Paige Carter is the Access Services Manager at Belmont University’s Lila D. Bunch Library. She previously served as the Interlibrary Loan Specialist and has been a Belmont employee for over 25 years.

Honora Nerz Eskridge is the Director of the Sarah Shannon Stevenson Science and Engineering Library at Vanderbilt University, Honora leads library services to faculty and students in the sciences and the School of Engineering.

An experienced library manager and STEM subject specialist for 20 years, Honora is passionate about strategic engagement of faculty and students, developing new service models, and integrating information literacy into curricula. Having mentored and coached staff at all levels of their careers, she also is experienced in effective leadership and management approaches and has provided consulting and training to academic and public library clients. Honora holds a bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College and a master of library and information science from The Catholic University of America.

Sam Helmick is the Public Service Manager for the Burlington Public Library in Iowa, the ALA Councilor for the Iowa Chapter, and current chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries. As the chair of Iowa Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee and as a 2016 ALA Emerging Leader, Sam helped to develop an evergreen calendar of YALSA content and worked on the ALA Public Awareness Committee for the #LibrariesTransform and Library Card Sign-Up Month campaigns. Her book, Mobile Social Marketing for Libraries, is available through Rowman and Littlefield Press.

Machelle Keen is the Collections & Facilities Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to the Director at the Science and Engineering Library at Vanderbilt University. She has worked in the Vanderbilt University Libraries for 30 years. Her passions are reading, life-long learning and helping to make a difference. She developed, chaired and planned “Partners in Progress VUL Support Staff Conference” and the “Support Staff as Leaders NALA Conference” as well as presented at East Carolina University Paraprofessional Conference in 2019. In 2020, she has been working with an incredible team of colleagues to plan NALA 2020 as well as presented at ASERL and the General Assembly for VU Campus Dining. She is constantly developing and expanding her dream of creating opportunities for support staff to attend professional development conferences and feel empowered through learning.

Melissa Mallon is the Director of the Peabody Library and Director of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt University Libraries in Nashville, TN. Mallon’s research interests include online learning, instructional design, and the intersection of critical thinking and digital literacy. She recently published a book on academic librarians' role in digital learning.

Elaina Norlin is currently the Professional Development/DEI Coordinator for the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL). She is an accomplished teacher, technology and leadership development trainer, and author with extensive leadership experience and a flair for public relations, sales and communications. To date, she has delivered over 60 workshops, keynotes, training sessions, presentations and institutes both nationally and internationally on marketing, web usability design, facilitation, strategic influence and conflict management. She is author of three books: "Usability Testing for Library Websites," "E-Learning and Business Plans" and "Creating Amazing Organizations: An Insider Look at Employment Engagement Trends" (January 2021).

Lina Sheahan is the Music Librarian at Belmont University where she has worked since 2012. She earned a B.S. in Music Education from Gettysburg College and an M.L.S. and M.A. (in Historical Musicology) from the University at Buffalo. At Belmont, Lina serves as liaison to the College of Music and Performing Arts. Her responsibilities include cataloging music materials, reference and instruction, collection development, serving on library and campus committees, and supervising one full-time staff person and a group of student workers. Prior to working at Belmont, Lina was a Music Cataloging Librarian at Gettysburg College and an Archival Processing Intern in the Performing Arts section of the Library of Congress. She is an active member of both the Music Library Association and its Southeast Chapter.

Debra Stephens is a Library Associate (Service Desk Manager) at the Science and Engineering Library at Vanderbilt University. She has 25+ years of experience in public service and people management. Outside of work, she enjoys all sports, traveling, and shopping.

Lauri Thompson With over 30 years in business, industry and academia, Lauri Thompson has been witness to a ton of training! “From a trainer’s point of view” says Lauri, “a good training experience is rewarding, whether you are the trainer, or a participant. But, a botched training experience is a learning opportunity. So, any day in a training environment is a good day.”

Lauri holds an MA in Education from Ashford University. Lauri returned to school for her MA in Education when she saw the opportunity to combine her two favorite aspects of work – technology and training. Believing that human beings are perpetual learners is key to helping her develop meaningful learning outcomes with a personalized flair.

Lauri and her husband have three adult children and several grandchildren. She has served as a CASA volunteer and as a volunteer for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Holiday Parade where she was a giant balloon handler and band greeter.

Ashley White is a Tennessean historian and a passionate advocate for museums, libraries, archives, and epistemology. Her published works include “The Devil’s in the Details: A Comprehensive Look at the Salem Witch Trials”; “The Saffron Scourge: Progression in Treatment of Yellow Fever in the United States, 1973-1905”; and “Paracelsus’ Poison: Laudanum Abuse in America, 1750-1914”. Currently, she is writing a local history book entitled The Leas and Lealand about a Nashville family and their expansive 19^th century home.

Her museum experience includes Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, the Sam Davis Home, Rattle and Snap, Belmont Mansion, and the Tennessee State Museum. Currently, she serves as the Special Collections Manager in the Lila D. Bunch Library of Belmont University. In that capacity, she is the sole university archivist, and curates the Gallery of Iconic Guitars and the Frederick Hart Studio Museum.