ALSC Past Presidents | ALSC Annual Reports
A message from Jonda McNair
Dear ALSC Friends,
With collegial love and appreciation, thank you for your support and belief in my ability to lead ALSC. I am excited and honored to serve as president for the 2023–2024 term, and I promise to do my very best. When I chaired the 2021 John Newbery Award Selection Committee, I thought that would be the pinnacle of my career as a professor of children’s literature, but serving as president of the organization that oversees the Newbery Medal and other prestigious awards is even more of an honor. As an elementary school teacher in my younger years, I shared many books with my students that had been recognized by ALSC award committees—even though I had not yet heard of the organization. ALSC has had a marked influence on me since the beginning of my career as an educator.
When I joined ALSC in 2005 as an assistant professor, I had no idea how integral this organization would be in so many aspects of my academic life. Being an ALSC member has shaped me as a reader, writer, teacher, scholar, and teacher educator. My life is much richer because of the experiences that ALSC has offered me over the years. I have benefited tremendously—and so have my students! You too can benefit from all that ALSC has to offer, such as attending a conference (LibLearnX, ALA Annual, or the National Institute), getting information and suggestions from fellow members via ALA Connect, participating in a webinar or virtual event, or serving on a committee. Please volunteer for either an ALSC process or award committee (see Appointments Process and Volunteering) and feel free to follow up with an email to me (mcnair.7 at osu dot edu) to share your preferences.
I look forward to serving as your president over the next year. Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can do to support you as a member of ALSC.
Jonda C. McNair
Charlotte S. Huck Endowed Professor of Children’s Literature, The Ohio State University
2023–2024 ALSC President
she/her/hers