Meet the Planning Committee #TCDL2026

The annual Texas Conference on Digital Libraries (TCDL) is the result of dedicated collaboration and hard work from digital library professionals across Texas Digital Library (TDL) member institutions. We extend our deepest gratitude to every member of our 2026 Planning Committee for their invaluable contributions in shaping the conference.

A handful of our committee members have graciously offered to be featured in a special interview series. Read on to learn more about their roles, experiences, and what they are most excited about for TCDL 2026.

Seyed Abdollah Shahrokni

• he/him
• Texas A&M University
• Open Publishing Platform Manager

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

I first came to TCDL in 2024 with my colleagues and absolutely loved it! Everyone, from attendees to presenters to organizers, was so friendly and thoughtful, and the presentations, workshops, and conversations about open access and open education were so inspiring. I am so excited to be part of the Planning Committee and help contribute to this amazing community.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

I use lots of digital tools in my work, but if I had to pick one that is made the biggest impact in my work, it would be generative AI. I use AI to bounce around ideas or get a first draft, while I stay in control of shaping the final outcome and putting my own voice into it.

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

One resource I wish more people, especially educators, knew about is the K. Patricia Cross Academy. With my background in instructional design and teacher education, and now working with faculty authors to support the engaging learning experiences they create through Open Publishing, I really appreciate how this resource offers so many active and engaging strategies for teaching and learning.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I am really excited to see digital libraries become even more accessible and open. I care deeply about universal design and open education, and I love the idea of digital spaces that invite everyone to connect, learn, and grow together.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Diamond painting! There is something oddly satisfying about matching all those tiny numbered spots and watching the design come to life – it is relaxing, creative, and a little like solving a sparkling puzzle!

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

When I need to focus or get motivated, I turn to Studio Ghibli music – it is calming, inspiring, and magical! Joe Hisaishi’s “A Town with an Ocean View” from Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of those go-to songs for me, which reminds me a lot of Lincoln City, Oregon!

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

What I love most about the TDL community and TCDL is how welcoming, thoughtful, and collaborative everyone is. From attendees to presenters to organizers, there is a real sense of care and shared purpose, which makes being part of this community inspiring and meaningful.

Millicent Weber

• she/her
• Baylor University
• Data Science Librarian

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

TCDL is one of my favorite conferences, and I’m excited to help make the experience even better for others who are newer to the field!

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

The Black Gospel Archive (BGA) at Baylor University! The BGA aims to preserve, digitize, and make accessible Black sacred music and related materials. If you are interested in researching Black gospel music, or just listening to some great Black gospel music, check out the BGA!

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I’m hoping to see increased collaborations with local communities and cultural organizations to create more inclusive representations of voices and histories that have traditionally been underrepresented. Things like digitizing oral histories, regional music collections, and rare documents or artifacts held by families.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

I like to make friendship bracelets! I’ve got a box of embroidery floss, and I’ll just pick out some colors, a pattern, and get to work!

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

“Jump” by Van Halen

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

I love all the wonderful people I’ve met from TDL through working with the Texas Data Repository. It’s always so nice to see everyone in-person at TCDL and connect outside of our work.

Michelle Speed

• she/her
• Baylor University, Moody Memorial Library
• Metadata Librarian

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

Giving back! The Texas Digital Library (TDL) has given so much of their time, energy, and resources to creating collaborative spaces and providing quality software, services, and support to Texas libraries. It’s nice to be able to give some of my own time and energy to an organization that provides so much.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

OpenRefine – it’s a game changer for data manipulation and editing on large scales. Truly a metadata librarian’s best tech tool, and it’s free!

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

This is a hard one! I feel obligated to choose something from my institution, but I instead want to choose something that has nothing to do with Baylor or TDL and is a resource I personally use often. Government Attic is a treasure trove of government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Sometimes I’m looking for something specific, but a lot of the time I enjoy browsing and seeing what has been newly added. I can always find something fascinating.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I’m really interested in developments regarding increasing accessibility across wide swathes of user groups. Web development and accessibility is not my forté, but I am incredibly appreciative of all the difficult the work that goes into this, and of all the dedicated and passionate folks that diligently work towards a more inclusive web experience.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Reading. I just started reading Chechnya: Tombstone of Russian Power by Anatol Lieven. It was written in 1998, republished with a new intro in 1999, but prior to the Second Chechen War. The last fiction book I read was Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain (second time I’ve read it). I’m obsessed with all things Mildred Pierce — book/movie/tv series/Sonic Youth song/etc.!

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

Lately I’ve been rediscovering some of the music I used to listen to in high school. So, for now: “Raspberry Swirl” by Tori Amos.

