REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - Key Persons


Adria Carpenter

Job Titles:
  • Digital Content Specialist / Communications and Advancement

Adrianne Wade

Job Titles:
  • Adrianne Wade Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development
  • Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development

Aho, Melissa

Aho, Melissa and Erika Bennett, "Introduction," in Melissa Aho and Erika Bennett, Editors, The Machiavellian Librarian: Winning Allies, Combating Budget Cuts, and Influencing Stakeholders. Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing, 1-6. 2013. Aho, Melissa and Erika Bennett, "Stuck in the Middle and Loving it! Why Middle Managers have the Ability to Lead from the Heart and the Power to Persuade" in Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen and Linda Cook, Editors, Mid-Career Library and Information Professionals: A Leadership Primer. Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing, 29 - 39. 2011.

Ai Miller

Job Titles:
  • Library Assistant
  • Reference Specialist
Ai Miller is a Library Assistant in the Health Sciences Library, and assists with reference research and library workshops for staff and students.

Aiden Bettine

Job Titles:
  • Archivist
  • Historian
  • Curator of the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies
Aiden Bettine Curator of the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies Tretter Collection abettine@umn.edu 612-624-7526 Aiden Bettine is an archivist and historian who researches and teaches local history pertaining to race, gender, and sexuality in the Midwest. He specializes in oral history, public history, and community engagement with archives. His community work prioritizes creating generative spaces for LGBTQ people to learn, share, and research our history. Prior to joining Archives and Special Collections as the Curator of the Tretter Collection in August of 2022, Aiden founded the LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library, a community archives and lending library in Iowa City, IA. He also served as Community & Student Life Archivist at the University of Iowa. Aiden is a PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies: Public History and Archival Science at the University of Iowa. His dissertation research examines the history of queer community archives founded in the 1970s and 1980s across the United States and the networks that lesbian and gay community archivists and librarians built to facilitate the preservation of LGBTQ history. Education Masters of Arts in Library and Information Sciences, University of Iowa, 2020 Masters of Arts in Critical Ethnic Studies, DePaul University, 2017 Bachelor of Arts in History and African and Black Diaspora Studies, DePaul University 2015 University of Minnesota Libraries

Alex Bentley

Job Titles:
  • Archivist
  • Alex Bentley Archivist

Allison Thompson

Job Titles:
  • Health Sciences Course Reserves Coordinator

André Nault

Job Titles:
  • Veterinary Librarian
André came to the Library in 2005 and has a background in wildlife research and veterinary practice management. His current research interests include veterinary informatics and open-access. He has more hobbies than any one person should, some of which are photography, guitar playing, hunting, and fishing. André Nault, MLS, holds a Diplome d'étude collegiale in Health Sciences from Dawson College, Montreal, a BSc in Wildlife Resources from McGill University, Montreal and a Masters in Library Studies (MLS) from the University of Rhode Island.

Anna Opryszko

Job Titles:
  • Public Services Supervisor

Becky Adamski


Bill Pederson

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Associate to the University Librarian

Brian R. Woods

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Associate to the Associate University Librarians

Brooke Olson

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
Brooke is an Assistant Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and a liaison to the Medical School. She has a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a Masters of Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee. Before coming to the University of Minnesota she spent three years as the instruction and outreach librarian at South College in Nashville Tennessee. Her areas of interest include information literacy, classroom instruction and helping students become more comfortable conducting research. When she is not at work she enjoys exploring bookstores, traveling and listening to podcasts.

Carmen Elwell

Job Titles:
  • Daytime Student Supervisor
Carmen Elwell, MLIS, is a Student Supervisor at the Health Sciences Library. She also works with reference, course reserves, and library communications. Carmen earned a BA in English from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2014, and an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017. She began her library career at the Architecture Library at the University of Minnesota as a student employee in 2012 and spent two years as the Reference & Instruction Librarian at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York after earning her MLIS. Carmen spends her time outside of work reading, gaming, cross-stitching, and spending time with family, friends, and her cat Waffles.

Carolyn Bishoff

Job Titles:
  • Science & Math Librarian

Catherine Brownrigg


Catherine Coats


Charlie Heinz

Job Titles:
  • Multimedia Specialist
Charlie is a Multimedia Specialist, working in the Health Sciences Library and the Toaster Innovation Hub in Walter Library. He supports library users with multimedia projects through consultations, and he manages the Libraries' media equipment collections (including virtual reality). In collaboration with the Media Outreach Librarian and the Emerging Technology and Innovation Librarian, he also works with faculty on integrating media and technology learning with their curriculum.

