Ruth Fine Memorial Student Loan Recipients
2024 Student Loan Recipient: Madelaine Estrabillo
Madelaine Estrabillo is a graduate student in the Masters of Library and Information Studies program at the University of Maryland. She also works full-time as a Children’s Specialist for the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, where she plans and executes weekly programs for children at the Canton Branch. Highlights include conducting storytimes for over 75 people at a time. Prior to her position at Pratt, she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California - Los Angeles, and spent five years in South Korea teaching from elementary school to university students English as a second language. After graduating with her MLIS, she plans to advance her career in librarianship, pursuing leadership roles.
2023 Student Loan Recipient: Miya Upshur-Williams
Miya (pronounced like Maya) is a Library and Information Science major focusing on archival studies at Drexel University. She works full-time as a library and archives associate at DC Public Library's (DCPL) local history, special collection and records department, The People's Archive. Miya first began working in libraries as a teenager in DCPL's inaugural Jobs for Teens program in 2008. While completing her undergraduate degree at Sarah Lawrence College, she worked at the college's William Schuman Music Library. In 2019, Miya returned to DCPL as an associate in Woodridge Neighborhood's youth services department. In her current role at The People's Archive, Miya provides reference and outreach services, leads class visits, and processes and describes archival collections. Miya enjoys gardening, dancing, traveling, and reading aloud with her fiancée. She anticipates graduating with her MSI in Library and Information Science in Winter 2025.
2022 Student Loan Recipient: Rebecca Durrant
Rebecca holds a BA in English Education. She previously worked as a Librarian Assistant running youth programs at a public library in Arizona. She is currently pursuing her MLIS Degree in the Archives Management program at Simmons University and plans to work in a special collections library with rare books and manuscripts. Rebecca volunteers in the National Gallery of Art Archives. She has two young daughters who inspire and motivate her to pursue her personal and professional goals.
2021 Student Loan Recipient: Neva Faulkner
Neva received her MLS degree from North Carolina Central University in December of 2021. She works full-time for DC Public Schools as a middle school librarian in ward 7, servicing the youth of Kelly Miller Middle school. Ms. Faulkner’s educational philosophy is educating the whole child by fostering positive relationships amongst students and families. Ms. Faulkner has implemented ways to utilize the school library as a community hub and is consistently allocating resources for her population. Ms. Faulkner is currently working on becoming a certified librarian within the public school system.
2020 Student Loan Recipient: Yuri Casas
Yuri is a librarian and educator. He has earned an undergraduate degree in Library Science from San Marcos University. Additionally, he has earned a BA in Education Science with a minor in Spanish. He is a Spanish instructor in Virginia and owner of a multicultural bookstore "Fluffy Books Online".
Mr. Casas worked developing databases for libraries for 10 years in Peru. In the United States, he has worked as a school librarian previously in St. Louis, Missouri, and currently in Washington, D.C. He was a librarian libGuide volunteer at the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress. He is pursuing his MLS Master in Library Science at Emporia State University.
2019 Student Loan Recipient: Gabi Kim Huesca
Gabi Kim is pursuing a MLIS at the University of Maryland and expects to graduate in Spring 2021. Gabi works full time as a library associate for the DC Public Library, where she offers bilingual services in English and Spanish and is active in DC Public Library's "Libraries are for Everyone" Working Group. Gabi aims to expand culturally competent services and resources for undeserved communities, including non-English speakers and immigrants. Gabi has a BA in Political Science and Comparative Politics from Rice University and has over eight years of experience working in domestic and international public policy, advocacy, and communications.
2018 Student Loan Recipient: Demetrius Curington
Demetrius is a Washington, D.C., native, LIS graduate student at the Catholic University of America, and part time library technician for the DC Public Library jail branch. He was instrumental in helping create the D.C. Dept. of Correction's first library established through a partnership with the DC Public Library. He holds a B.A. from Virginia State University in history. Demetrius’s experience working with inmates pushed him to pursue a career in librarianship. With an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2020, Demetrius plans to continue his work in public libraries and take a leadership position to focus more attention to under-served populations.
2017 Student Loan Recipient: Lisa Lindle
Lisa is pursuing a MLS part time in the online program of Valdosta State University. She expects to graduate in Summer 2019. Lisa works full time as a Grassroots Communications Specialist in the Washington Office of the American Library Association. She also works part time as a Library Assistant in the Arlington County Public Library system. She has a BA from Messiah College. Lisa has a long time desire to be a library advocate.
2016 Student Loan Recipient: Lauren Olson
Lauren is a school librarian in-training at the University of Maryland's iSchool. Her professional experience ranges from for-profit education consulting, to direct instruction at public and private schools, to nonprofit work in youth justice and advocacy. She aims to internationalize student learning through authentic texts and culturally relevant library instruction. Lauren is currently a Primary School Library Assistant at Washington International School and Assistant Librarian at St. John's College High School.
