Well, this is it—I’m writing my final MiALA President’s newsletter message. The year has flown by, and it’s hard to believe we’re already heading into summer, with our leadership transition just a month away.
I want to begin by recognizing our outgoing board members: Past-President Mies Martin; Private College Representative Gina Bolger; Community College Representative Kelli Herm; and Katie Edmiston, IGCC Chair, for their dedicated service to the Board. I am especially grateful to Mies for helping me find my footing as President and for his continued leadership in advancing several of the Board’s key initiatives over the past year. It has truly been a pleasure to work alongside such engaged and thoughtful colleagues, and I thank each of them for all their contributions.
I’m excited to step into the Past-President role and hand the gavel to Mary O’Kelly, who will assume the presidency on July 1—I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mary for many years and know she will bring thoughtful, compassionate, and inspiring leadership to MiALA. Katie Edmiston will return to the Board in 2026–2027 as our newly elected Vice President/President-Elect, alongside re-elected Treasurer Jessica Hronchek and Public University Representative Ed Eckel. Newly elected Private University Representative Marcus Richter, Community College Representative John Szilagyi, and IGCC Chair Raya Samet will also be joining the Board in July. For a full list of Board members, please visit the MiALA website.
The 2026 MiALA Annual Conference was a tremendous success. I’ve heard wonderful feedback from members who attended this year’s conference in Traverse City, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to Co-Chairs Thad Dickinson and Christina Radisauskas, as well as the entire 2026 Conference Planning Committee, for creating such an engaging and high-quality program.
With the 2026 conference now in the rear-view mirror, our 2027 Conference Planning Committee is already hard at work planning next year’s program at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor. If you are interested in volunteering to support this effort, I encourage you to complete the Volunteer Interest Form before June 30.
My year as your President has been a whirlwind. The Board focused much of our time on advancing the initiatives outlined in Goal Four of the strategic plan—strengthening the association’s infrastructure. Over the past year, we updated our policy and procedures manual, implemented changes to strengthen leadership transitions, and deepened our connections with other library associations across the state.
It has been an honor to serve as your President. I am grateful for your trust, your engagement, and your commitment to MiALA’s success. I look forward to continuing to support our association as Past-President. Thank you for an amazing year!
With Gratitude,
Julie Garrison
