Kate Hagan Named AALL’s New Executive Director

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kate T. Hagan as AALL’s new executive director, effective June 18, 2007.

Ms. Hagan has a strong background in legal association management and a combination of attributes that will be great match for the work of the Association. The Executive Board and the Headquarters staff are pleased with the energy and enthusiasm she brings to AALL as we move forward, following our Strategic Directions.

Hagan has more than 20 years of experience in association work, primarily with legal associations. Her previous positions include director of the American Bar Association’s Section of Family Law from 2003 to 2005 and 15 years with the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA), serving as its assistant executive director from 1995 to 2000. Since 2005 she has been director of fund development for the Radiological Society of North America.

She has a depth of experience in strategic planning, financial management, education program development, and member services. Her background includes developing information services for the legal profession. While working for OSBA, she served as editor for the OSBA Report. In addition, she worked to develop Casemaker, an online law library for members, which is now available in more than 25 states. She also provided oversight for the development of an OSBA for-profit subsidiary, OPEN, which provides online access to government and public records.

"I am excited to be taking on this new challenge," she says. "I look forward to working with the Executive Board, staff, and members as AALL begins its second century of service to the law library community."

Steve Ligda, interim executive director, will assist in the management transition through July 2007. Hagan will be introduced to the AALL membership at the AALL 100th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, July 14-17, in New Orleans.

The search was conducted with the assistance of Tuft and Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based executive search firm. The AALL Executive Director Search Special Committee interviewed the finalists on April 16-17 in Chicago. The finalists also toured AALL Headquarters and met with the staff.

The AALL Executive Board is grateful to Susan Siebers, chair of the search committee, as well as all members of the committee for the excellent work and for completing the search in a timely and efficient manner. The board also thanks AALL staff for providing thoughtful input during the process. Members of the search committee were James Duggan, Ann Fessenden, Christine Graesser, Catherine Lemann, Gail Warren, myself, and ex-officio members Steve Ligda and Pam Reisinger.

Sincerely,

Sarah (Sally) Holterhoff
AALL President
Government Information/Reference Librarian
Valparaiso University School of Law Library
Wesemann Hall
656 S. Greenwich St.
Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493
Tel: (219) 465-7866
Fax: (219) 465-7917
Email: sally.holterhoff@valpo.edu

AALL:  Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906.