The iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) held elections during our September meeting, and we are pleased to introduce your newest slate of officers.
GSAC serves as a bridge between iSchool students, administration, and faculty. Our mission is to enhance graduate student life through social events and professional development opportunities. All iSchool students are automatically members and welcome to attend any of our events. If you are interested in getting involved with GSAC, please reach out to Lauren Zollinger at lzolling@kent.edu.
Lauren Zollinger, President
My name is Lauren Zollinger. I am entering my second year in the iSchool, with an interest in public and health libraries. I have an undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and currently work for a Chicago-based company that develops corporate information solutions for healthcare clients.
I believe the secret to a fulfilling life is forming meaningful connections with other people, continually working on a better version of yourself, and contributing to something bigger than yourself. GSAC is a wonderful platform for all three. I am excited to serve in this role and hope to establish new channels of communication to help students feel more connected to each other and the program. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering for hospice and other local nonprofits, hiking, listening to live music and spending time with my husband and two daughters in North Canton, Ohio. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and hearing your ideas on ways we can leverage GSAC to improve the iSchool experience.
EMAIL: LZOLLING@KENT.EDU
Brenna Hubschman, Vice President of Communications
My name is Brenna Hubschman, and I am a second year LIS student at the iSchool with a focus on information access and discovery and information organization. I live in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio with my rabbit and cat, Winnie and Pixie. I am originally from Columbus, where I received my BA in English from Ohio State.
I currently work as a graduate assistant at the iSchool, and I am also Vice President of Kent State’s ALA Student Chapter and Student Representative for the Ohio Library Council. In my free time I like to sew, cook, garden, and check out thrift stores. I am honored to be a member of GSAC this semester, and I look forward to working together to better connect and support the students of the iSchool.
EMAIL: BHUBSCHM@KENT.EDU
Natalie Groff, Vice President of Student Outreach
My name is Natalie Groff and I am in my third semester in the LIS program. While my primary interest is in the public library, I am open to exploring other possibilities! My undergraduate degree is in English/Creative Writing from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia with my husband and our three sons. By day I homeschool our little men and by night I am a library assistant at Wave Leadership College.
I have enjoyed being a member of GSAC for the last two semesters and feel privileged to take on a leadership role. In my elusive free time I am a freelance writer and proofreader and enjoy reading and singing, much to the annoyance of my children.
EMAIL: NGROFF3@KENT.EDU
Tess Kienzle, Student Representative Officer
My name is Tess Kienzle and I’m in my third semester in the LIS program. I’m focusing on youth engagement, with a particular interest in teen programming at public libraries. I earned my BA in English Literature from Ohio State University. I currently work for Columbus Metropolitan Libraries in youth services.
I’m thrilled to be a member of GSAC this year. Serving as a Student Representative Officer gives me the opportunity to be more involved with the iSchool student community and advocate for the student body; I can’t wait to see what we accomplish both as a group and as a school this year! In my free-time, I enjoy hiking, sewing, and baking. I live in Columbus, OH with my partner and our basset hound, Arlo.
EMAIL: TKIENZLE@KENT.EDU
Molly McGirr Norris, Secretary
My Name is Molly McGirr Norris, and I am a Library and Information Science student in the iSchool. My areas of interest are management and leadership of information institutions. I received my undergraduate degree in English from Kent State University, and am excited to have returned to my alma mater for my graduate studies.
I currently work at two public libraries, Lakewood Public Library and Rocky River Public Library. Through my experiences at these institutions I gained a passion for advocating for intellectual freedom and equity of access for all users, and particularly for underserved populations. I believe those in leadership roles are uniquely placed to advocate for individual groups. This is true for myself and the other officers of the iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council, and I look forward to working with them to advocate for iSchool students’ needs. I reside in Lakewood, Ohio with my husband, Daniel, and our dog, Berkeley, with whom we enjoy spending our free time.
