Catalyst Leadership Development

Catalyst: growing library leadership

Welcome to California’s new library leadership initiative.
Catalyst is a cohort-based 18-month program designed to
equip and support California library workers with
development opportunities that allow them to lead from
anywhere. (Please note that activities beyond the first year are contingent on available funding.)

2023 – 2024 Cohort

  • Joe Ayala, Sonoma County Library
  • Cloud Bell, San Mateo County Libraries
  • Ruby Buentello, Yolo County Library
  • Eric Castro, Carpinteria Community Library
  • Kyla Carroll, Sacramento Public Library
  • Rosa Cesaretti, Pasadena Public Library
  • Danielle Davis, Grossmont College Library
  • Gabriella Dixon, Santa Maria Public Library
  • Glenda Gamboa, Los Angeles County Library
  • Elizabeth (Liz) Garcia, San Mateo County Libraries
  • Dorothy Gruett, San Luis Obispo County
  • Yvette Herrera, Madera County Library
  • Rene Hohls, Fort Bragg Unified School – Districtwide
  • Erik Jones, Santa Ana Public Library
  • Kari Leos, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, Troke Branch Library
  • Isariya Locke, Fresno County Library
  • Heidi Mark, Los Angeles Public Library, Sylmar Branch
  • Andriana Martin, Lodi Public Library
  • Jovanah Martinez-Hoboo, Cutten Elementary School Library 
  • Terezita Overduin, Chaffey College Library
  • Lauren Patterson, Riverside County Law Library
  • Christy Ricky Meister,  San Diego Public Library, Ocean Beach Branch
  • Elsie Rivas, San Diego Public Library
  • Alicia Rodriguez, Los Angeles Public Library
  • Valerie Tohom, Los Angeles Public Library

More information about the Catalyst Cohort Participants is available.

Program Coordinators

  • Maddy Walton-Hadlock
  • Joseph Sanchez

Other Leadership Opportunities

Many people are interested in developing leadership skills and experience for a variety of reasons. If you are not able to participate in the Catalyst cohort this year, or are not selected, CALL continues to support your leadership aspirations. Through Leadership for All, CALL provides opportunities for everyone. Anyone who works in a California library can benefit from these grant-funded webinars, courses, and workshops. All California library workers are invited to visit the CALL events calendar and look for the professional development and leadership learning opportunities under the Leadership for All banner.

You will also find self-paced learning opportunities around leadership in CALL Academy under the Leadership/Management category, and a compiled list of resources.

To improve communication you can choose to receive regular messages focused on only Leadership for All opportunities. Subscribe below to opt in. Note: If you already receive CALL Letters on a weekly basis you can find all leadership opportunities there as well. Just look for this icon.

leadership for all

Subscribe to Leadership For All communications

* indicates required

Information about the previous leadership programs – Developing Leaders in California Libraries and Leadership Challenge – is still available.