Master of Library and Information Science Students
Adina Serapia Vega
Colorado
Adina Serapia Vega (she/her) is a proud Chicana and MLIS student based in southern Colorado, currently attending library school at San José State University (SJSU). With a professional background in nonprofit marketing, she blends communications expertise with a deep commitment to community engagement and social equity. She is especially proud of her long-standing volunteer work with organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Sierra Club, and her local library district, the Pueblo City-County Library District (PCCLD), where her service—and a meaningful moment at a volunteer appreciation dinner—led her to pursue librarianship professionally. Since then, she has taken on various roles within the library, including work in Special Collections, Community Relations, and for over a year, the Technical Services Department, where she assists with cataloging books, media, and unique programming, such as the Seed Library and the Library of Things. In addition to her work within the library system, Adina is an active volunteer at Books Again, PCCLD’s Friends of the Library (FOL) used bookstore. She currently manages the store’s promotions and has served as Secretary on the FOL board for two years. At SJSU, she also serves as Blog Director for the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter (SLASC), a position she has held for nearly two years.
Her work is grounded in a passion for mental health accessibility and affordability, community activism, and representation within the library system. Adina is particularly interested in advancing Latinx voices and experiences in academic librarianship, with a focus on cataloging and classification. She is set to graduate in spring 2026. Her interests include collecting and reading alternative graphic novels, indie pop rock, needle felting, mid-century modern design, and thrifting.
Jonathan I. Velazquez
California
Jonathan I. Velazquez (he/el) began San Jose State University’s MLIS program in the Spring of 2023, and has recently graduated in Spring 2025. Jonathan, a first-generation college graduate, earned his BA in Liberal Studies from the University of California, Riverside. Jonathan focused his courses on the Emerging Technologies pathway, aiming to specialize as an Emerging Technology Librarian focusing on enhancing user experience (UX). His commitment to the library science field began with volunteer work at his local library in Sun City, California. This role evolved into positions of increasing responsibility, including Circulation Supervisor for the Riverside County Library System (RCLS), a Library Technician, and a Library Associate for the City of Riverside. Jonathan specializes in reference assistance, volunteer coordination, and adult/young adult programming. As a son of Mexican and Nicaraguan parents, Jonathan speaks fluent Spanish. He was part of the Inland Empire (IE) Reforma Chapter, dedicating his information skills to serve his broader community and, importantly, the Spanish-speaking population. He provided the system's first “Tech Help/Ayuda Técnica,” a bilingual tech help program designed to bridge the digital divide, demonstrating his commitment to making technology accessible and inclusive. Now serving in Riverside Public Library’s (RPL) first Bilingual Programs Committee, he is determined to provide insight and help oversee the diversity of Spanish and multilingual programs implemented throughout the system.
Mariana Guerrero
Illinois
My name is Mariana Guerrero, and I am the Elementary School Services Coordinator at the Aurora Public Library District in Aurora, Illinois. I have worked at APLD for approximately 13 years in various roles, consistently providing excellent library services accessible to all customers. In my current role, I act as a liaison with local school districts and foster community partnerships to enhance resource sharing and reach underserved audiences. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature with a minor in Psychology from Rockford University. I am originally from Mexico City, and I try to visit every other year to indulge in some tacos al pastor. I'm currently in the second year of my Master's in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I have received awards such as the 2024 Día Mini-Grants Winner, the 2024 Ruthmary Wood Award recipient for Outstanding Customer Service given by the Aurora Public Library District, and the 2019 Roseann Poss Spirit Award Recipient given by Compañeros en Salud/Partners in Health. Most recently, I was awarded the Spectrum Scholarship by the American Library Association (ALA). In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my five-year-old daughter, Natalia (she's a fireball!), and my loving husband, Pablo. I am passionate about creating inclusive library spaces and look forward to continuing to serve and inspire my Latinx community.
Marlene Robles Ortiz
California
As a recent Master of Library and Information Science graduate from San Jose State University and a library assistant in the Sacramento region, Marlene Robles Ortiz is driven by a heartfelt passion for connecting communities with the transformative power of libraries. As a mom to a curious six-year-old, her journey has deepened her understanding of how vital accessible resources are for families and children, especially those navigating multiple cultures and languages. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marlene is deeply committed to ensuring every voice finds its place in the library.
Marlene is honored to be a recipient of the REFORMA scholarship to attend the National REFORMA Conference (RNC VIII) in Long Beach this September. She looks forward to gaining valuable insights into best practices, connecting with fellow professionals, and contributing to the advancement of library services for our vibrant Latino and Spanish-speaking communities.
Neyssa Reyes
New York
Neyssa is a young adult librarian in training with Colombian and Puerto Rican roots, raised in Medellín, Colombia. She’s passionate about Latin American art, literature, and history, and is dedicated to preserving and uplifting her cultural heritage through librarianship. Outside of work, she expresses creativity through embroidery, a craft she is continually learning.
Roux Fernandez Melguizo
Louisiana
Roux Fernandez Melguizo (he/him) is a first-year graduate student at Louisiana State University where he is pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Studies. He was born in Barranquilla, Colombia but immigrated to a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota with his family when he was four years old. His reasons for pursuing a career in librarianship are deeply rooted in his commitment to advocating for immigrant communities in their fight for racial justice, equitable library services, and intellectual freedom. After completing his B.A. in Latin American Studies from Loyola University New Orleans in 2022, Roux accepted a job as Visitor Services Assistant at the Historic New Orleans Collection. In his current role, Roux provides historical interpretation to Spanish-speaking museum visitors and leads a Spanish class for his department. He is passionate about making libraries and museums accessible to Spanish-speaking, immigrant communities.