2019-2020 President-Elect of RUSA Announced

CHICAGO- Courtney McDonald, Learner Experience & Engagement Librarian and Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Libraries, has been elected the 2019-20 President-Elect of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). McDonald will serve her Presidential term during 2020-21.

"I'm honored and humbled to be elected,” McDonald stated. “I look forward to working with RUSA membership to continue and expand RUSA's legacy as a welcoming, enriching community of practice for our members, and as a trusted authority for establishing guidelines for excellence within our field."

A recent Colorado transplant, McDonald previously worked as Head of Discovery & User Experience at Indiana University Libraries. She has also held positions at DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. McDonald’s research interests are focused on the intersection of emerging technologies and library public services, and on implementing user-centered design methods and philosophies in libraries. She presents and writes on a variety of topics including user experience design, the selection and implementation of library search & discovery systems, and mobile services in libraries.

McDonald earned her BA in English & MLS from IU Bloomington and holds an MS in Human Computer Interaction (DePaul) and she has been an active member of RUSA since 2005, serving in a variety of positions within the Emerging Technologies Section including as Section Chair in 2016 - 2017.

RUSA would like to thank all the candidates who stood for election as well as all the members who voted. Special thanks to the 2019 Nominating Committee, chaired by Alesia M. McManus, Interim Head, Research Support Services, Environmental Sciences Librarian, UC Davis Library, for producing an outstanding slate of candidates.

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more at rusaupdate.org.