MAC Candidates
Chair-Elect | Secretary | MAC Nominee to MLA Nominating Committee | Chapter Council Representative | Chapter Council Representative Alternate
Chair-Elect
Susan Bridgers
Experience
Susan Bridgers is the Scholarly Communications and Regional Librarian for Chamberlain University, the nation’s largest nursing and health professions university. She leads development of scholarly communications services for both faculty and students and serves as the library liaison for both the masters and doctoral nursing programs.
She has been active in MACMLA with the Communications committee, the Association of North Carolina Health Sciences Libraries (ANCHASL) Nominating Committee, the ACRL Mentoring Program, and has been a member of MLA since 2015. She works remotely from Asheville, NC.
She has earned both the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) and Disaster Information Specialization (DIS) from MLA. She earned her MLS, magna cum laude, from North Carolina Central University. Previously, she worked as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Research at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Statement of Interest
MACMLA provides me one of the local-regional connections that helps grow me professionally. I have a strong interest in supporting its operations. I believe one can connect, create, learn as well as build each other and this profession in this association. I am pleased and honored to run for Chair-Elect of MACMLA. Together we can create progress in the significant MACMLA efforts of research, professional development, outreach, and growing professional connections. I would welcome this opportunity to work with you all.
Jeff Coghill
Experience
Jeff Coghill is the Outreach Librarian and Director, Eastern AHEC Library Services at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and has been in that role since 2009. Prior to that position, Jeff was Collection Development and Electronic Resources Librarian at Laupus Library from 2001-2009.
MACMLA Service
Aug 2017 – May 2020: Chapter Council Representative
Aug 2016 – Dec 2017: Chapter Council Representative Alternate
Aug 2015 – May 2016: Local Arrangements Committee, 2015 Asheville MAC Meeting
Aug 2011 – May 2012: Member, Nominating Committee
Aug 2007 – May 2008: Chair, MAC Roundtables, MAC/MLA Annual Meeting,
Aug 2005 – May 2009: Member, Professional Development Committee
Aug 2004 – May 2005: MAC/MLA Local Arrangements Committee Co-Chair
Aug 2002 – Dec 2003: Member, Publications Committee
Interest Statement
A long time ago, someone said to me, “if you want to be really involved in your chosen profession, join the associations of that profession.” I choose to be involved in MAC. It makes me a better librarian. And not only that, it’s just fun. I am so blessed to know people around the state, region and country because of my affiliations with professional library groups. These groups represent who we are and we, as association officers and leaders, owe it to our colleagues to do the best we can for them to make membership valuable and meaningful.
Secretary
Diane Garber
Experience
Diane Garber is the Director of the Medical Library at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a role she has held since 2013. She is responsible for customer experience, staff development, and all aspects of administration. Before this, Diane served as Head of Technical Services Librarian (2004-2013) at the Liberty University School of Law Library and as Distance Education Librarian (1993-2004) at the Liberty University Guillermin Integrated Learning Resource Center. Diane is the only librarian to have worked at all three campus libraries, and has opened brand new libraries for the Law School and College of Medicine.
Statement of Interest
MAC is one of the warmest and most helpful professional organization I have ever joined. I believe the regional focus brings together many librarian professionals of similar and diverse institutions that may otherwise be lost in a larger gathering. It would be my honor to serve as Secretary for this organization in the challenging year ahead. I am committed to serve my profession, and to encourage and support medical library professionals to the best of my ability.
Lara Sapp
Experience
Lara Sapp is a Health Sciences Librarian at James Madison University. With her subject expertise in this area, she provides in-depth research assistance to disciplinary faculty and students in Health Sciences, Kinesiology and Communication Sciences & Disorders. She is also responsible for collection management, Information Literacy instruction and LibGuide development. She pursues scholarly research and publication and service opportunities across JMU and professional organizations. Prior to JMU, Lara was a Medical Librarian at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and a Health Information Outreach Fellow at the Health Sciences Center at San Antonio Briscoe Library. In addition to her MLIS, Lara has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and worked in health education before transitioning to librarianship. She has volunteered her time at MAC in various ways, including the MAC Communications Committee, co-coordinator (editor) of the MAC Blog/listserv, MAC ’17 Chair of Poster Committee and member of the MAC ’19 Local Arrangements Committee.
Statement of Interest
As an active MAC member since 2013, I have I have benefitted from attending the annual meetings. From a professional development standpoint, the vibrant and diverse conference content has offered me an opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in health sciences librarianship. It has also been a venue to present on work activities; and contribute meaningfully to my profession. I have enjoyed the many collaborations with colleagues throughout our region and welcome the chance to become even more involved with this organization. I am honored to be nominated for the position of MAC Secretary and, if elected, will work diligently in this role. Thank you.
Alessia Zanin-Yost
Experience
Alessia serves as the Health Sciences Librarian at Slippery Rock, PA, where she oversees collection development and instruction for all of the departments. She has been working in this position since 2019 and joined MAC and MLA that same year. Currently, she is a member of the MAC Planning Committee for the upcoming conference. She has obtained the CHIS levels 1 and 2 from MLA and recently submitted her AHIP portfolio. Also, she has completed the ACRL Immersion tracks for Teacher, Program, and Assessment. She served as secretary for the ACRL Communities of Practice, and secretary, chair, and co-chair for several committees of the ACRL Arts and Behavioral Science Sections.
