Alison English
Head Librarian
Alison came to VUSC in 1994 as a Cataloging and Reference librarian and became Head Librarian in 1996. She earned a BS in education and an MLS at the University of Alabama, and her PhD in Communication from Regent University. Prior to her employment at VUSC, Alison worked as a corporate librarian for Alabama Power Company and Southern Company Services in Birmingham. When she moved west, she became Director of Communications for a California-based missions organization. On campus, Alison has been involved in drama productions, and she directed the VUSC Spring 1998 production of Arsenic and Old Lace.
Her interests include drama, music theater, reading, walking, Southeastern Conference football, and golfing with VUSC colleagues.
Mel Covetta
Mel began working at VUSC in 1980 and is now Associate Professor/Librarian with primary responsibilities in reference, and supervising all aspects of periodicals–budgeting, maintenance, collating, and storage. A native of Ohio, Mel earned a BS in education at Trevecca Nazarene University and an MLS from Kent State University.
Besides working at VUSC, Mel has been employed as an on-call librarian in the Newport Beach Public Library system since 1982. His interests include gardening, coin collecting, reading, cooking, movies, real estate, and the desert.
Mary Wilson
Mary came to VUSC in 1989. She is Associate Professor/Librarian with responsibilities in cataloging, reference, instruction, and in maintaining the VUSC Library Web Site. She is a native North Dakotan and earned her BA in history, English, and elementary education at Minot State University. In 1983 she completed her MLS coursework at Emporia State University in Kansas. She has also earned a master’s degree in Humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills. At VU she has taught writing classes in the SPS program and is academic advisor for about 20 undeclared students.
Her interests include the Internet, library instruction, adult education, general education, and her four smart and beautiful granddaughters, her outstanding grandson, and their parents. When she’s not in the library, she’s out camping and hiking in the mountains, all the while reading her Kindle.
Pam Crenshaw
Associate Professor and Librarian Pam Crenshaw received her MLIS from San Jose State in August, 2005. She received her BA in Business from SCC in 1992. Pam began her career at SCC in 1975-1979 and returned in 1986. She previously worked in the Business Office, the Provost and President’s office, and Advancement before launching her library career. Because of her long-term association with SCC/VU she was asked to make the Archives her primary responsibility. She received her Certified Archivist certification from The Academy of Certified Archivists in 2009. She is one of only approximately 1,000 Certified Archivists in the United States. She has also completed a two week course with the Western Archives of the Society of California Archivists.
In addition to the Archives, Pam can be found at the reference desk, in the computer lab teaching students how to research, processing course reserves for professors and interlibrary loans for students and professors. She also serves as an academic advisor for undeclared students.
Pam holds membership with the American Library Association, California Academic and Research Libraries, Society for American Archivists, Society of California Archives and The Academy of Certified Archivists.
Elena Nipper
Elena is a Reference and Instruction Librarian, as well as an Assistant Professor. She received her MLIS in December of 2008 from San Jose State University, and graduated from VU with a BA in History and Political Science and an MA in Religion. Her responsibilities include reference, instruction, acquisitions, maintaining the budget, and interlibrary loans, among other things.
Elena holds memberships with Beta Phi Mu (the Library and Information Studies Honor Society), the American Theological Library Association, California Academic and Research Libraries, and the Society of Biblical Literature. Her professional interests include theological librarianship, international collaboration, grant seeking, and library outreach.
As an eternal student of history and theology, she understands the pressures of academic life and therefore keeps a plentiful supply of chocolate on hand to fulfill the immediate needs of stressed out students, staff and faculty alike. In her free time, she enjoys listening to KCRW, reading 18th century Gothic literature, watching European summer cycling races, traveling for mission and pleasure, and laughing.
Jack Morgan
Jack joined us in April 2007 as circulation supervisor. Jack was born in northeast Maine and raised in New Brunswick, Canada. He received a B.A. in Bible from Central Bible College, and an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Jack pastored for 22 years in New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia, and Springfield, MA.
