Professional Service
Selected Leadership
Executive Director
As the APALA Executive Director, Lessa is responsible for ensuring the day to day operations of the association are completed and the Executive Board is supported. She was appointed to this 3-year term by APALA President Paolo Gujilde in 2019.
President
As 2016-2017 APALA President, Lessa began APALA’s first webinar series and membership increased by over 10% during her presidency. As part of her role as president, Lessa served on the APALA Executive Board as President Elect 2015-2016 and Immediate Past President 2017-2018.
Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) Steering Committee
From 2015-2018, Lessa represented APALA as a Steering Committee member for the 2018 3rd Joint Conference of Librarians of Color which was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Additional Leadership Roles
(full list of committee work available upon request)
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
Executive Director, 2019-2022
President, 2016-2017
Co-Chair, Strategic Planning Task Force, 2015-2016
Co-Chair, Finance & Fundraising Committee, 2014-2015
Chair, Family Literacy Focus Committee, 2010-2015
Chair, Young Adult Literature Award Committee, 2014
Executive Board Secretary, 2011-2013
Executive Board Member at Large, 2010-2011
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
Board Member, 2012 - Present
Contributor, CSMCL Best Books List, 2013 - Present
Joint Conference of Librarians of Color
Steering Committee Member, 2015-2018
Co-Chair, Fundraising Committee, 2015-2018
Co-Chair, Program Committee, 2015-2018