2015 Student Loan Recipient: Melanie Medina
Melanie is a graduate student in the Library and Information Science program at The Catholic University of America. Actively engaged in the communities where she lives and works, Melanie is committed to supporting students in service of their own education goals. Melanie provides library instruction, reference services, and support in both English and Spanish, and aims to spend her career serving diverse communities in ways they themselves feel is most beneficial. Melanie received her B.A. from Smith College, and now volunteers as a Smith College Alumnae Admissions Coordinator, where her focus is on increasing the number of minority and community college transfer applicants from the Washington, D.C. area.
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Anita Kinney is beginning her second year in the MSLIS program at Catholic University. A native Portuguese speaker, she learned Spanish while living in Panama with her military family, and looks forward to using her language skills to connect with diverse audiences. She holds a BA in English (Judaic Studies) from Portland State University. Prior to attending library school, Anita worked to improve services for Spanish speakers in museum and public health settings. She holds paid internships at the National Archives, the DC Department of Transportation, and the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land and is also a freelance journalist. Immediately after receiving the Ruth Fine award, Anita was hired for a new position as a “data analyst” to examine evaluation and metrics for the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. Anita looks forward to designing this new job and also to serving as the treasurer for the university’s Graduate Student Association.
Elizabeth Lieutenant is an MSLIS Candidate at the Catholic University of America, where she anticipates graduating in 2016. She received a her BA in Social Sciences from Thomas Edison State College. She is employed as a Graduate Assistant for CUA’s Department of Library and Information Science and is spending the summer working as an Exhibitions Intern for the Smithsonian Libraries Advancement Department. She was the co-creator of the first website for the Association of Graduate Library and Information Science Students at CUA and has blogged for the Special Libraries Association web series, “What I’m Learning in Library School.” Elizabeth is a fiercely egalitarian person who is inspired by the intersection between librarianship and social justice. She plans to devote her career to fostering inclusive communities, removing personal, institutional, and societal barriers to knowledge resources, and empowering others through informal and formal learning opportunities.
Jamilla Coleman is a Student Library Trainee at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She previously worked as a Library Associate with DCPL for three years, focusing on Children's and Teen programming, and then as an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Public Services. Highlights of her job included doing bilingual storytimes and building relationships with her school-aged customers to make them feel at home in the library. She holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College and received her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2015. She hopes to use her MLS to do children's programming in a public or special library setting.
Chloe Raub is a graduate student in the M.S.L.I.S. program at Catholic University. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology, with a minor in Women's Studies and a graduate concentration in Museum Training. Chloe works part-time as a reference specialist at George Washington University's Special Collections Research Center. She is passionate about the idea of open culture and the democratic distribution of information resources, and hopes to contribute to this facet of the library and information science field. She plans to pursue a career in academic libraries, hopefully in a special collections or archives setting.
Samuel Reggio is a graduate student in the School of Library and Information Sciences program at the Catholic University of America. He also works full time at the borrowing desk at the Bender Library at American University in Tenleytown. He holds a B.A. in English from the George Washington University and he lives in Park View, just south of Petworth. He enjoys library outreach, programming, instruction, and marketing, and hopes to use his skills into a public library setting in the near future.
Matthew Plank is a graduate student in the SLIS program at the Catholic University of America. He has also been working full-time as a paraprofessional in the Library and the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives located at the University of the District of Columbia. He holds undergraduate degrees in English Literature and Jazz Music Studies. Upon graduation in 2013, Mr. Plank plans to provide dynamic information services at UDC or another academic library, or perhaps at a local cultural heritage institution.
Adia Coleman will receive her Masters degree in Information Management from the College of Information Studies at University of Maryland. She believes that Information Management is the bridge that connects the fields of Business, Technology, and Library & Information Science. Currently, Adia is the Library Technician of the Reference Department in Founders Library at Howard University. She has a strong passion for Intellectual Property, and plans on developing programs that benefit underrepresented communities and stimulate entrepreneurship.
Shari-Ruth Goodwin is a school librarian in the D.C. Public School system. She holds a Masters in Instructional Systems and Technology & Education. She is currently completing a Masters in Library Science with a concentration in Special Libraries. She is a founding member of the Urban Libraries Task Force, American Association of School Librarians, and currently serves as the 2nd Delegate-Region 2. She holds high honors and professional affiliations with Who’s Who (Graduate), Cambridge Who’s Who for Professional Women, the American Library Association (ALA), and the Library Administration & Management Association (LAMA). Shari is pursuing a career in Federal Librarianship.
By night, Rebecca Renard is a graduate student in Catholic University’s MLIS program. By day, she is the Teens of Distinction Program Coordinator at DC Public Library. An educator by previous training (holding an MA in multimedia production and critical pedagogy), Rebecca works towards building a community where young people have the resources, services, and supports they need to be positively challenged and nurtured through adulthood. She views the public library as an ideal place to carry out this life’s mission.
