I currently work as the Training and Staff Development Manager for San Mateo County Library (SMCL) where I coordinate staff recruitments, organize trainings and work on a wide variety of other projects related to training, development, HR and staffing. I love that my position lets me use my librarian skills nontraditionally, and that my work is constantly changing and challenging me to grow in new ways. I recently had the opportunity to manage one of our branches temporarily, which was a wonderful experience. I also contribute reviews to ALA’s GLBT Roundtable newsletter, and I am excited to have had a chapter accepted into an upcoming anthology on mentoring in libraries.

Before becoming a librarian, I worked for literacy tutoring nonprofit in Phoenix, Arizona, first as the volunteer coordinator, and later as the director. My experience working in a small nonprofit exposed me to grant writing, fundraising, marketing, web design and, also, libraries. Inspired by the scope and depth of the mission of libraries, I transitioned to working at Phoenix Public Library where I was able to get experience working on a wide range of programs and collections for children and teens. After completing my MLIS, I moved to California and started with SMCL as a teen services librarian.

During Eureka, I want to strengthen my leadership skills, learn from other librarians, and bring new ideas back to my library system. I am very excited about the project component and the opportunity to kick-start some ideas I’ve been chewing on for awhile.

I live in San Francisco, which is a great place for my favorite pursuits: reading, writing, crafting, cooking and people-watching. My wife and I are expecting our first child, and as a result, all of my hobbies have become thoroughly baby-themed.