Ke’ara Hunt

• she/her
• Texas Digital Library
• Outreach and Member Engagement Coordinator

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

I am most motivated by the chance to connect with attendees at TCDL, moving beyond the logistics of planning to see the tangible impact of our work. Hearing firsthand about their projects in the digital library and archives space always makes the effort feel worthwhile and offers a chance for me to learn something new.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

For me, Trello has been a transformative tool. Its highly visual and flexible interface allows me to easily manage complex projects and their many moving parts. I have used its cards and checklists to organize everything from event logistics to content marketing, significantly boosting my organization and efficiency for nearly a decade.

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

The Internet Archive’s Television collection is an incredible resource that more people should know about, especially the 1990s Classic TV sub-collection. For someone with a background in media, its vast, searchable archive is invaluable for both research and personal nostalgia.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Away from the screen, I am an avid reader. I’ve been on a kick of rediscovering the genres and series that captured my imagination as a teenager, revisiting beloved worlds like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Eragon or The Inheritance Cycle. There’s something truly special about holding a physical book, and I enjoy collecting both traditional novels and graphic novels. I recently got my hands on the Ahsoka (Star Wars) graphic novel by E.K. Johnston, and I am really looking forward to diving in. Next up on my ‘to be read’ (TBR) list is Gregory Maguire’s The Wicked Years series, a literary journey inspired by The Wizard of Oz (which inspired the Wicked musical).

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

“Clocks” by Coldplay

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

What inspires me most about the TDL community and the TCDL conference is its collaborative spirit and willingness to share knowledge. For those of us still finding our way in the digital library and archives field, the conference serves as an invaluable and respectful forum for networking and learning from others’ expertise. The atmosphere of care and mutual support is truly impressive.

Maria Balduf

• she/they
• UNT Health Fort Worth
• Library Specialist

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

Connecting with others across the state and being part of planning a fun, informative conference.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

I use EndNote to ingest the metadata from PubMed of recent open access articles by my institution’s faculty. With some minor clean-up and double-checking, I can upload the metadata without inputting every entry manually. The term lists within EndNote help with name authority of journals, researchers, ORCIDs, and publishers, so the whole process saves time and provides some authority control.

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

The collection of oral histories of important people throughout the university’s history.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

Seeing all the ways people are pulling together exhibits and collections and the topics and materials covered. There’s so many cool and important items out there and being able to see what everyone is working on is always fascinating.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Powerlifting – I like lifting heavy things!

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

“Silence” by MCC [Magna Carta Cartel]

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

I greatly valued the panel discussion last year about non-library and paraprofessional positions within libraries and how promotion happens (or doesn’t) for those kinds of positions. Learning about how everyone’s libraries were structured and people were classified was very interesting, and hearing everyone’s experiences of navigating promotion pipelines was incredibly valuable.

Cristina Berron

• she/her
• University of Texas Libraries, Benson Special Collections
• Resident Archivist

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

I’m excited to contribute to the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee by helping continue to foster TDL’s open and collaborative environment.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

Archivematica is an excellent open-source platform for digital preservation. My institution is currently in the process of adopting it, and I’m already excited about the possibilities. This tool streamlines the preparation of born-digital archival materials for long-term preservation, helping reduce manual work while supporting sustainable archival practices. I’m also looking forward to handing off the task of bagging, definitely not going to miss that part!

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

One digital resource I wish more people knew about is the UT Libraries Collections Portal! It offers free access to a rich array of digitized rare and archival materials. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Digital Stewardship team, archivists, and librarians, this portal serves as a powerful gateway for researchers and curious minds alike.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I’m most excited about the rise of community-driven digitization efforts and the expanding use of linked data. As digitization tools become more accessible and metadata standards more inclusive, I envision a future where underrepresented voices are more easily preserved and shared. I’m also hopeful that linked data will help make digital collections and libraries more interconnected and discoverable, fostering collaborations across institutions.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

I love crocheting and playing my bass. I especially enjoy making beanies, blankets, and sweaters for my friends and family. When I’m not working on a new crochet project, I’m practicing my bass, still a novice, but always jamming and trying to get better!

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

“Love Come Down” by Evelyn “Champagne” King. I love 80’s tempo music!

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

Attending TCDL last year was a meaningful milestone, it was one of my first professional conferences! I had the chance to connect with colleagues from a variety of institutions across Texas, which broadened my perspective and helped me feel part of a larger community.

One highlight was volunteering and participating in the professional development activity Poco Loco. It challenged me to articulate my work in a fun, fast-paced setting and gave me the opportunity to learn from others doing inspiring work. That experience helped build my confidence and deepened my appreciation for the collaborative spirit of the TDL community.

Elliot Williams

• he/him
• University of Texas at San Antonio
• Metadata Strategist

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

TCDL is my favorite conference – I’ve learned so much and built so many important relationships there, so I’m eager to give back and keep it going strong.

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

One of my favorite digital collections at UTSA is the Lollie Johnson Papers, which documents the LGBTQ bar scene in San Antonio in the 1980s. It documents such a specific slice of life from that place and time.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Birdwatching! Nothing beats waking up early to go wander around a state park and look at birds.

