Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 13 through April 5, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2017 YALSA Governance and 2019 Selection Committee candidates.
Today we’ll hear from the candidate for President-Elect. The President-Elect serves a three-year term: President-Elect the first year, President the second year, and Immediate Past-President the third year. The President-Elect is a member of YALSA’s Executive Committee, along with the President, Past President, Fiscal Officer, Secretary and Councilor.
The President-Elect’s primary job is to learn the role of the President, and to make committee appointments. The President-Elect also has all the normal duties of a Board member.’ A full description of the President-Elect’s duties and responsibilities can be found here.
Today we have an interview with Crystle Martin.
YALSA Governance: President-Elect Candidate Crystle Martin, Postdoctoral Researcher
Q: What best qualifies you for being President-Elect?
A: My experience on the YALSA board best qualifies me to be President-Elect. I have two years of board experience, one as a Director-at-Large and one as Secretary. During my time as Secretary I have been involved with the realignment of Executive Committee to refocus on financial oversight. Participating in this process has prepared me for the financial oversight role of the executive committee going forward.
Q: Talk about the experiences and expertise you’re bringing to the position in terms of leadership, nonprofit or association governance, and strategic thinking.
A: During my two years of service on the board, I have participated in the strategic planning process which lead to the creation of the organization plan, as well as the current implementation of organizational plan. This gives me insight into the values of the association as well as its desired future direction. I also have leadership experience leading a Special Interest Group for the American Education Research Association, in which I promoted research in school and public libraries as informal learning environments. And I have developed leadership and mentorship skills acting as the editor of YALS.
Q: How do you envision furthering the mission of YALSA as President-Elect?
A: I envision furthering the mission of YALSA as President-Elect through Continuing Education initiatives, as well as supporting continued alignment of YALSA activities to the organization and implementation plan. I also hope to engage members in supporting and fulfilling the mission in their everyday practice.
Q: What are some ways that being a member of the YALSA Board can help you serve as an even better connector to helping libraries become thriving learning environments for/with teens?
A: As a researcher who explores how teens learn, develop, and make plans for the future influenced by their interest and informal learning environments, being a member of the YALSA Board helps me share my expertise with members of the community. It also creates opportunities for me to work with members from across the country, helping disseminate information about how to support libraries as informal learning environments.
Q: What about YALSA’s Organizational Plan excites you most and why?
A: The organizational plan overall is exciting because it emphasizes YALSA’s commitment to the future of the profession of those who serve teens in libraries and the future of the teens they serve.
Q: How would you embed the concept of “teens first” in the work of the board?
A: I would embed “teens first” in all aspects of YALSA’s work, pushing to have the concept of “teens first” become second nature to all YALSA members and to all activities that YALSA undertakes.
Q: Why should YALSA members choose you to be a member of the board of directors?
A: I have a commitment to supporting teens as they develop and plan for their future. I do this through my research and through my work with YALSA. And will continue to put teens first as I work for YALSA members as President-Elect.
