We asked candidates for Core President-Elect to answer some questions before the spring election opens on March 9, 2026. Voting will close April 1. The Core President is elected to a three-year term that begins at the conclusion of the 2026 ALA Annual Conference, serving one year each as President-Elect (2026-2027), President (2027-2028), and Immediate Past-President (2028-2029).
Joe is Senior Advisor, Professor, Kansas State University.
1. What has Core brought to your career, and what would you bring to Core if you are elected to this position?
I vividly remember attending my first LLAMA conference a couple of decades ago. During that experience, I formed professional connections that have endured ever since and have been instrumental in my growth and success. If elected, I am committed to securing a strong and sustainable future for our division and ALA by modeling collaborative leadership, fostering innovation, and building strategic partnerships.
2. Member engagement is critical for the life and health of the Core Division. How do you plan to sustain and grow Core’s membership?
Core programs are intentionally designed to be affordable, to foster meaningful professional growth, and to provide a strong platform for connecting with colleagues. I am committed to thoughtfully maintaining the balance between high-quality programming and a welcoming, inclusive environment as we embrace innovative tools, services, and evolving processes.
3. How will you pursue collaboration between sections of Core and across ALA?
As we celebrate 150 years of the American Library Association, we honor a remarkable legacy of leadership and service that our beloved professional organization has so capably fostered. At the same time, we must thoughtfully reimagine our organization to ensure it remains indispensable to our current members and highly compelling to the colleagues we hope to welcome in the future.
4. What does equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) mean in your professional life, and how should these be implemented within Core and in larger advocacy efforts?
As a first-generation college graduate, I am deeply committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging and has ample opportunities to grow, thrive, and succeed. I am dedicated to advancing and prioritizing actions that affirm the value of our diverse perspectives, experiences, and voices.
5. What’s one thing you think Core is doing particularly well and that you intend to support or enhance? What should the division change?
In this era of exponential technological growth, the Core division is pursuing creative and bold approaches to leveraging AI and other emerging tools to remain relevant and forward-looking. I will tirelessly work to encourage our members to embrace these advancements, explore new pathways, and position ourselves as proactive agents of change within the profession and wider.