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

One of the things that I love about TCDL is the range of topics we discuss there. Last year, I went to a very hands-on technical workshop, helped facilitate a discussion about our ethical obligations as digital collections workers, and learned about cutting-edge research in metadata – all of which were amazing! Being able to engage in so many kinds of discussions related to our work is what makes TCDL really special to me.

Isabelle Antes

• she/her
• Texas State University
• Open Educational Resource Librarian

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

I’ve been able to meet so many people through TDL and TCDL – it’s a joy to serve the community and bring even more people together.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

The digital tools I’ve been using the most, the most recently are Zotero and Notion! Zotero helps me keep all sort of content organized that I want to use and reference in research, and Notion offers the flexibility to build environments that best meet my needs for a variety of things – from what OER match or General Education Classes and what rubrics those align too – to notes or personal project planning!

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

There are some amazing Open Resources available – and one that has been created by our Library Team is Research Tutorials created in H5P! These tutorials cover a broad swath of topics related to research – from the information life cycle to citing sources. Check out the whole set of resources in our Research Tutorials LibGuide.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I am excited to see how more modalities, and more connections between resources, continue to be integrated into libraries. Imagine searching for primary documents, and being able to see items that belonged to the people in the documents, see news articles they would have read with the addition of video or audio of events that were occurring in those news articles. Not to mention the opportunities for digital maps and models of the environments and resources used at the time!

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

I love reading and crocheting – and I’m working on a few quilts and learning to knit too!

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

The people! Everyone is generous with their time, energy, and abilities and always willing to answer questions!

Susan Hoover

• she/they
• University of Houston
• Metadata Services Coordinator

In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2026 Planning Committee?

TCDL and TDL are how and where I found my professional network when I was first starting my career as a metadata librarian. I want to help other people have the same awesome experience I have enjoyed.

What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?

This is really old-school, but I am a huge fan of the Unix command line tools. I love the way that they are thoughtfully designed so that error messages go here, output goes there, and you can pipe one after the other to achieve the desired result. For a more permanent programmatic solution I reach for Python, but for a quick-n-dirty script, you can’t beat grep/find/sed/awk/jq.

What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?

As an amateur genealogist, I wish more people realized how valuable digitized newspaper archives are to researching ordinary people in history. Back in the day, many small towns had a local newspaper, even if it was only a weekly. They would print items of local interest, such as births, marriage licenses, illnesses, and deaths, as well as blurbs such as “Mrs. [name] is visiting her daughter, Mrs. [name] at [town]” that, while short and trivial, give you the married names, locations, and relationship between two adult women.

Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?

I am excited, frightened, skeptical, curious, all the emotions over AI-generated description. I have seen some demos and in some cases it’s really good–for example, identifying a concert setting as the Washington Monument by the base of the monument surrounded by flags–and in others it’s way off the mark–for example, assigning the same concert photo the inappropriate LCSH subject heading “Band music” because it recognized that the four guys on stage formed a band and were playing music.

When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?

Just one? I play ice hockey and soccer, lift weights, work puzzles of all sorts, and wrangle cats.

What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?

I don’t have one. I can’t focus on work if I’m listening to music.

What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?

I attended my first TCDL conference after only four months as a librarian. There were no other metadata librarians at my institution, and I was having a hard time meeting people. The conference that year was virtual because of COVID-19, and one of the experiential swag items was a “learn to juggle” session. I located three beanbags, bravely turned on my video, and attempted to follow along. It turns out that most of the other people in the session couldn’t juggle, either, so that made me feel more comfortable about attending a virtual conference where I didn’t know anyone and couldn’t meet them in person. Since then, joining TDL committees has allowed me to work more closely with my peers at other Texas institutions and build a network of people I can trade ideas with.

TCDL 2026 Planning Committee

Chair: Elliot Williams, University of Texas at San Antonio
Vice Chair: Isabelle Antes, Texas State University
Seyed Abdollah Shahrokni, Texas A&M University
Gab Alderete-Cruz, Texas State University
Maria Balduf, UNT Health Fort Worth
Cristina Berron, University of Texas at Austin
Sarah Lynn Fisher, University of North Texas
Meagan Hernandez, Texas Digital Library
Susan Hoover, University of Houston
Ke’ara Hunt, Texas Digital Library
Whitney Johnson-Freeman, University of North Texas
Jean Jolly, Tarrant County College
Tom Lyons, UNT Health Fort Worth
Marcia McIntosh, University of North Texas
Devon Murphy, University of Texas at Austin
Phebe Raglin, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Adriance Rhoades, Texas Woman’s University
Megan Scott, Texas Tech University
Marian Smith, University of Houston
Michelle Speed, Baylor University
Ateanna Uriri, Texas A&M University
Millicent Weber, Baylor University