Who we are
Who we are¶
We are a collaboration of library-affiliated staff from Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The BTAA-GIN program is part of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Library Initiatives.
Participating Institutions¶
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Michigan State University
- Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Purdue University
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Iowa
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Northwestern University
Team Members¶
Our Team Members form the core of BTAA-GIN, each contributing a different set of skills and insights. Their collective expertise spans a range of disciplines: from the information-focused skills of geospatial science, data management, and metadata to the cultural realm of map cataloging and cartographic history. They also bring critical perspectives on social justice and web accessibility, alongside technical skills in software development, web accessibility, and interface usability.
| First Name | Last Name | Job Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theresa | Quill | Map and Spatial Data Librarian | Indiana University Bloomington |
| Ronda | Sewald | Cartographic Resource Cataloger & Interim Head, Area Studies Cataloging | Indiana University Bloomington |
| Amanda | Tickner | GIS Specialist | Michigan State University |
| Kathleen | Weessies | Head, Map Library | Michigan State University |
| Méch | Frazier | GIS Specialist | Northwestern University |
| Kelsey James | Rydland | Head of Digital Scholarship & Research Data Management | Northwestern University |
| Danny | Dotson | Head of Geology Library and Gardner Family Map Room | Ohio State University |
| Josh | Sadvari | Geospatial Information Librarian | Ohio State University |
| Tara Louise | Anthony | GIS Specialist | Pennsylvania State University |
| Nathan | Piekielek | Geospatial Services Librarian and Associate Professor of Geography | Pennsylvania State University |
| Nicole | Kong | GIS Specialist | Purdue University |
| Shirley | Li | GIS Analyst | Purdue University |
| Francesca | Giannetti | Digital Humanities Librarian | Rutgers University-New Brunswick |
| Susan | Oldenburg | GIS Specialist | Rutgers University-New Brunswick |
| Greg | Fleming | Business and Economics Librarian | University of Chicago |
| Rob | Shepard | GIS Librarian & Instructor | University of Chicago |
| Sandi | Caldrone | Data Research Support | University of Illinois |
| Jay | Bowen | GIS Specialist | University of Iowa |
| Cathy | Hodge | Monograph & Cartographic Resources Cataloging Librarian | University of Iowa |
| Milan | Budhathoki | Geospatial Librarian | University of Maryland |
| Caroline | Kayko | Map and Geospatial Data Librarian | University of Michigan |
| Nicole | Scholtz | Librarian for Geospatial and Numeric Data | University of Michigan |
| Melinda | Kernik | Spatial Data Analyst & Curator | University of Minnesota |
| Karen | Majewicz | Geospatial Product Manager | University of Minnesota |
| Ryan | Mattke | Map & Geospatial Information Librarian | University of Minnesota |
| Laura | McElfresh | Cartographic Metadata Librarian | University of Minnesota |
| Wenjie | Wang | GIS Specialist | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| Meg | Mering | Coordinator of Cataloging and Metadata | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| Jim | Lacy | Associate State Cartographer | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Jaime | Martindale | Map and Geospatial Data Librarian | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
University of Minnesota Operations Staff¶
- Cody Hanson- IT Director - Administrative Lead
- Ryan Mattke - Project Lead
- Karen Majewicz - Geospatial Product Manager
- Eric Larson - Lead Application Developer
- Owen Connolly - Geospatial Metadata Technician
- Michael Berkowski - Web Developer
- Michael Johnson - Web Analytics
- Paul Bramscher - Linux Systems Administrator and Software Administrator
Alumni¶
Project Sponsor Alumni¶
For the Big Ten Academic Alliance Library Directors:
- Wendy Lougee, University Librarian and McKnight Presidential Professor - University of Minnesota (2015-2020)
- James Hilton, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries - University of Michigan
- Kim Armstrong, BTAA CLI Big Ten Academic Alliance Director Library Initiatives
For operations at the University of Minnesota:
- John Butler, Associate University Librarian for Data & Technology - University of Minnesota (sponsor 2015-2021)
- Kirsten Clark, Director, Access and Information Services - University of Minnesota (sponsor 2019-2021)
- Claire Stewart, Associate University Librarian for Research & Learning - University of Minnesota (sponsor 2015-2019)
Executive Committee:
- Barbara Dewey- Dean of University Libraries & Scholarly Communications, Penn State (2020)
Graduate Research Assistant Alumni¶
- Alexander Danielson - (2022-2023)
- Ziying (Gene) Cheng - (2020-2022)
- Yijing (Zoey) Zhou - (2020-2021)
- Emily Ruetz (2018-2020)
- Andrew Smith (2017-2019)
- Lewei Hi (2017)
Team Member Alumni¶
| First Name | Last Name | Job Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paige | Andrew | Maps Cataloging Librarian | Pennsylvania State University |
| Linda | Ballinger | Metadata Strategist | Pennsylvania State University |
| Mara | Blake | Spatial & Numeric Data Librarian | University of Michigan |
| Sam | Brown | Map Collection Manager | University of Chicago |
| Adonna | Fleming | Professor | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| Taylor | Hixson | Resident Librarian for GIS | University of Chicago |
| Jae Sung | Kim | Open Source Geospatial Analyst | Pennsylvania State University |
| Nicole | Kong | GIS Specialist | Purdue University |
| Jennifer | Liss | Monographic Image Cataloging Librarian | Indiana University Bloomington |
| Kelley | O'Neal | GIS Geography and Maps Librarian | University of Maryland |
| Bria | Parker | Metadata Librarian | University of Maryland |
| Rob | Shepard | GIS Specialist | University of Iowa |
| Andrea | Twiss-Brooks | Director of Research and Teaching Support | University of Chicago |
| Tim | Utter | Manager Clark Library | University of Michigan |
| James | Whitacre | GIS Specialist | University of Illinois |
| AJ | Wortley | State Outreach Specialist | University of Wisconsin-Madison |