This month, we welcome these new members to the WiLS Board! We asked them to share a little bit about themselves:
Sarah Miller, WiscNet, has eight years of experience inside a similar membership organization to WiLS and cares deeply about the vital role of libraries, cultural institutions, and their partners in making the world a better place. As the Member Engagement, Development, and Education Specialist at WiscNet, Sarah has built strong and lasting relationships with members, stewarded communication (as well as guaranteed the experience of meaningful connections to WiscNet and each other through intentionally crafted events and opportunities), and is always learning. Collaboration, relationship-building, and turning ideas into action in service to the state of Wisconsin are built into her daily work. Her perspective from just outside (but not entirely removed from) the library world offers a fresh viewpoint and innovative ideas for saving WiLS members time and money and advancing library services for all.
Adrienne Thunder, Ho-Chunk Nation Language Division, joins the WiLS Board to deepen partnerships with tribal and other communities with the aim of broadening access and availability of diverse and inclusive information. As director of the Language Division, Adrienne has been a leading partner with WiLS in the Mukurtu Midwest Hub Project and in providing service-learning opportunities for graduate students in the UW iSchool’s Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums (TLAM) program. The Language Division and the Ho-Chunk Nation have benefited from this work in immeasurable ways, for current and future language and culture preservation and perpetuation and for the Hoocąk people and others interested in learning about them. Recognized by Madison 365 as one of Wisconsin’s most influential Native American Leaders, Adrienne brings over a decade of experience in tribal and higher education, Indigenous language and cultural preservation, and experiential learning.
Micki Uppena, Mineral Point School District, has been in elementary education for over twenty years and has served as a library media specialist for the last eight. She has served on the WEMTA Board as president. This experience gave her many opportunities to develop leadership skills in the library field. She was also able to make connections with colleagues at DPI and in the tech industry. Micki is a firm believer in collaboration at all levels in order to increase capacity in her elementary school library. Her library is a robust learning environment and a safe space for students. She believes that sharing resources and looking for additional funding is a necessity in order to build meaningful experiences for students and staff. Micki connects with professionals outside of her district to share resources to ensure equitable experiences for all.
Welcome to the WiLS Board! We are very excited to have the valuable experience and insight of these new representatives as part of our governance team.