Concluding our mini-series of biographies of the participants of our Creative Digital Projects, today we have our final group, led by Nikki Werner, who is our most experienced mentor, serving in her third year.
Nikki Werner returns this year for her third time as a mentor! She is the author of the National Bison Day post from her internship in the summer of 2021. Nikki holds an M.L.I.S. and a B.A. in English language and literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. She enjoys assisting with the research and writing process and is inspired each summer by the creativity and originality of the interns’ projects. Currently, Nikki is an adjunct instructor at Howard Community College, where she teaches information literacy and college composition. Her personal research interests include fan studies, and you can often find her and her family at film and pop culture conventions.
Brennan Auger is a student at the University of South Florida studying English and creative writing. He grew up in Vermont and loves the wilderness. He’s an avid reader and lover of sci-fi and fantasy.
Sarah Barnet was born and raised in Texas. She holds a M.L.I.S from Texas Woman’s University and a B.A. in education. Sarah currently works as the district librarian for an independent school district; her experience in the classroom ranges from kindergarten through eighth grade. Outside of the classroom, Sarah serves on the local public library board. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her three children, working in her yard, and reading.
Hannah Gershone is from Minnesota and grew up swimming in lakes and roasting corn. After receiving her B.S. in environmental studies from Mount Holyoke College, she worked for Saguaro and Grand Canyon National Park, studying and monitoring soundscapes. She went on to receive an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Oregon, researching environmental justice issues. Hannah is currently pursuing an M.S. in L.I.S. from Simmons University, with a concentration in archives management. In her spare time, she enjoys birding, hiking, and spending time with her cat.
Kayla Goldsworthy is a Kentucky native who currently lives in Savannah, Georgia. She is a recent graduate of San José State University’s M.L.I.S. program and currently works as a legal assistant. She is particularly interested in digital archives and enjoys exploring new technology. Kayla is a pop culture fanatic and loves learning about fandom history. In her free time, she is usually reading, crafting, or playing with her dogs.
Mary Hogan previously interned with the Law Library of Congress metadata internship program. She holds an M.P.A. from Westfield State University, an M.S.L.I.S. from Simmons University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Most of her career has been in the government and nonprofit sectors, often in roles that, while not always within a library, still required a library degree. Her volunteer work has included serving four years as mayor, chairing the Board of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (now Inform USA), and traveling to Kenya to provide technical assistance to librarians through the Connecticut-based nonprofit American Friends of Kenya.
Hannah Holland is a Virginia native. Currently double majoring in film and media studies and environmental policy at the College of William and Mary, she is also a recent member of the track and cross country teams. In her free time, she enjoys running, photography, backpacking, and giving her cat way more attention than he deserves.
Michael Litman is a native of Long Island in New York. He has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated from Long Island University with an M.L.I.S. He is currently between jobs and is volunteering his services as an archivist with the Three Village Historical Society. Michael’s fondest desire is to work in a library to help others with research. Michael is always motivated and hopes that his skills in research and information sharing can grow in something that benefits people. In his free time, Michael enjoys reading, swimming, walking, and watching sports.
Em Merrick is a Virginia native who recently graduated from West Virginia University with their M.F.A. in creative writing, with a focus on fiction. Their thesis is inspired by Byzantine history and classical mythology, and explores gender troubles, crises of faith, and forgotten tragedies. They also hold an M.A. in linguistics from George Mason University. In their free time, Em is a hobbyist fencer, artist, and loser of chess games.
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