Statement of Interest
As a librarian new to the health field, I am excited to submit my candidacy as secretary. My experiences with both MAC and MLA so far have been spectacular, and I want to become more involved. To me, be actively involved in MAC is a must for growth, changes, and pushing further what we do, and could do, as health information professionals. I would love the opportunity to serve MAC so that I can support its members. Thank you for your consideration, and I appreciate your vote.
MAC Nominee to the MLA Nominating Committee
Ryan Harris
Experience
Ryan Harris is the Head of Research & Instructional Services at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He has been in this role for 3 years. Prior to that, he worked at the Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Ryan has been an active member of both MAC and MLA. He has served on the MAC Board as Chair as well as chair of the Membership and Recruitment Committee and the 2012 Joint Chapter Meeting. In his role as MAC Chair, he formed the Diversity and Inclusion Task Group, which is now a committee. Ryan has served in a variety of roles at MLA as well including the 2012 Annual Meeting Committee, Chair of the Membership Committee, and Chair of the Relevant Issues Section (now the Social Justice Caucus).
Statement of Interest
I would be honored to represent MAC as a member of the MLA Nominating Committee. I believe my wide breadth of experience in both MAC and MLA would be an asset to the Nominating Committee if selected. I would try to make sure that the conversation is focused on strong experience but that nominees also represent a wide set of diverse viewpoints and backgrounds
Steph Hendren
Experience
Steph Hendren is a Research and Education Librarian at Duke Medical Center Library & Archives. She has been a member of MAC since 2019 and was previously an active member of Southern Chapter from 2017 – 2019. Between the regional and national MLA chapters, Steph has participated in a variety of roles such as Georgia’s state representative for Southern Chapter’s Communication Committee, member of Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s Nominating Committee, and jury member of MLA’s Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award.
Statement of Interest
As a librarian who still considers herself early career, I am eager to learn more about our profession and become involved within MLA. Serving MAC as the Nominee to the MLA Nominating Committee would be a wonderful opportunity to meet other librarians and serve as a representative of our chapter.
Chapter Council Representative
P.J. Grier
Experience
PJ Grier, MPA, MLIS is associate director – operations & assessment at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine libraries and has served in that role since 2015. Previously, PJ worked at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (NN/LM), the Delaware Academy of Medicine (director) and the Pharmaceutical Research Institute (manager), a unit of Johnson & Johnson companies. Before libraries, PJ possesses deep experiences in the communications industry. He has served the MAC community in a variety of roles including co-chair of the 2016 Trichapter Conference, participated in various annual conference planning committees and is currently the MAC Board Member – MLA Chapter Council Alternate and the Chapter Council’s Chair – Elections Committee. At MLA, he’s been a longstanding member of the Medical Informatics Caucus, a yearlong MLA Nominating Committee at-large member and has presented numerous papers and posters at both regional and national conferences. PJ holds graduate degrees in library & information sciences (Drexel University) and in public administration (Stony Brook University) as well as certificates in clinical informatics (Hopkins) and non-profit management (Georgetown).
Statement of Intent
PJ would be honored to serve MAC as its MLA Chapter Council Representative. Currently serving as Chapter Council – Alternate, his move would serve to strengthen MAC’s leadership position within the 13 member MLA Chapter Council.
Chapter Council Representative Alternate
Andrea Horne Denton
Experience
Andrea Horne Denton, MILS, has worked at the University of Virginia’s Claude Moore Health Sciences Library since 2000, and as a health sciences librarian since 1991. She has been a member of the MAC/MLA Chapter twice, between 1991 – 1996, and, upon returning to Virginia, from 2000 to present. She has been an active participant in MAC for many years, beginning with serving on the Honors & Awards Committee in the 1990’s. She was elected MAC’s Chair Elect/Chair/Nominating Committee Chair, serving between 2007-2009, and most recently served as MAC’s Nominee to the MLA Nominating Committee, in 2015. Her MLA service includes her current appointment to the National Program Committee for the 2020 Annual Meeting.
Statement of Interest
Andrea notes “my participation in MAC activities have consistently been a highlight of my career, and I would look forward to the opportunity to serve again as Chapter Council Alternate.”
Roger Russell
Experience and Statement of Interest
Roger Russell, MLS, is Associate Director of the Laupus Health Sciences Library at East Carolina University and has been a librarian since 2000. He has served on multiple MAC committees including: member of Local Arrangements Committee for the annual meeting, member and chair of Printing and Publicity Committee (multiple years), and member and chair of the Professional Development Committee (multiple years). He has also served on the MLA National Planning Committee and MLA Credentialing Committee. Locally, he has also served as Treasurer, and as Membership Chair for the Association of North Carolina Health and Science Librarians. Roger would be honored to serve MAC again as Nominee for the Chapter Council Alternate.
Jahala Simuel
Experience
Jahala Simuel is Head, Access Services and Medical Librarian at the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library at Howard University. She is also the liaison for Nursing and Allied Health. Her responsibilities include creating LibGuides, providing reference assistance to faculty, staff, and students, and database training. She is also responsible for managing the day to day function of the access services desk, and supervising staff and student workers. Jahala has been in the library profession for 16 years with 4 of those years as being a Health Sciences Librarian. She is the TSC Liaison to ALA Committee on Cataloging Description & Access.
Statement of Interest
I attended my first MAC meeting in Philadelphia, PA in 2016 as a new Health Sciences Librarian. It was a great experience meeting new people. I am honored to be nominated for Chapter Council Alternate position.
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