The University Libraries is pleased to announce the 2021-22 cohort of Carolina Academic Library Associates (CALAs).
The CALA program provides graduate students with the opportunity to enhance their education through practical experience in an academic library. The selective program is a collaboration between the University Libraries and Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science (SILS).
This year’s cohort includes students with backgrounds in oral history, anthropology, political science and religion:
Brianna McGruder holds a B.A. in English from UNC Charlotte. Prior to coming to the Library, Brianna worked as a community interviewer and oral history assistant at the J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives at UNC Charlotte. She will be working in the Southern Historical Collection at the Wilson Special Collections Library.
Cas Saroza holds a B.A. in anthropology from North Carolina State University. Previously, they worked as a library technician at NCSU Libraries, where they focused on creating and curating library instructional videos and online resources. Cas will be working in the Undergraduate Library and Media and Design Center.
Maria Tudela holds a B.A. in political science from UNC Asheville and an M.A. in liberal studies from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Library, Maria served as a paralegal and legal assistant for Fay Grafton Nunez in Raleigh. She will join Library Administration and Davis Library Research and Instructional Services.
Rolando Rodriguez holds a B.A. in Biblical and theological studies from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an M.A. in religion from Yale Divinity School. Previously, Rolando served as an educational therapist and tutor in Westport, Connecticut, and worked numerous graduate student positions at Yale Divinity Library and Yale Beinecke Library. He will join Davis Library Research and Instructional Services and Digital Research Services.
The University Libraries also welcomes back five returning CALAs:
- Kaylin Blount in Repository Services
- Jordan Green at the Kenan Science Library
- Cassie Tanks in University Archives and Records Management Services
- Felicity Walston in User Experience
- Kara Wong in Software Development
… and bids a fond farewell to four CALAs who graduated in the spring of 2021:
Iliana Burgos worked in Library Communications. Iliana recently accepted a position at Cornell University Library as emerging data practices librarian.
Criss Guy worked in a dual instruction role between the Undergraduate Library and Wilson Special Collections Library Research and Instruction. Criss is now the instruction, research support and digital literacies librarian at Warren Wilson College.
Kayla Olson worked in the Sloane Art Library and Davis Library Research and Instructional Services. Kayla recently accepted a position as a reference and liaison librarian at Winona State University in Minnesota.
Kiana Webster worked in the Rare Book Collection. Kiana is now a social sciences librarian at UNC Wilmington.
To learn more about the CALA program, visit the Carolina Academic Library Associates page.
