also holds a Master of Arts in Spanish from the University of Wyoming and speaks French as well. Kathryn currently works in a public library but is interested in moving into academic libraries after graduation. She is especially interested in using her knowledge of French and Spanish to improve foreign language collections and services in libraries. Kathryn can be contacted through her website: https://kathrynbodnar.wordpress.com/

Michael Bovee is a graduate student in the Library and Information Science program at the University of Denver. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Regis University, where he primarily studied political theory and ethics. He’s currently interested in critical librarianship and archival studies. Michael mostly enjoys spending time outdoors and would like to pursue a career at an academic institution somewhere that would enable him to do so. He can be contacted at michael.bovee@du.edu.

Kerena Burns is a graduate student at the University of Denver working on a Master’s in Library and Information Science. She has always enjoyed working with children and young people and hopes to put her own education to good work someday soon as a teacher librarian in any K-12 setting. She can be reached at: Kerena.burns@du.edu

Andrea Copland grew up in Castle Rock, CO and has her undergraduate degree in Oboe Performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. She currently works at the Bonfils-Stanton Music Library and is enrolled in the Master’s of Library and Information Science program at Morgridge College of Education. Following her MLS from Morgridge, she will be applying to conservatories to pursue masters and doctoral degrees in music. Ultimately, she hopes to contribute to music information literacy and instruction by incorporating performance practice into scholarship.

Meghan Damour is an MLIS candidate at the University of Denver planning to graduate in 2017. She currently works at the Anschutz Medical Campus Health Sciences Library in Aurora, Colorado as an Education and Reference Intern. Meghan is a Colorado native and attended the University of Colorado Boulder for her undergraduate degree in Linguistics and Spanish Language & Literature. Her interests and hobbies include public health, health literacy, travel, animals (including cats), and the arts. She plans to pursue a career in medical or academic librarianship after graduation. For more information and contact details, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghandamour

Meghan Ecklund graduated with her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder in Anthropology and Studio Art. Currently, she is a first year graduate student at the University of Colorado-Denver, Library and Information Sciences. She has always had a passion for museum and library work. Upon graduation, she hopes to begin her career as an archivist. Meghan has lived in Colorado most of her life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, creating art, reading, going to musicals, hiking, skiing, and playing with her kitty. Meghan can be contacted through her portfolio:  http://portfolio.du.edu/mecklund

Chelsea Heinbach is a MLIS student at the University of Denver graduating in June of 2016. She is a research and instruction graduate assistant in Outreach and Education at Auraria Library serving the University of Colorado, Denver, Metropolitan State University, and the Community College of Denver. Chelsea is interested in instruction and reference in an academic library and her research interests include inclusivity in academia and information literacy pedagogy. She can be reached via her LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseaheinbach

Cyndi Landis is a graduate student at Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Advertising, and International Studies from Kansas State University. Upon graduation, she hopes to become a Liaison Librarian in an academic setting. Cyndi can be contacted via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndilandis

Rachel Reddick is a Denver native with a BA in English and a minor in History from the University of Northern Colorado.  She is set to graduate from the University of Denver in the summer of 2016 with an MLIS.  Her focus is in public librarianship, particularly adult and teen services. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting and quilting.  She can be reached through https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelreddick

Joe Richard is a second year Library and Information Science graduate candidate at the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education. His research interests include, the Micro-library movement and DIY librarianship, community engagement, and inclusive programming. Joe can be contacted at @thatismyhat on Twitter.

Renate Robey is a graduate student in the University of Denver’s Library and Information Science Program. Before studying at DU, Renate was a newspaper reporter for The Denver Post and a freelance journalist.  Renate’s focus now is outreach programming for public libraries. She is passionate about working with seniors to address the generational digital divide.  Renate can be reached through LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaterobey

Cortnye Rusch is a graduate student in the Library and Information Sciences program at the University of Denver. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English from the same university. After graduating, Cortnye would like to pursue her master’s in elementary education. Cortnye can be reached through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortnyerusch

Joanna Stankiewicz is a graduate student in Library and Information Science at the University of Denver. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from Augustana College. Upon graduation she hopes to become an instruction librarian in an academic setting. Originally from Eastern Europe she is passionate about folk dancing and advocating for ESL, ELL, and LEP students in American classrooms. Joanna can be contacted through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna1228

Rebekah Thurston is a graduate student in the University of Denver’s Library and Information Science Program. Rebekah’s undergraduate degree is in History, and before studying at DU, she worked as a high school U.S. History teacher. Rebekah is passionate about effectively using technology in instruction to increase student success.

Brittiny Tirapelle is a graduate student in the Library and Information Science program at the University of Denver. She received her Associates of Science in Library Technology from Pasadena City College and her Bachelor of Arts in History from Sonoma State University. As a first-generation, low-income college student, Brittiny is also a former McNair Scholar and presented her research on Elizabethan English choirboys at the Annual SSU Symposium in Spring 2015 – the publication of which is to be released later this year. Upon graduation, Brittiny hopes to combine her love of history and art within an academic library setting. Brittiny can be contacted via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btirapelle

Kate Wimer has a degree in history from Harding University, but has dabbled for the last six years in the worlds of theatre and MIS. When not color-coding the reference office at the University of Denver libraries or catching up on homework for the Masters of Library Science at DU, she can often be found exploring the mountains with her husband. Kate can be contacted on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/KateWimer

Paul Worrell is a graduate student in Library and Information Science at the University of Denver.  He worked as an elementary educator for the past five years  and brings this teaching background into his present goal of becoming an instruction librarian in an academic setting.  Currently he works as a Graduate Assistant in Research and Instruction at Auraria Library, teaching information literacy skills to undergraduate students from three distinct campuses. Paul can be contacted via LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/paulworrell

Tiegan Ziegler is a current graduate student at the University of Denver in the Library and Information Science program. She has a tremendous love of learning, which is a huge perk of joining the library profession. With the way the field is constantly changing and evolving to fit with society’s needs, one has to be able to be flexible and change with the library – this means constantly striving to learn new things and help others learn them, too. Whether this means helping people stay up-to-date on technology, or helping them in their day-to-day research needs, or even exploring an unfamiliar genre to help find a new a book – she is ready and willing to help. Tiegan can be contacted through her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiegan-ziegler-938672104

Teacher Biography

Alison Hicks is a PhD Candidate in Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia, and the Romance Language Librarian at the University of Colorado Boulder. With an MA from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and an MSIS from the University of Texas, Austin, Alison’s research centres on the idea of transition within information literacy practices, including in higher education, intercultural and workplace contexts. Originally from the UK, she is fluent in French and Spanish and is happiest when she is hiking. Alison can be found on Twitter @alisonhicks0 and contacted through her website: http://alisonhicks.weebly.com/