Board & Staff

Role at Little Free Library: Director of Communications and Media Relations, The Little Free Library Book author, publisher and promotional partnerships, storytelling.

Favorite Book: Impossible to pick, but Tell Me How It Ends by Valeria Luiselli is a book everyone should read.

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Getting to hear and share the amazing stories of Little Free Library stewards around the world.

Role at Little Free Library: Partnerships Manager

Favorite book: How to choose?! A couple that come to mind include: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

Best part of working for Little Free Library: Being able to offer people a way to harness the power of community to share a love of books.

Role at Little Free Library: Customer Service

Favorite book: I have so many favorites I can’t choose just one, but I love a good thriller!

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I’ve been obsessed with books since I can remember. Working for an organization whose mission is to make books accessible to everyone feels good.

Role at Little Free Library: Director of Digital Strategy.

Favorite book: I can’t possibly choose! If forced, I would say Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.

Best part of working for Little Free Library: Getting to see cool library designs from around the world and hear the stories behind each one.

Role at Little Free Library: Data Analyst

Favorite book: The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I love being part of an organization that works to make a positive and tangible difference in our communities. Books and libraries have always been a huge part of my life, so I am enthusiastic about sharing my love for reading with others!

Role at Little Free Library: I support the day-to-day activities at LFL including greeting visitors, answering inquiries about the organization, thanking donors, and helping out wherever else is needed.

Favorite Book: 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Working with caring, passionate, and creative people to inspire readers and expand access to books.

Role at Little Free Library: Facebook Community Manager

Favorite Book: Many! But one I always go back to is Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit. It’s one of the most perspective shifting books I’ve read, and the one I’m most likely to tell anyone, “Hey, you should read this!”

Best part of working at Little Free Library: I firmly believe storytelling is one of the best tools out there for building empathy, so knowing I have a part in getting more stories in front of more people is very meaningful work.

Role at Little Free Library: Managing financial reporting and financial controls to ensure the Board, leadership and staff can obtain the data needed to make strong business decisions.

Favorite Book: Anything suspenseful that keeps my attention. James Patterson, Vince Flynn, Lee Child.

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Supporting a mission that is crucial in fostering lifelong learning and eliminating barriers for all ages and backgrounds.

Role at Little Free Library: As Director of Programs I oversee all Little Free Library programs but have been spending a good deal of my time expanding our Read in Color initiative since its launch in October 2020. I am a keeper of spreadsheets, deadlines, and a long list of team-building activities.

Favorite Book: Black Widow by Leslie Gray Streeter. I laughed, I learned, I wept. What more could you want from a book?! 

Best part of working at Little Free Library: I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented book-loving, community-focused people. To say that I treasure the LFL team is an understatement. More recently I have had the privilege of collaborating with some amazing organizations across the country who are tirelessly working to address opportunity gaps in many areas including literacy and book access. It is an honor to partner with them and to help amplify the good they are doing. 

Role at Little Free Library: Program Manager – Steward Services

Favorite Book: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Best part of working at Little Free Library: I’m excited to be a part of a team that helps support literacy and community building around books! 

Role at Little Free Library: Ensures staff have the resources to succeed in our literacy mission.

Favorite Book: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Providing book access to families, communities and neighborhoods that have none.  

Role at Little Free Library: Program Manager for Indigenous & Impact Library Programs

Favorite Book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Creating partnerships and opportunities for richer book access in communities and on reservations where books can be scarce. Providing more equitable access to books is powerful and inspiring work. Access to books can be life changing!

Role at Little Free Library: Program Manager – Read in Color

Favorite Book: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

Best part of working at Little Free Library: Between the stewards, the readers, and the staff, the passion for our mission is incredible. There’s nothing better than going to work every day knowing we’re working to spread love, empathy, diversity, and inclusivity through books on such a huge scale.

Role at Little Free Library: Managing social media, writing e-newsletters, and supporting other content creation.

Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I love being among fellow book lovers as part of an organization that is working to expand book access.

Role at Little Free Library: Assistant Shipping Clerk

Favorite Book: The Summerfolk by Doris Burn

Best part of working at Little Free Library: My efforts support both literacy and community.

Role at Little Free Library: Senior Director of Advancement

Favorite Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Reading it in 12th grade completely changed my view of what literature could be and how it could make me feel. I’ve reread it multiple times and find something new to love about it each time.

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I deeply wish for everyone, especially children, to have easy access to as many books as possible. Being a part of a team trying to make that happen is an incredible honor.

Role at Little Free Library: Managing retail product sales efforts and helping with community events.

Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Best part of working for Little Free Library: Seeing a Little Free Library and knowing that the organization and the people I work with helped make that happen.

Role at Little Free Library: Community Engagement Manager

Favorite Book: The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty. Food writing is my favorite genre, probably because reading and cooking are my passions. Twitty writes beautifully about how food and identity are deeply intertwined.

