Michigan Library Advocacy Day 2025 Speakers

Sabrina Baêta
Senior Program Manager
Freedom to Read, PEN America

Sabrina Baêta is a senior program manager with Freedom to Read at PEN America. She engages in research and awareness-building around censorship attacks on public K-12 education, especially as it relates to literature accessibility in libraries and classrooms. Sabrina graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Music in Voice, and then from the University of Central Florida with a Master of Nonprofit Management. She is a poet, essayist, and writer and prior to PEN America, worked in educational publishing and in a variety of performing arts and education nonprofits.

John Clexton
Library Director
Gladwin County District Library

John Clexton serves as Library Director for Gladwin County District Library. After completing his Master of Library & Information Science in 1998 he served as a Children's Librarian first with Ypsilanti Public Library and then with Detroit Public Library. In 2000 he joined his (then) hometown library of Grosse Pointe Public Library as a Branch Coordinator, serving 18 years there, raising his three kids along with his wife and many animals. In 2018 he left for the Caribbean island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands as Territorial Librarian supervisor. His love for up north Michigan called him to Gladwin, where he currently, lives on Wiggins Lake with abundant fishing and outdoor recreation. In addition to the many hats and tasks of a Director, John currently serves on the board of Michigan Library Association and is the Association of Rural and Small Libraries 2025 President, along with numerous national and state library committees.

Bob DeVries
Lobbyist
Governmental Consultant Services Inc.

Before joining Governmental Consultant Services Inc., Bob served for 10 years on House and Senate staffs eventually rising to the position of Chief of Staff to the Senate Majority Leader. During his time in the legislature, Bob managed many difficult legislative issues and became one of Lansing’s leading experts on the legislative process. Bob has his bachelor’s degree in political science from Grand Valley State University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. GCSI was founded in 1983 and has been repeatedly recognized as Lansing’s most effective lobbying firm. The firm employs nine lobbyists from diverse political backgrounds. GCSI has represented the Michigan Library Association since 2007.

Caitlyn Perry Dial
Vice President
Brighton District Library

Caitlyn Perry Dial is Vice President of the Board of Trustees at Brighton District Library and currently serves as the President of the Michigan Museums Association. Prior to her leadership in these organizations, she served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame, where she developed exhibits and educational programming featuring the incredible stories and accomplishments of Michigan women. Caitlyn is also the Director of Development at MSU Libraries. Her diverse background in the museum field includes experience as an educator, curator, collections manager, and fundraiser. Her passion for history and community engagement led her to pursue a PhD in Public History at Western Michigan University. She believes libraries and museums are vital community hubs and is dedicated to ensuring access to information and resources for all.

Dillon Geshel
Director
Superiorland Library Cooperative

Dillon Geshel is the Director of the Superiorland Library Cooperative, where he works with the organization's 35-member public libraries to facilitate resource sharing, professional development opportunities and consulting. He is the President of the Michigan Library Association Board and also serves on the organization's Legislative and Advocacy Committee and their Intellectual Freedom Task Force. Dillon is passionate about the power of library advocacy and coalition building to support the freedom to read.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
State of Michigan

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist has dedicated his career to solving problems. An engineer by training, he uses thoughtful and fact-based practices to solve real problems and make government work better for Michigan families.

As part of the Whitmer Administration, Lt. Governor Gilchrist has focused on helping Michiganders in communities across our state realize their full economic and political potential. From co-chairing the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, to helming the Michigan COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities, to leading efforts to connect over 23,000 unserved locations in Michigan to affordable high-speed internet, Lt. Governor Gilchrist is committed to building a more just, equitable, prosperous, and connected Michigan where everyone can thrive.

Lt. Governor Gilchrist and his wife, Ellen, reside in Detroit where they are raising their twins, Emily and Garlin III, and daughter, Ruby.

Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association

Since June 2019, Debbie has served as the Michigan Library Association’s Executive Director. She places a high priority on any organization or project that creates a sense of place, showcases a community’s authentic heritage, and contributes to the economic prosperity of a region. Libraries are no exception. She is a passionate advocate of arts and culture in the state and on a national basis – having led the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, ArtServe Michigan, Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies, and the League of Historic American Theatres.

Mia Murphy
Chief Policy Officer
Michigan Association of State Universities

Dr. Mia Murphy serves as the Chief Policy Officer of the Michigan Association of State Universities, where she’s served since 2015. She advises on the CEO on strategic direction of the association, partners with state officials, lawmakers, and other organizations on higher education public policy, especially data, finance, and legal issues, and also provides strategic analysis and communications to the member universities and other stakeholders. She also oversees the review process for all new academic programs proposed at the state universities.

Mia was previously with the State Budget Office of Michigan from 2008 – 2015, serving most of that time as the senior analyst for postsecondary education. At SBO, Mia provided coordination and policy development for the state’s community colleges and public universities and served as the primary official preparing the $2.5 billion combined community colleges and higher education budgets.

She provided recommendations to the Governor and State Budget Director on budget issues and potential policy solutions, and testified before the Michigan Legislature on behalf of the administration. She has earned a Ph.D. in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program at Michigan State University, a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from MSU. She and her wife live in Lansing.

Randy Riley
State Librarian
Library of Michigan

Randy Riley was named State Librarian in April 2014. As State Librarian Riley has placed a large focus on developing strategies that will help to increase Michigan libraries’ visibility and prominence in their communities. Riley has been with the Library of Michigan since October 1989 and has been a key member of the team responsible for oversight of the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and promoting its resources to school and public libraries and government agencies statewide. He has helped coordinated outreach to librarians, educators, and state employees to improve access to needed information. In 2010, he was awarded The Filby Award as the leading genealogical librarian in the country by the National Genealogical Society. Riley has worked as a reference librarian, Michigan Collection Selector, Michigan and Genealogy Special Collections Coordinator and Special Collections Supervisor and Michigan eLibrary and Outreach Coordinator at the Library of Michigan.

Jennifer Rupp
President and Chief Executive Officer
Michigan Humanities

Jennifer Rupp is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Humanities, a role she has held since March 2022. With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and capacity building, she is dedicated to fostering connections and inspiring community engagement across Michigan.

Rupp's journey with Michigan Humanities began in 2017, where she served in various capacities, including Director of State and Federal Grants and Chief Impact Officer, before assuming the role of President & CEO. Before joining Michigan Humanities, Rupp was the Executive Director of the Marshall Historical Society in 2007, where she curated museums and managed community events. She later became the Executive Director of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, creating programs centered on youth and incorporating humanities-based programming into concerts.

Rupp holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public History and Secondary Education-History from Western Michigan University. Throughout her career, Rupp has been passionate about creating opportunities through the public humanities that inspire Michiganders to connect and get involved in their communities.