This is our second entry in the mini-series of biographies of the participants of our Creative Digital Projects. This summer’s participants represent 33 universities around the world. The University of North Texas is the most represented university in the group. San José State University takes second, followed by Valdosta State University, Georgetown University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.
Today we have short biographies from our second group, led by Emily Tejada.
Emily Tejada received a B.A. in history from Bridgewater University and an M.A. in history from Southern New Hampshire University. She currently works as an educational facilitator and helps students understand the process of passing legislation in the Senate. She has a nine year old dog named Brady and enjoys cooking, painting, sculpting, and reading.
Gabrielle Alongi is an M.S.L.I.S. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and holds a B.S. in information sciences from that institution as well. She intends to pursue a J.D. part time in the near future due to her interest in politics and legal research. Gabby has previously interned at the Library of Congress with the Preservation Services Division, and immensely enjoyed it. Outside of school and work, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and pets, and traveling.
Jessica Bakar is an undergraduate at McGill University studying political science and psychology. She is interested in political theory, constitutionalism, and political psychology and intends to pursue law school after her undergraduate studies. In her free time, Jessica likes creative writing, assisting in interdisciplinary research, and participating in youth advocacy.
Eliza Bellot is a Virginia native who recently graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in linguistics as well as international studies. She minored in French, and obtained a certificate in A.I. Fundamentals and Applications. Passionate about language preservation, as an undergraduate she worked with a team of linguists to document the Choctaw language. In the upcoming years, she has hopes of attending law school. Eliza loves baking outrageous amounts of goodies, spending time outdoors, and admiring her plants.
Alexis Bohlander is a graduate student at Syracuse University pursuing a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She received a B.A. in art history from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She is currently interning in a museum’s archives and aspires to work in special collections or archives when she graduates next year. In her free time, she loves hiking with her two dogs, reading mysteries, cooking new recipes, and riding her Peleton.
Megan Callaghan holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Georgia and a B.A. in English from Mississippi University for Women (perhaps most famous for the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Mississippi Univ. for Women v. Hogan, which required the university to go co-ed). She is currently earning an M.L.I.S. from Valdosta State University with particular interests in reference and instruction, academic libraries, and archives and special collections. When she isn’t working or learning about the history of obscure government regulations, Megan enjoys spoiling her two ancient rescue dogs and visiting foreign libraries like Portugal’s stunning Biblioteca Joanina with her husband.
Arrington Crilly hails from North Carolina where she currently works at UNC Greensboro. At UNCG, she earned her B.A. in history with minors/concentrations in archaeology, anthropology, and classical studies. She is also pursuing her M.L.I.S. at UNCG with a focus in special collections and archives. With this focus, she hopes to increase accessibility to and awareness of archived materials through digitization efforts. Arrington deeply appreciates her family’s history in the local farming and timber industries, and she credits them with inspiring her appreciation of history and anthropology. In her free time, Arrington enjoys quilting, reading mystery novels, listening to folk music, and spending time with her family.
Kirstin Gutierrez is a New Jersey native who holds an M.A. in forensic psychology from Marymount University. She is currently in the paralegal studies program with the University of California, Los Angeles, from which she will graduate this fall. She has previously volunteered with the Law Library of Congress and assists Volunteer Lawyers for Justice on an ongoing basis. With prior experience in both law enforcement and intelligence communities, she is eager to delve into the legal realm, for which she holds a passion. Outside of academics, Kirstin enjoys running by the beach, traveling in order to immerse herself in other cultures, and creating experiences and memories with her children.
Jayla Melvin is a Texas native, but has recently moved to the Washington, D.C. area. She obtained her B.A. in psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2022, and is completing her M.L.I.S. at the University of North Texas in the summer of 2024. Her professional goals lay in academic research and advocating for information literacy. In her free time, Jayla enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring new places.
Anne Scattergood grew up just outside Philadelphia before coming to D.C. for college. She received her B.A. from Georgetown University with a major in classical studies and a minor in Spanish. As a teacher, she works to inspire a love of learning among her students. In her free time, she enjoys diving into a good book, trying a new recipe, and visiting new museums.
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