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I believe in the power of community and the power of reading. I love the way that Little Free Libraries bring neighborhoods together through literacy and book access.

Role at Little Free Library: I oversee customer service and fulfillment operations; manage facility and service providers; and provide support wherever I am needed!

Favorite Book: Killing Custer by James Welch

Best part of working for Little Free Library: I am humbled that I get to work with all of these amazing people, and honored to be part of this incredible organization attempting to change the world, one little library at a time!

Jake Adams is the Chief Development Officer at Southwest Human Development in Phoenix, Arizona. At Southwest Human Development, Jake and his team have placed more than 150 Little Free Libraries in disadvantaged Arizona neighborhoods. His meandering career includes business, politics and most recently nonprofit work. Jake enjoys fishing, woodworking and spending time with his sons and his wife Cassie.  Jake’s Library was painted by Arizona artist Kate Timmerman.

Migell Acosta currently serves as Director of the San Diego County Library. Under the direction of the County’s governing board, the County Library has provided more than fifty Little Free Libraries to underserved areas of the region, with plans to add fifty more. The County Library also supports the stewards with access to books and partnerships. Migell has experience running large library systems in California with previous roles as Assistant Director/Chief Information Officer at Los Angeles County Library and Principal Librarian at the City of Santa Monica public library. Migell began his career as a librarian at the RAND Corporation’s library as head of Technical Services. Migell Acosta currently serves on the California Library Association’s Board of Directors and as co-chair of their Advocacy & Legislative Committee. Migell holds a BS in Psychology from UCLA and a Master of Education and Information Science, also from UCLA.

Heather M. Butts received her B.A. from Princeton University. She was a history major, concentrating in American and African-American Studies. She received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, her Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University and her Master’s in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Professor Butts is the co-founder or H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths, Inc. a nonprofit organization which focuses on college readiness and preparation. Her organization partners with 91 programs each year to help more than 7,000 students achieve their dreams.

Dr. Anthony Chow is a full professor and the Director of the School of Information at San José State University and has worked in the LIS field for 22 years. Anthony holds his doctorate in instructional design and technology and master’s in educational psychology from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from San Francisco State University. He is also the founder and project director of Reading Nation Waterfall, a three year, $1.4 million federal grant working with tribal communities in addressing early children’s literacy. Dr. Chow is also a consultant that conducts community assessments and develops strategic plans for libraries and organizations across the country. His areas of expertise include instructional design, systems thinking. human cognition and development, libraries and information science, strategic planning, evaluation and assessment, analytics and informatics, and technology integration. He is a lifelong lover of both libraries and reading (all formats) and has three children with his wife Theresa.

Michelle Hudgins is an accredited communications strategist, with nearly 30 years of marketing, branding, and PR experience. She began her career working in broadcast news before transitioning her professional practice to advertising and PR. Currently, she serves as Vice President of Communications for the Pew Research Center. She has also worked for several notable organizations, including The American Red Cross, The National Education Association, and Neighborhood Works America. As a senior strategist at the National Education Association, she consulted with and trained senior leaders and affiliates, served as a national spokesperson, and coordinated the implementation of several national community outreach initiatives.

Ms. Hudgins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts from her beloved Hampton University, a Master of Science in Communications with an emphasis on Advertising and Strategy from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Arts in Film from American University. She is also recognized by the Public Relations Society of America as an Accredited Public Relations (APR) practitioner and a personal and executive coach certified through the CaPP Institute. Ms. Hudgins has served as a national spokesperson and commentator on several national news outlets, including TV One’s News Now with Roland Martin.

Her passions are travel, film, cuisine, and culture. She is an active and proud alum of Hampton University, serving as president of the Northern Virginia Chapter (2020 Chapter of the Year), and 2nd Vice President and President-elect for the Middle Atlantic Region of The National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. Through her company, Global Difference Makers Institute, she coaches non-profit leaders, churches and community groups on media mastery, branding, message development and other skills necessary to impact systemic change in their work.

Shauntina Lilly is a performance-driven communications leader with proven experience developing strategies across company sectors to achieve optimal results. Shauntina is a civil servant at NASA in the Office of Communications, specializing in space and science.

Additionally, Shauntina is a mentor at College Now Greater Cleveland whose mission is to support students making the transition from high school to postsecondary education.

Reading literacy and book access is a deeply-rooted passion for Shauntina, and ensuring people of all ages and backgrounds can thrive through books is paramount.

Hannah Moore is a life-long New Yorker, dedicated to building local community and improving the lives of our neighbors. She is the Chief Development Officer at The Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services – a mental health and social service agency reaching over 45,000 children, adults, and families each year. 

Hannah is a serial book clubber, a passionate believer in the power of volunteerism, a social worker, and a mom.

