Introducing Your New GSAC Officers

The iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) held elections during our September meeting, and we are pleased to introduce several new officers and representatives.

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 GSAC President Emily Rebmann at erebmann@kent.edu.


Emily Rebmann, President

Emily Rebmann, President

My name is Emily Rebmann, and I am entering my second year as a part-time student in the MLIS program. My focus area within the program is archival studies. I hold a BA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and an MA in material culture from the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. My professional experience has been primarily in museums, including the Winterthur Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Connection. Currently, I work in historic preservation, providing research services for an architecture firm and documenting abandoned buildings in northeast Ohio.

I served in graduate student government during my previous master’s program and enjoyed the increased level of connection with students and faculty that it provided. In this role, my main goal is to help iSchool students find ways to connect with and support one another. I welcome your feedback about how GSAC can continue to improve!

I live on the west side of Cleveland with my husband and our brand-new kitten. In my free time, I love spending time outdoors, traveling, knitting, film photography and videography, and spending time with friends and family.


Ellen Ruchman, Vice President of Student Outreach and UXD Representative

My name is Ellen Ruchman. I am in my first year of the M.Sc. degree program in User Experience Design. My focus is in User Research and the study of usable interfaces. My undergraduate degree is in theatre arts with a minor in political science. I have worked in government contracting for twelve years, including six years working in contracts and supply chain at Northrop Grumman. I am pleased to be a part of the Kent State community and serve as the GSAC User Experience Design representative.

My favorite sounds include applause breaks at a stand up comedy show, a plane taking off to a new destination, and the hull of a sailboat crashing into the waves.


L.P. Coladangelo

L.P. Coladangelo, Secretary and PhD Representative 

My name is L.P. Coladangelo and I am a third-year PhD student in the College of Communication and Information. I hold a BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and an MLIS from Kent State University. My research interests include knowledge organization of cultural heritage, semantic technologies, domain analysis, digital humanities, document theory, and the information practices of fandoms and leisure communities.

Before entering academia, I was an adult services librarian for three different suburban and urban library systems in Northeast Ohio, where I specialized in public programming, technology instruction, and interlibrary loan services. I currently live in University Heights, Ohio with my husband and our four cats.

I’m very excited and honored to serve iSchool students as a part of GSAC and to bring the experiences and perspectives of being both an MLIS alumnus and a CCI doctoral student to our academic community.

To see our full slate of officers, please go here.

Introducing Your New GSAC Officers

The iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) held elections during our December meeting, and we are pleased to introduce several new officers and representatives.

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 GSAC President Lauren Zollinger at lzolling@kent.edu.

Olivia Wood

Olivia Wood, Vice President of Communications

My name is Olivia Wood and I am a second semester student focusing on archival and cultural heritage preservation studies. I currently reside in Mansfield, OH, although I hail from Lima, OH. I earned my BA in History with a minor in Education from Ohio State University in 2017. Currently, I am a member of the KSU ALA Student Chapter and the Ohio Library Council.

I am a full time MLIS student as of late and I intend to focus on cultivating meaningful relationships with my fellow peers. I was introduced to GSAC during my first semester and had the pleasure of meeting some amazing and talented people. While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted my life in many ways, I’m spending my time focusing on my studies while dedicating myself to bettering the educational experience for every student. When I’m not working on extracurriculars or schoolwork, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Emmy, and my cat, Baz; I also love to read, write, paint, bake, and cook. I try to make time for the little things as often as I can. I hope to serve the GSAC with your best interests in mind and I am thankful for this incredible experience!

EMAIL: owood2@kent.edu


Kathryn Taylor

Kathryn Taylor, Secretary

My name is Kathryn Taylor and I am beginning my third semester in the iSchool, pursuing the K-12 Library/Media Licensure. I went to Magnificat High School in Rocky River, graduated with my BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University in 2004, and completed my initial teaching coursework at the University of Toledo.

I live in Cleveland with my partner Moe and our Boston Terrier Larry. During the day, I am a Title I Math teacher at Westpark Community Middle School, a charter school managed by Constellation Schools. I also enjoyed living and working in Keystone, Colorado in the hospitality industry, both in lodging and food service. These days have me reminiscing on some favorite childhood experiences including being slimed at Nickelodeon Studios, going to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and being part of a sailing race team for Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. When the world opens back up I look forward to spending spare time with my many relatives, going to comedy shows, and traveling the world.

