ACRL-OR's 2026 election is underway! This year, members will vote for one Vice President/President-Elect and two Members-at-Large. Learn about this year's candidates below, then watch your inbox for your personalized ballot link.
Voting closes May 29, 2026.
Vice President/President-Elect (3-year term)
Robert Felthousen
Reference Librarian, Rogue Community College
I've worked in academic libraries since 2003, and I'm deeply concerned about the ongoing trend in higher education that devalues libraries and librarians. Our work is essential to the education and well-being of our students - outside research shows that access to librarians and regular library instruction improves student retention and success. I'd like to bring my energy, my passion for education, and my concern for the state of academic libraries in Oregon to this service position.
I started my library career as a cataloger in 2003, earned my MLIS in 2006, and became a full-time academic librarian in 2010. In 2013 I became library director at my school and served in that position for nearly 10 years. I have designed several successful classes in academic research and information literacy, including a health-based information literacy course that was specifically designed for EMS students and was adopted by different allied health programs. I currently serve as president of the local faculty union.
Members-at-Large (2-year term)
Beth Caldwell
Reference and Instruction Librarian, Clackamas Community College
I've enjoyed being involved with the ACRL-OR board over the past two years as the Community Colleges Representative. I've served on several of the board subcommittees, including the scholarship, communications, membership, and Award for Excellence committees. ACRL-OR has so many great programs and events that support Oregon's academic library community, and I would love to continue to be involved in serving my library colleagues.
Over the past 12 years I've worked at several academic libraries in Oregon and southwest Washington including WSU Vancouver, Clark College, University of Portland, Oregon Tech, and Portland State University. I also have a background in medical libraries. Since 2022 I've been a Reference and Instruction librarian at Clackamas Community College, where I teach information literacy, wrangle printers, and make students look at pictures of my cats.
Tanya Decker
Public Services, Mount Hood Community College
I am a new and delighted member of the academic library community. I currently work in Public Services at Mt. Hood Community College Library, which supports a strong diversity of student learning goals and information needs. Prior to MHCC, I worked in the archives and at the service desk of the University of Oregon-Portland Library.
I believe a voice from access services would be a valuable addition to the Board! I witness the successes and frustrations of the end-user's experiences with library services while also seeing the needs and priorities of library staff. As a Board member I would champion Oregon academic library workers while also centering the patron community, hoping to bridge both parties' concerns when thinking of the health and success of our libraries. As so many higher ed institutions in Oregon and nationwide face budget cuts and political hostilities, academic libraries will benefit from students, faculty, and other users understanding how the library works for and supports them. It is also my sense that access service workers and other support staff may be underrepresented in ACRL-OR membership; by bringing an access services perspective to the organization I would aim to build greater cohesion amongst different library roles and between libraries themselves.
Joel Liesenberg
Global Studies Librarian, University of Oregon
As a new librarian and a recent transplant to Oregon, I have enjoyed getting settled within the field and beginning to explore the area. Now, I am looking for opportunities to get involved within the regional community and learn more about how I can serve within my role. In my current position working with global studies, I engage often with national and international librarianship, but now I am excited to hopefully work closer with local colleagues from across the state and work to further immerse myself in my new home.
Joel is currently the Global Studies Librarian at the University of Oregon, serving as the liaison for Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, the Division of Global Engagement, and many of the university's area studies programs and departments. Joel earned his MSI in Library Science and Digital Curation and his MA in International and Regional Studies (Japanese Studies) from the University of Michigan in 2024, as well as his BA in English, with a concentration in TESOL, from Central Michigan University in 2018. He lived in Japan from 2018-2020, teaching English in Tokyo as part of the JET Program and has been working at the University of Oregon since 2024.
Carin Yavorcik
Collections Management & Strategic Assessment Librarian, Oregon Health and Sciences University
I would like to serve in this position because I value creating and sustaining connections within the library community, and I recognize the time and care required to build meaningful, inclusive professional networks. Through my previous service, I would bring experience in collaborative leadership and community-focused work to ACRL-OR.
My past experience includes serving the college and research library community at both the national and regional level. I was a member of the planning committee for the Association of Research Libraries' 2024 Library Assessment Conference, where I advised on conference planning from program structure and proposal review to local arrangements and community-building activities. Regionally, I have served on several Orbis Cascade Alliance working groups, including the Central Analytics Working Group, which focused on developing shared online learning materials.
These experiences have strengthened my interest in supporting professional development and fostering connection across institutions—work I would be excited to continue through service with ACRL-OR.
Carin Yavorcik is the Collections Management & Strategic Assessment Librarian for Oregon Health & Science University Library, where she leads the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information and data to facilitate planning and decision-making related to the library's resources and services. Carin's duties also include managing the Library's collections, including relationships with vendors and consortia partners, negotiating contracts and licenses, and partnering with Library Administration and other stakeholders to plan and track collections expenditures. Prior to joining OHSU, Carin served as the Data & Reporting Supervisor for Community Action Head Start of Washington County, Electronic Resources Librarian for Concordia University-Portland, and Technical Services Librarian for the State of Oregon Law Library. Her areas of interest include data analysis & visualization, assessment, library systems, and electronic resources.