Todd Newcomer is a partner at GBB CPA’s in Allentown, PA.  As a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner Todd works with businesses and nonprofits of all shapes and sizes. Todd is a lifelong voracious reader and enjoys any book about politics, the Civil War or Middle Earth.  Todd coaches soccer whenever needed for his four children (including triplets) and is attempting to raise miniature donkeys with his beautiful wife Angela.

Malcolm Persen is currently the President of Resolute Performance Contracting, a general contractor focused in solar energy construction that he founded in 2011. Previously, he was the Executive Vice President at Ironco Enterprises, a renewable energy contracting organization. From 2004 through 2008, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Radyne Corporation, a NASDAQ-traded manufacturer and distributor of satellite and telecommunications equipment. Earlier, Malcolm was employed as Group Financial Officer for Avnet, Inc., a global distributor of electronic components and computer systems. Other experience included assignments with consultancies Arthur D. Little and Mercer Management Consulting. In addition, he has lectured in finance at the Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Boston College and the University of Massachusetts. Malcolm currently serves on the Board of Nephros, Inc, a company that develops and sells high performance water purification and pathogen detection systems. He holds a BA in Political Economics from The Colorado College, and an MBA from The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Noel Sackett is an International Accounting Manager at The Sherwin-Williams Company and brings 25+ years of experience working in business and finance, much of it focused on operations and international financials and systems. In addition, she has been an active volunteer over the years with various organizations, such as Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity and A Brush With Kindness and Boy Scouts of America where she was the Fundraising Chair for her sons’ local Troop for 8+ years. She received her BSB in Accounting from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Noel is located in Hudson, WI and enjoys traveling for both work and personal, reading, and spending time with her family.

Jen Thorson is a St. Paul-based nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations. Her most recent role was Chief Operating Officer for Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, one of the largest Girl Scout councils in the nation. Before joining Girl Scouts, she worked in higher education in the fields of marketing, communications, and enrollment management. Her first career was as a journalist, serving as a newspaper reporter and editor.

Jen is an active volunteer, advocate, and public speaker. In addition to Little Free Library, she serves on the boards of Leaders of Today and Tomorrow and the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement and is a City of St. Paul Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner. A heart attack survivor, she also is a frequent presenter about women’s heart health and is a former national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and board member for the American Heart Association-Minnesota.

Jen earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from St. Catherine University and a bachelor’s degree in English and women’s studies from Hamline University. She also holds certificates in HR and Talent Management (Michigan State), Fundraising Leadership (Indiana University), and Excellence in Business (Carlson School of Management).

Jen and her husband have two nearly adult sons.

Jeff Tobler is Vice President of Global Media Relations and Influencer Marketing for Expedia Group Brands and was previously the Chief Marketing Officer for filmmaker Ava’s DuVernay’s narrative change collective ARRAY. Prior to ARRAY, Tobler spent a decade at Warner Bros. Worldwide Television where he was most recently Senior Vice President of Publicity, Communications and Social Media, serving as the architect of publicity and communications efforts for the Studio’s 80+ original scripted and animation programs. Before WBTV, he was a publicist at The CW Network and its predecessor, The WB, and started his career at NBC Entertainment. He currently serves on the board of ARRAY and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Public Relations Peer Group Executive Committee. Tobler is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and can often be found hiking a mountain or exploring bookstore shelves with his family. 

Sabrina has spent her thirty-year career educating our youngest learners as a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, and an Interventionist. Her classroom career began in Atlanta Public Schools. She spent three years teaching preschoolers in Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Michigan School Readiness Program. She previously taught Reading in South Washington County Schools in Cottage Grove, MN. She currently serves as a Science of Reading Facilitator in the Metro Atlanta area. She leads professional development in the Science of Reading and Explicit and Systematic Instruction. She spends her summers as an Adjunct Professor teaching Reading Development to preservice teachers at the University of St. Thomas.

Sabrina holds bachelor and master’s degrees from Morris Brown College and Brenau University, both in Early Childhood Education. She holds a second master’s degree in Reading from Hamline University. Outside of her professional life, she is the mother of a beautiful son and daughter. She is also an avid yogi and is an associate member of the local Jack and Jill of America, Inc. chapter. Sabrina is a passionate reader.

Nancy Wulkan is Founder and Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor Literacy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Chicago, Illinois. The Project focuses on expanding access to books and building positive working connections between neighborhoods to share literacy resources and promote reading in the city’s most underserved communities. You’ll often find Nancy exploring the city to meet future library stewards, build or install new Little Libraries, or restock some of the more than 160+ library boxes the Project has donated since it’s inception in 2019. Her grassroots work across Chicago has helped shape her drive to provide books and literacy resources with a diversity of themes and characters to reflect the rich cultural spectrum of the city. Nancy holds a BA in Economics from the University of Notre Dame, is a retired CPA, and lived abroad for twelve years in London, England and Singapore. Nancy is married with two adult children and is the Steward of three Little Libraries in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.