2025 CARLI Annual Meeting: Bios

2025 CARLI Annual Meeting: Bios

Bradley Baker

Bradley Baker photoBradley Baker served for 24 years as Dean of Libraries and Learning Resources at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. He was awarded the title of Dean Emeritus upon his retirement in 2012 and stayed on at NEIU until 2014 as an acting Assistant Provost. As a true believer in library cooperation, Baker was active throughout his career as a member and leader in library consortia and other cooperative initiatives. Highlights include serving as Chair of several ILCSO committees, including the Policy Council, and as a member of the CARLI Board of Directors. He also served as President of the Illinois Library Association, President of the OCLC Users Council and as a member of the OCLC Board of Trustees.

Scott Carlson

ScottCarlson.pngScott Carlson is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education who explores where higher education is headed. Since 1999, he has covered a range of issues for the publication: college management and finance, facilities, campus planning, energy, sustainability, libraries, work-force development, the value of a college degree, and other subjects. He writes the twice-monthly column The Edge, and he is the author of Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter — and What Really Does. Carlson has won awards from the Education Writers Association and is a frequent speaker at colleges and conferences around the country. His work has also appeared in The Baltimore Sun and Dwell, among other publications. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Elizabeth Clarage

ElizabethClarage2022.jpgElizabeth Clarage is the CARLI Director of Collections Services since 2005. Prior to that role she served as the Director of the Illinois Cooperative Collection Management Program from 2001-2005. Focusing on library collections, she helped to consolidate any overlap in services from the three organizations during the transition to CARLI.

Tom Dorst

Tom_Dorst.pngTom Dorst began his library career in 1986 as the initial Director of the Illinois Cooperative Collection Management Project with a HECA grant awarded to DePaul University. He subsequently held positions at the Illinois State Library and The University of Chicago. In 2000 came to the University of Illinois as the first Director of the Illinois Digital Academic Library. When IDAL merged into CARLI, he oversaw the digital resources program and ultimately served as the Assistant Director for Administration before retiring in 2013. He lives in Springfield with Connie Poole, his wife of 51 years. They have one son who lives in Philadelphia with his wife and our two month old grandson. 

Kristine Hammerstrand

k_Hammerstrand.pngKristine Hammerstrand retired from CARLI in 2022 after spending her entire career working in Illinois academic libraries. For many years, she led the team of staff that support I-Share, which grew from 14 to over 90 participating institutions during her tenure. She lives in Urbana with her spouse and dog and raises her voice in support of libraries and the freedom to read whenever possible.

Paula Kaufman

kaufman.jpgPaula Kaufman, the Emerita Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, spent most of her career in academia, working as a Business & Economics Librarian and in various management and leadership positions at Columbia and Yale Universities and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  In a foray into the private sector, she worked in the Information Center at McKinsey & Company and as a co-founder and partner of Information For Business, both in New York City.  Paula is now happily retired and enjoying life in Central Illinois.

Jay Starratt

Jay Starratt recently retired as Dean of Libraries at Washington State University. Previously he was Dean of Libraries and Associate Vice President for Information Technology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He held positions at SIUC, University of Nebraska Omaha and Emory University. He served on the board of IDAL, ICCMP and ILCSO.

J. David Stewart

Stewart.pngServed for 19 years (1986-2005) as Assistant Vice President for Planning and Budgeting – University of Illinois System and lead university system administrator for the Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO was one organizational predecessor to CARLI).  Member of ILA Public Policy Committee and ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom/Freedom to Read Foundation Honor Roll (30th Anniversary Celebration).

Career in Illinois state government and public higher education with emphasis on economic/tax revenue forecasting, budgeting, finance, governmental relations, human resource administration and information systems.  Retired in 2008 as Interim Associate Vice President for University Human Resources (Chief Human Resources Officer for University of Illinois System-all campuses).

Prior experience included:   Economic and Budget Analyst for the Executive Office of the Governor-Illinois Bureau of the Budget; Sr. Financial Analyst for the Illinois Capital Development Board (state construction agency); Associate Director of Fiscal Affairs for the Illinois Board of Higher Education; Vice President for Administration, CFO and Treasurer of Lake Land College (Illinois Community College District 517, Mattoon, IL).

Undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration, banking/finance and economics from Eastern Illinois University.  Doctoral study in higher education administration and finance at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.