SELA Virtual Leadership Conference

Bernadette Johnson

Bernadette Johnson is a reference librarian at the James A. Rogers Library of Francis Marion University in Florence, SC. She is also the Government Information Coordinator. Ms. Johnson has served in this position for 19 years. She is a member of the Southeastern Library Association (SELA) where she served as secretary of the SELA Board and Executive Committee from 2023–2024. Ms. Johnson currently serves as co-chair of the SELA African American Issues Roundtable. Ms. Johnson is also an active member of the South Carolina Library Association (SCLA) where she serves as vice-chair of the Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT). Ms. Johnson has published three professional articles; her most recent article, "The Decline of the Traditional Reference Desk: How Library Reference at Francis Marion University is Adjusting to the Shifting Trend Compared to Other Academic Libraries," was published in The Southeastern Librarian journal.

John Siegel

John Siegel is Associate Librarian at the University of South Carolina (USC) Upstate. In addition to coordinating library instructional services, he serves as the nursing and the health sciences librarian. John is involved in a variety of service and leadership activities, including co-chair of the SELA Library Instruction Round Table and chair of the USC Upstate Spartans Mental Health Working Group. His professional interests include trauma-informed librarianship, student belonging and wellness, service to diverse populations, and instructional design. John holds a Master of Library Science (MLS) from the University of Maryland and Master of Education (MEd) in adult and professional learning from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Philip Shackelford

Philip Shackelford is the Executive Director and CEO of the Lee-Itawamba Library System. He previously served as Library Director at South Arkansas College, as well as President of the Arkansas Library Association and Associate Editor of the Arkansas Libraries journal. He is currently President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Tupelo and serves as an Ambassador with the Community Development Foundation-Tupelo Chamber of Commerce. He is also a military historian, and his book Rise of the Mavericks: The U.S. Air Force Security Service and the Cold War, was released by Naval Institute Press in 2023.

Krishanda Harrison Sanders

Krishanda Harrison Sanders has served as Director of the East Carroll Parish Library for twelve years, leading with vision and dedication in one of Louisiana's most rural communities. Under her leadership, the library has expanded services, modernized operations, and strengthened its role as a vital resource hub for residents of East Carroll Parish. Her commitment to equity and community-centered service has transformed the library into a trusted cornerstone for education, outreach, and lifelong learning.

She was honored with the 2026 Louisiana Library Association Meritorious Service Award, recognizing her lasting impact on the profession. Her accolades also include the LLA's Ollie H. Burns Scholarship (2017) and the Louisiana State Bar Association's Friend of Pro Bono Award (2023). Krishanda holds degrees from Grambling State University and Louisiana State University and earned her Louisiana Librarian Certification in 2019.