Cody Hanson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Information Technology

Daniel N. Cook

Job Titles:
  • Library Assistant

David Ashley


Dean Lisa German

Job Titles:
  • Library
  • University Librarian and Dean of Libraries

Dr. Owen H. Wangensteen

Job Titles:
  • Distinguished Surgeon and Chief of Surgery at the University of Minnesota

Elissah Becknell


Elizabeth V. Weinfurter

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Librarian
  • Nursing Librarian and Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Liz Weinfurter, MLIS, is an Associate Librarian and liaison to the School of Nursing and the Center for Spirituality and Healing. Liz holds a B.A. in Classics from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and a MLIS from Dominican University in River Forest, IL (through the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN). Liz has worked in the Health Sciences Library at the University of Minnesota since 2001, and has been in her role as nursing liaison since 2005. Liz spends her time outside of work wrangling two small children, and in any spare time enjoys camping, canoeing, playing handbells, and ensemble singing. She is the Production Editor for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, has served as President of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association, and was part of the 2012-2013 Medical Library Association Rising Stars cohort. Weinfurter, Elizabeth, Mariya Gyendina, Lindsay Matts-Benson. "Supporting a Culture of Teaching and Learning with a Teaching and Learning Community of Practice." Paper presented at the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH, October 7, 2018 Avery, M. D., Saftner, M. A., Larson, B., & Weinfurter, E. V. (2014). A systematic review of maternal confidence for physiologic birth: Characteristics of prenatal care and confidence measurement. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, 59(6), 586-595.

Emily Beck

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Curator

Erinn Aspinall

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director, Health Sciences Libraries

Evangela Q. Oates

Job Titles:
  • Associate University Librarian for Student Success

Gina McKenzie

Job Titles:
  • Executive Accounts Specialist

Greg Argo


Greta Bahnemann

Job Titles:
  • Metadata Librarian, Minnesota Digital Library

Gyade Badio


Haley Begordis


Hannah Cabullo

Job Titles:
  • Engineering Librarian

Heather Beaton

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development

Jade Cabagnot

Job Titles:
  • Director, Engagement, Outreach, and Community Partnerships

James Akpan

Job Titles:
  • Library Assistant

Jennie Burroughs

Job Titles:
  • Senior Program Advisor and Researcher

Jessica Abbazio

Job Titles:
  • Music Librarian

Jody Gray

Job Titles:
  • Associate University Librarian for Research

John A. Barneson

Job Titles:
  • Web Developer / Application Development

Joshlynn Borreson


Justin Boeser

Job Titles:
  • Student Supervisor

Karen Carmody-McIntosh

Job Titles:
  • Communications Specialist / Communications and Advancement

Katherine Chew

Job Titles:
  • Librarian
  • Research / Outreach Services, Mortuary Science, Center for Allied Health Programs and Center for Bioethics Librarian
Katherine Chew, MLS, is an Associate Librarian and the Research/Outreach Services Librarian for the Health Sciences Library at the University of Minnesota. She provides research support and consultation to University of Minnesota researchers in the Academic Health Center including support for NIH Public Access Policy Compliance. As Outreach Librarian, Katherine provides education and training on consumer health and health information literacy issues to health professionals, public librarians, and the general public across the state, including exhibiting at health fairs and other health oriented events on National Library of Medicine resources. Before becoming the Research/Outreach Services Librarian, Katherine was the Collections Librarian for the Health Sciences Libraries for over 10 years. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota in 2001, Katherine has been an Air Force Base Librarian in Montana, Colorado (Air Force Academy) and Germany (Sembach Air Base), before switching career paths into medical librarianship. As a medical librarian she has worked in community, urban and academic health sciences libraries and has presented at regional and national conferences on collections, scholarly communications and metrics. Bakker, C., McBurney, J., Chew, K., Aho, M., & Reed, D. (2019). Implementing and assessing a service to demonstrate public impact of faculty research in news and policy sources. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 107(4), 579-587. doi: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2019.709 Aspinall, Erinn; Chew, Katherine; Watson, Linda; Parker, Mary. A Case Study: Planning a state-wide information resource for health professionals: an evidence-based approach. Journal of the Medical Library Association 2009, 97(4):246-252. "Waterfalls are not in the MeSH vocabulary: one library's experience with unexpected flooding." Katherine Chew presenting at the 2009 Midwest Chapter/Medical Library Association Annual Conference, Seek, Explore, Discover, October 4, 2009, Columbus, Ohio.

Kathleen Costello


Kaylee Morlan

Kaylee Morlan was first introduced to the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine while taking a freshman seminar course co-taught by the library's Assistant Curator, Emily Beck. With her sights set on a career in museum studies, Morlan was able to get a job at the library and gain hands on experience in her chosen field.

