Meet The Board of Trustees

How long have you served?
I joined the board in December of 2018, and I am running for re-election this November for a second four-year term. 

What’s your role/what committees are you on?
I served as Board Secretary, and for several years as Board President. I’ve also rotated at different times through virtually every committee there is. From Bylaws to Strategic Planning, to Facilities to Budget, I love the chance to learn about a different piece of the puzzle with each different committee.

Why do you serve?
I love public libraries.  They’ve been hugely important in my own life, and they’re one of our most important civic institutions, genuinely a cornerstone of our democracy. Specifically here in Altadena, our library district serves a unique role that goes beyond what people might think of as a traditional or old-fashioned library. Looking around at the world, it’s easy to be disillusioned, or to think that everything is headed for disaster. But serving on the Board is my tangible, real way of making my community better, and helping my neighbors. It’s tremendously rewarding.

What drew you into service?
Around 2016, like a lot of people, I realized that I had to step up and actually do something for democracy. Voting and marching and contributing just didn’t feel like enough. Coincidentally, around the same time, the library board was melting down publicly, and the more I learned about what was going on, the more I was convinced that somebody should do something. It occurred to me that “somebody” was, actually,  me. So, I ran for office for the first time!

What’s your favorite part of being a Trustee?
I love structural change. I think as Trustees we have an obligation to the community now and the community in the future to make sure these libraries can continue to serve them. I think that means putting in place norms and structures and rules that create the future we want to see: one that’s equitable and inclusive and amazing. It’s a lot of nuts-and-bolts work, but I think it’s so rewarding and important (especially because when I joined the board, there was virtually nothing).

Where were you born?
I was born in Lewiston, Idaho, but I moved around a fair bit during my early childhood. I mostly grew up (from fourth grade onwards) in Mobile, Alabama – which means every so often you’ll hear some of those Gulf Coast vowels sneak out, especially if I’m super tired!

What is something you love about Altadena?
I absolutely love our stunning natural surroundings – I’m sure that’s true for a lot of us! Driving home up to the top of Lake Avenue, I’m always struck by our beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. I love spending time on our local trails seeing our wildlife (large and small!), our native plants, and the incredible ecosystems we live alongside.

What are you currently reading/listening to?
On the fiction side, I just finished An Impossible Imposter, the newest installment in Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series about a Victorian-era lady lepidopterist (butterfly scientist) who’s also always solving mysteries. She just can’t help it. If you like a no-nonsense strong female lead who rejects traditional gender norms and loves natural science and also MURDERS (it’s a weird Venn diagram, but hey, I’m in the middle of it!), then Veronica Speedwell is a lady for you. They’re a ton of fun. In nonfiction, I’m reading C. Thi Nguyen’s outstanding Games: Agency as Art, which is a thoughtful exploration of how games are a particular art form that allow us to play with the concept of agency, with what we do and what we value and how we pursue it. Especially as more and more forms of communication – like social media – are gamified, I really appreciate his framing and analysis about how to understand value.

Favorite quote?
My favorite quote is a bit of poetry from Lucille Clifton’s Blessing the Boats (at St. Mary’s): “may the tide / that is entering even now / the lip of our understanding / carry you out / beyond the face of fear” it’s a beautiful poem, and very short, and one that I return to all the time.”