He enjoys fishing, hiking, and camping in the High Sierras, and skiis whenever he can the chance. Currently, one of his main preoccupations is keeping up with his 3 teenagers, Heather, David, and Katie.
Rachel Austring
Rachel joined the library in 2011 as the Library Associate. She is a two-time Vanguard graduate with her B.A. in Communication Studies and her M.A. in Education. She also received her teaching credential from Vanguard and has taught High School English/Language Arts. Her responsibilities include acquisitions, maintaining the budget, and inter-departmental communications, among other library roles.
Rachel also serves as an adjunct professor for the School for Professional Studies, teaching several general education writing courses.
Former Faculty and Staff
Ken Tracy
After serving for twenty years as Head Librarian and two more years as an Associate Librarian, Ken Tracy officially retired in 1995. He is a fourth-generation native Californian, born in San Francisco. After graduating from Central Bible College in Springfield, MO, he served as an Assemblies of God pastor for nearly twenty years. Ken completed a B.A. and an M.A. in education at San Francisco State College and taught in public schools for twelve years, in addition to pastoring. A career change led him to earn an M.A. in Library Science and subsequently he served as a public school librarian for three years before coming to VUSC. In his span of 26 years here, he has seen the VUSC collection grow from under 45,000 volumes to over 120,000 volumes, the number of library personnel increase two-fold, and the introduction of modern technology into the library.
Effie Rivera
Effie retired from the library in 2001 after twelve years of service at VUSC. She has been the Library’s Purchasing Agent. Effie is a native of Oklahoma and grew up in the wheatfields of Kansas. She earned a business degree in accounting at Wichita Business College.
Effie works very actively with people in recovery programs, having been active in 12-Step Recovery programs herself for the past 18 years. She has a vision for rehabilitation and recover facilities for the mentally challenged. Her top priority interest and activity is spending quality, fun time with her 11 grandchildren and her children. She enjoys gardening, walking, writing, and reading. She also works with the Community Oriented Policing Program and various other programs promoting drug-free communities.
Donna Zeigler
Donna Zeigler, former Technical Services Supervisor at O. Cope Budge Library, had been at VUSC for over sixteen years before she retired in 2000. Her responsibilities included InterLibrary Loan, supervision of book processing and catalog editing, and supervision of the library during holidays and summer break in the absence of the librarians. She was also involved in the development of the Pentecostal Collection and the VUSC Archive, both housed in the library.
She and her husband Virgil came to VUSC after pastoring churches in Michigan, in South Dakota on the Lower Brule Reservation, and in Tucson, Arizona, where they spent twenty-two years working in the inner city and with Teen Challenge. Even after retirement, Donna still enjoys involving herself in many VUSC student activities and attends every sporting event possible. Her husband, four children and their families are dear to her heart.
Heather Barrington
In 2006 Heather Barrington left VU for a position as a children’s librarian in the LA County Public Library system. She is an alumna of VUSC, graduating in 1997 with a BA in History/Political Science. She completed master’s degree in Library and Information Science at San Jose State and is an excellent reference librarian. Heather enjoys books, puzzles, chocolate, and the color blue. She refers to her sense of humor as “quirky.” Heather loves the library environment and has been heard on many occasions to utter the phrase “there’s never a dull moment in the library.”
Elizabeth Girard
Elizabeth Girard recently left VU for greener pastures and hotter climates in Phoenix, where her husband is a new teacher. After graduating with a BA in Psychology from VU, she was Circulation Supervisor, with duties mainly in the evenings. Elizabeth is a professional dog trainer, and while working in the library as a student, she trained Billie and Bo, two golden retrievers, as seeing eye dogs.
Markita Roberson
Markita Roberson moved from being our Circulation supervisor to working in the School of Religion as Undergraduate Advisor. Markita has a BA in Religion from VU and is working on her MA in Religion. She often teaches Introduction to the Old Testament.
Travis Goode
Travis Goode was our circulation supervisor for 2006-2007. Travis is a graduate of VU with a BA in Anthropology and Sociology. He is currently working in the Interlibrary Loan Department at USC.