Kimberly Clarke


Kirsten J. Clark

Job Titles:
  • Director, Library Enterprise Systems / Library Enterprise Systems

L. Angie Ohler

Job Titles:
  • Associate University Librarian for Collections and Content Strategy

Laura Costello

Job Titles:
  • Director, Access & Information Services

Laureen Boutang

Job Titles:
  • Publishing Services Coordinator

Lindsey Brooks


Linnea M. Anderson

Job Titles:
  • Archivist

Lisa McGuire

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director, Education & Research Services
Lisa McGuire, MLIS, is an Associate Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and the Associate Director for Education and Research Services. Lisa holds a BA in Art History from the University of Minnesota, and an MLIS from Dominican University. Lisa started her library career as a student employee at Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota, and then spent eight years as a paraprofessional in technical services at the Bio-Medical Library.

Lois Hendrickson

Job Titles:
  • Curator

Lori Cramer

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources and Organizational Development

Maather Al Jabri


Maggie Snow

Job Titles:
  • Director, Minitex

Mark Engebretson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Advancement

Mary Blissenbach

Job Titles:
  • ASC Central Services and Student Supervisor / Archives and Special Collections

Mary Coburn

Job Titles:
  • Circulating Collections Preservation Specialist

Maura Coonan

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Archivist, Migration and Social Services Collections

Melinda Braun


Melissa Aho

Job Titles:
  • Evening Supervisor

Merete Christianson

Job Titles:
  • Health Sciences Library
  • Medical School Librarian
Merete Christianson, MLIS, is an Assistant Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and liaison to the School of Medicine. She has a BA in International Studies from Macalester College and an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Before joining the Health Sciences Library, Merete spent nine years as the Health Sciences Librarian at North Dakota State University. Her areas of interest include information literacy, scholarly communication, and health misinformation. Merete enjoys helping students and faculty navigate information resources and getting to that "Aha!" moment of learning or finding something new. When not at work, she enjoys exploring the Twin Cities, writing postcards, and playing video games.

Michael Berkowski

Job Titles:
  • Application Development Manager / Application Development

Michael Corey

Job Titles:
  • Geospatial, Technical and Data Lead, Mapping Prejudice / Social Sciences Department

Mickie Barg


Molly Bostrom

Job Titles:
  • Biology Librarian

Nicholas Banitt


Nicole Theis-Mahon

Job Titles:
  • Dentistry Librarian and Collections Coordinator
Nicole Theis-Mahon, MLIS, has been an Associate Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and the liaison to the School of Dentistry and Collections Coordinator for the Health Sciences Libraries since 2013. Nicole has a Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University and is a Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals. She supports the teaching, learning and research needs of the School of Dentistry, is the primary selector for all school and colleges of the Academic Health Sciences, and manages collections for the Health Sciences Libraries. Areas of interest include: evaluating and analyzing collections, use of health information resources, evidence synthesis, research ethics, and evidence-based practice.

Patricia Izek

Job Titles:
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Patrick Blomquist


Paul Bramscher

Job Titles:
  • Information Technology

Rachael Clark

Job Titles:
  • Access and Information Services

Randy Brooks

Job Titles:
  • Facilities & Operations Manager

Rudolph Brockfeld


Ryan Bean

Job Titles:
  • Kautz Family YMCA Archives

Ryn Gagen

Job Titles:
  • Medical School Librarian
Ryn Gagen, MLIS, is an Assistant Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and a liaison to the Medical School. They hold a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Master's in Library and Information Science from St. Catherine University. In Spring 2022, they completed a practicum at the Health Sciences Library and received the Sister Marie Cecilia Marzolf Founder's Award for Outstanding MLIS Student. Ryn began their library career in an Information Science internship program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where they worked in a variety of academic library service areas. Ryn also has experience working in K-12 school libraries and as a Collection Development Librarian serving school libraries.

Sarah Anderson


Sarah Barsness

Job Titles:
  • University Archives

Sarah Jane Brown

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Pharmacy Librarian
Sarah Jane Brown, MSc, is an Assistant Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and a liaison to the College of Pharmacy and the Medical School, Duluth Campus. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota and an MSc in Information and Library Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

Scott Spicer

Job Titles:
  • Media Outreach Librarian

Shaan Hamilton

Job Titles:
  • Director of Finance and Facilities

Steven Bleau

Job Titles:
  • Makerspace Lab Manager

Sunshine Carter

Job Titles:
  • Director, Collection Strategy & EResource Management

Terry Beseman

Job Titles:
  • Finance Manager

Theresa Berger

Job Titles:
  • Digital Library Services Librarian