I am already grateful for the connections made through GSAC and look forward to serving as its secretary.

Email: ktaylo85@kent.edu


Jessica Black

Jessica Black, UXD Representative

My name is Jessica Black and I am in my third semester of the User Experience Design (UXD) program. I have a particular interest in how user experience principles can be applied to the health care field. I believe there is a need for UX professionals to focus on solving design problems that threaten the safety of patients and health care providers. I am very passionate about my UXD coursework and I am proud to represent the interests of UXD students within GSAC.

I have a B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in digital advertising from Louisiana State University. I’m from Slidell, Louisiana, and live for crawfish season. When I have free time, you can find me meditating, journaling, listening to music, or spending time with friends and family.

EMAIL: jblack62@kent.edu

To see our full slate of officers, please go here.

Introducing Your New GSAC Officers

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Lauren-Zollinger-photo-2.jpg

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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is brennah-1024x1024.jpg

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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is received_3244952788870528-762x1024.jpeg

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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_1630-2-769x1024.jpg

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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is MollyHeadshots008-1024x1024.jpg

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.

EMAIL: MMCGIRR@KENT.EDU

Meet the New 2020 GSAC Officers

We are excited to announce the new iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) officers for the 2020 academic school year! GSAC is the bridge between students, administration, and faculty. Our mission is to enhance graduate student life through social events and professional development opportunities.

If you are interested in getting involved in GSAC and attending our next General Meeting, please reach out to Julia Stone at jstone36@kent.edu.

Julia Stone, President

My name is Julia Stone and I live in Kent, Ohio. I currently work as a Graduate Assistant at the Reinberger Children’s Library Center. I am excited to serve as the President of the iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council. As President, I hope to create meaningful networking and educational events for iSchool students and enhance our blog to keep students aware of upcoming events, student and faculty news, and career opportunities. I plan to work closely with the other officers to help expand our organization and make it a valuable resource for all iSchool students.

After working in editing and marketing in Chicago for several years, I decided to pursue a career in librarianship because I am passionate about helping people and providing equitable access to information. My goal is to become a reference or cataloging librarian at an academic library. I am currently a member of the American Library Association, the Asian Pacific American Library Association, and the Ohio Library Council. I also serve as the Vice President of the KSU ALA Student Chapter. In my free time, I enjoy reading, journaling, and spending time with my puppy, Koro, who I recently adopted from an animal shelter.

Email: jstone36@kent.edu


Brenna Hubschman, Vice President of Communications

My name is Brenna Hubschman, and I am a first 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 Literature from Ohio State. 

I currently work as a graduate assistant in the iSchool, and I am also an advising officer for Kent State’s ALA student chapter. 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 connect and support the students of the iSchool.

Email: bhubschm@kent.edu


Lauren Zollinger, Vice President of Student Outreach

My name is Lauren Zollinger. I am entering my second semester in the iSchool, with an interest in public, medical and special libraries. I have an undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and currently work for a Chicago-based company that develops corporate information solutions, primarily within healthcare.

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


Molly McGirr Norris, Secretary

My Name is Molly McGirr Norris, and I am a first year 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.

Email: mmcgirr@kent.edu


Anakarine Solórzano, Virtual Student Representative

My name is Anakarine Solórzano and I am originally from Caracas, Venezuela. I am in my late 40s, I am married, and I have three children. When I am not occupied with my family and schoolwork, I am usually working on art projects. On that regard, I am currently preparing to have my first solo show which will take place in the Spring of 2021.

After finishing my bachelors in my native country, I decided to pursue a masters in music at Central Michigan University. During my time at CMU, my interest in a music career decreased while curiosity about the library’s cataloging, reference, and overall organization became of great interest. The concept of encapsulating a representation of knowledge (or a portion of it) within a building and the possibility of expansion through the web or interlibrary loan was something I had not experienced in my native country. While pursuing my MLIS degree, I have gravitated towards metadata architecture and taxonomies, which are the areas that I am specializing in. I am really excited about my upcoming internship and consequent graduation in the Spring of 2020.

Email: asolorza@kent.edu