Miller Library

Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Samantha moved to New Mexico in 2023, when she started working at WNMU as the University Librarian-Director.  She has worked in both public and academic libraries and held positions in Library Administration, Technical Services, Public Services, Distance Education, Outreach and Instruction.

• Education:
• BA, English & art, Rice University, 1998
• Masters in Information Studies, University of Texas - Austin, 2004
• Professional Interests:
• Promoting intellectual freedom in higher education
• Library service to first generation university students
• Nurturing a culture of reading & discovery on campus & in our community
• Examining how a transition from print to digital reading affects readers' experiences of texts

Miller Library

Jenny Castañon is the Reference Librarian at WNMU Miller Library. She has worked in a library since 2020 and enjoys literature and working with the community. She is multifaceted. When she is not working as a librarian, she works on her art and designs, grant writing, or in nature. She is excited about the prospect of using her talents to better serve the WNMU community.   Jenny Castañon received her BFA and AAS at Western New Mexico University and an MFA from Illinois State University.

Miller Library

Barbara began working for WNMU in 1982.  She has held positions in the Registrar's Office, Athletic Department, President's Office and Miller Library. She served as a member of the 24-member NCAA Management Council, a WNMU Staff Senator and member of the WNMU Academic Symposium. Barbara is active in the larger Silver City community as well.  She has been involved in the Optimist Club of Silver City, Latinas Unidas, Little League, and other organizations in the area.   Education:

• BS, Business Administration, Western New Mexico University, 1983

Miller Library

Andrea Jaquez has been a dedicated member of the Miller Library team for 19 years. With a passion for history, she manages the library's special collections, ensuring preservation and accessibility. Andrea is also the go-to person for interlibrary loan services, connecting patrons with resources from libraries worldwide. Her commitment to the library and its patrons exemplifies her love for the institution, community, and its role in learning.

Miller Library

Tomas is the library's primary cataloger and plays a huge role in developing and maintaining the library's collections, as well as serving patrons on the Reference Desk. His interests include emerging technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence.  He is a member of the WNMU Academic Symposium committee. B.A., English, WNMU 2022 Masters in Library Science, Texas Woman's University, in progress

Miller Library

Madeleine worked as the Outreach Librarian at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX, before moving to New Mexico in 2024 to work at WNMU. Education:

• MLS, Texas Woman's University 2021
• BA, English, University of Texas-Tyler, 2019

Miller Library

Justine started at WNMU and Miller Library in March 2024. Previously, she was Electronic Resources and Continuing Resources Catalog Librarian at the University of San Francisco for eight years. She also worked at Stanford University Libraries and Sonoma County Library. Justine's previous career in technical writing and instructional design informs her interests in information organization and sense making.

• Education:
• MLIS, 2014, San Jose State University (California)
• B.A. Foreign Languages and Literatures, concentration in Russian; minor in English, 1993, University of Delaware
• Professional Interests:
• Mental models to conceptualize areas of knowledge and domain-specific ontologies
• Aligning search and retrieval systems with mental models
• Critical cataloging