Christian Minter is a graduate student at The Catholic University of America, and she is pursuing an MLS degree with a concentration in health sciences librarianship. Christian is currently a library associate at the Hillcrest Heights branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, where she creates and teaches computer classes and provides youth programming and outreach services. She plans to implement consumer health resources into the Hillcrest Heights Library services, and she desires to eventually become a medical librarian in a hospital library. Christian is also the 2010 American Library Association William R. Gordon Spectrum Scholar.
Dana Johnson is a distance education graduate student at the University of North Texas’ VA cohort program based at James Madison University, and she also holds a B.S. in Business and Management from the University of Maryland UC and a M.S. in Educational Technology from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School. Dana is currently working as a librarian intern at the Library of the Marine Corps located on Quantico, VA, and after completing her MLIS in December 2011, she hopes to combine her education with her military, government, and public education work and volunteer experiences to obtain a position as a federal educational or research library.
2010 Student Loan Recipients:
David Anderson is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park, and he manages Northern Virginia Community College's Arlington Center Library. David is working on an MLS with a specialization in archives and records management, and he is currently building a digital archive for NOVA. He plans to work with digital collections upon completion of his degree in the May of 2011.
Ivey Glendon is a distance education graduate student student at Florida State University, and she is also a Digital Conservation Specialist at the Library of Congress's Serial and Government Publications Division. Ivey is working on an MLS with a specialization in digital preservation, and she plans on pursuing her work in an academic or research library after completing her degree in May of 2011.
Jeffrey Nelson is a graduate student at the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America and is concentrating his studies in law librarianship. Jeffrey is is currently a Library Assistant at the Washington, DC, law firm of the Groom Law Group. He hopes to work for an international law firm after graduating in May of 2011.
2009 Student Loan Recipients:
Kristen Armstrong is a D.C.-area native and graduate student at Catholic University’s School of Library and Information Science. Her goal is to become a middle or high school library media specialist. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 with degrees in English and clarinet performance. Currently, she works part time at Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore in Arlington, VA. Kristen is an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar and is one of the 2009 Library of Congress Junior Fellows.
Felicity Brown is the Acquisitions Coordinator for American University's library. She has been volunteering and working in public, school and academic libraries almost her entire life. Felicity has a B.S. in Economics from American University, and is pursuing her M.L.I.S. through Drexel University's iSchool. She would eventually like to become a library director or administrator.
Jennifer L. Pollock is currently a joint-masters degree student at Catholic University of America, working on degrees in Library and Information Science as well as in Religious Studies. She currently holds a graduate student position at the National Archives and Records Administration. It is her desire to continue on in the archives field after she obtains her degrees, and hopes one day to combine both of her masters degrees by being able to work with Religious Archives.
2008 Student Loan Recipients:
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Reed College, Roshin Mathew plans to obtain her MLS from the University of Maryland at College Park in May 2009. As Roshin has pursued her MLS she has had the opportunity to teach older adults to use computers to find information at the New Carrollton Public Library, and she hopes to continue to be a librarian who teaches in order to help build people and communities up.
Andres Ciriello is a systems analyst at American University’s Bender Library. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in film studies from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Arts in media and communications from New York University, Andres plans to obtain his MLS from the University of Maryland at College Park in May 2008.
Yujung Park is a staff member in the Collections Access, Loan and Management Division of the Library of Congress. She began at LC as a volunteer in the Acquisitions Division and then worked in the Law Library and the Asian Division. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese language and literature from Kyong Hee University in South Korea. She studied computer graphics at Montgomery University in Maryland and she is currently working on her MLS from Catholic University.
2006 Student Loan Recipients:
Robyn Weisman is a Circulation Desk Specialist at the American University Library. She had previously worked at the George Mason University Johnson Center Library while getting her B.A. in integrative studies concentrating on literature and drama. She has worked in libraries for ten years in various capacities including service as a volunteer at the Fair- fax City Library from 1995-1996. She is enrolled at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies and she expects to graduate in May 2007. Her current career goal is to be a librarian in a public or academic library.
Sarah Palacios Wilhelm currently serves as the public services and reference coordinator at the Eckles Library, George Washington University, and recently served as acting manager of the Eckles Library while the manager was out on maternity leave. As a freshman at George Washington, she founded the Eckles Library Student Advisory Board to help increase communication between the student body and the library administration. She graduated in 2003 and is currently enrolled in the library science distance learning program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She plans to earn a law degree and pursue a career in international law librarianship working for a non-profit advocacy group or NGO.
Zewdu Mantegbot is a library proctor at the Central Library of Arlington County Dept. of Libraries. He already has completed several courses at Catholic University. He earned a teacher training diploma and a B.Ed in Ethiopia and he has had advanced training in Kenya, Tanzania, Germany, and the U.S. He has worked as a teacher, a trainer of teachers, and the director of an institute for the training of teachers in Ethiopia. He states that he is committed to serve in public libraries where he can reach people of different backgrounds and cultures. He is currently a member of the Arlington County Dept. of Libraries Services to New Americans Team.