President: Gina Lovejoy 

Webster University Library

Council Term: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

Gina Lovejoy (she/her) is the Communications & Outreach Librarian at Webster University Library where she handles the library's marketing, outreach, website, and social media presence in addition to serving as a subject librarian. Before Webster, she worked in a variety of roles at public libraries in St. Louis and Fresno, CA. She holds a Master of Arts in Biology from Miami University (2023) and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama (2007). In her free time, she runs a death doula and death education business, supporting people of all ages and backgrounds at the end of life.

Vice President: David Kates

Saint Louis Priory School

Council Term: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028

David A. Kates is Head Librarian, Textbook Coordinator, and Thesis Co-coordinator at Saint Louis Priory School. Recently, he wrote a grant to use the campus as an environmental classroom. He has worked as a school librarian for nearly 20 years in Los Angeles and St. Louis. David holds an MLIS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an MA in Journalism from the University of Southern California.

Secretary: Liz Lyons

Parkway Central High School

Council Term: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028

Liz Lyons has been a school librarian in the Parkway School District since 2014 and currently works at the Parkway Central High School library. A former classroom teacher, Liz taught middle school Language Arts before earning a Master's Degree from Oklahoma State University in Environmental Science. Liz worked as an environmental educator for the Missouri Department of Conservation for 14 years before her love of books called her back to the world of education, and she earned her library certification from Lindenwood University. She has three children (four counting her dog who thinks he's a human), and loves hiking and coaching the school's archery team.

Treasurer: Jenny Akins 

Washington University, Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library

Council Term: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

Jenny Akins is the Art & Architecture Librarian at Washington University in St. Louis. In the role, she supports the operation of the Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library and provides research and liaison services, instruction and collection development for faculty, students, and staff in the Sam Fox School of Visual Art and Design, WashU and wider communities. Jenny is a member of the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) and the Association of Architecture School Librarians (AASL). She has experience working in a public library and other college and university libraries. She holds degrees in Germanic studies and History from Indiana University-Bloomington and received her MLIS from University of Missouri-Columbia.

Past President: Heather Wefel

St. Charles City-County Library 

Council Term: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027     

Heather Wefel has been an Adult Services Librarian at the St. Charles City-County Library for eleven years. She graduated from Wayne State University in 2012. Heather has held previous library positions at Kirkwood Public Library and UMSL. She is passionate about adult programming and hosts a wide spectrum of programs from bingo and escape rooms to a series that focuses on current hot button issues. When not at work, you can find Heather tabulating a list of restaurants she wants to visit from videos she saw on Tiktok.

Keir Haug 

St. Louis County Library, Prairie Commons Branch

Council Term: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

Keir Haug is currently the Branch Manager of the Prairie Commons branch of the St. Louis County Library. He graduated from the University of Missouri twice, once in 1991 with a degree in History and again in 2010 with an MLIS. Keir has served as secretary of the St. Louis chapter of the Special Libraries Association. He is a member of ALA, PLA, and an on-again, off-again member of MLA. His free time and money is spent on traveling, live music, drinking overpriced beer, and hanging out with four cats and a librarian wife.

Katie Mulhall 

Nerinx Hall High School

Council Term: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2029

Katie Mulhall is currently the librarian at Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. She has a Master’s Degree in Literature from the University of Missouri- St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was previously an English teacher for 13 years, and she has always enjoyed inspiring a love of reading in students. Whether it is helping students find their next fun fiction read or helping  them navigate the online databases, she loves the variety that comes with her job.  In her free time, she loves to bake and go camping to explore State and National Parks with her husband and two kids.

Travis Bursik 

St. Louis Public Library

Council Term: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029

Travis Bursik has been an employee of St. Louis Public Library since 2012 and has been the manager of the Kingshighway Branch since 2020. He received his MLIS from Mizzou in 2013. He has worked in the library of every school he's ever attended. He lives in St. Louis with his wife and dog. He enjoys traveling, cooking, and recording long, instrumental guitar pieces that no one will ever hear.

Cindy Hayes 

Jefferson County Library

Council Term: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028

Cindy Hayes is the Library Director at Jefferson County Library, where she has worked for 30+ years. Hired as a part-time clerk, she worked her way up to Branch Manager, District Manager, and then accepted the position of Director earlier this year. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Government from Western Kentucky University and an MLIS from Mizzou. Hayes serves on the Board of the local Chamber of Commerce and manages their social media content. She spends her free time running a taxi service for her teen son and researching her family history.

Denise Chappell

Saint Louis University

Council Term: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029

Denise Chappell is settling into her new role as the Social Sciences Librarian at Saint Louis University. She holds a MILS degree with an emphasis in User Experience and a Bachelor's in Psychology. Denise brings a diverse background that includes roles such as Branch Manager, Systems Administrator, and Safari Guide. Denise has experience supporting board and committee work, as well as overseeing scheduling, budgeting, staff training, and database management. Her professional interests include information literacy, community outreach, and supporting first-generation and other non-traditional college students. In her free time, she serves on boards and on stage for community theatre productions, performs with her band Kevin & Denise and enjoys spending time outdoors, especially in the garden.