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Donor Profiles

Meet a diverse group of alumni and others and learn why they have chosen to donate to GSLIS.

The Houstons

Rebecca Graham

Cliff Haka

The Houstons: Investing in the Future of GSLIS

University of Illinois alumni Dr. Chester and Nadine Houston are both educators and lifelong learners that want to ensure that future generations of UIUC students receive the same quality education they did. The Houstons are extremely proud of the education they received at UIUC, each receiving multiple degrees. Dr. Houston earned a bachelor of science in letters, and a master's and Ph.D. in bacteriology. Nadine Houston earned a bachelor's degree in library science and a master's degree in microbiology.

The Houstons made a gift commitment of $1.1 million for fellowships and faculty support. GSLIS and the University Library will each receive 10% of this generous gift. The remainder will be given to the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. The Houstons have been active supporters of GSLIS for many years, including a gift of $465,000, some of which provided endowed funding for the school.

"We are grateful to be able to contribute in some small way to the continuing growth and stature of the University. We trust that our contribution will help present and future students say 'I am a proud and loyal alum,'" says Dr. Houston.

Rebecca Graham

Rebecca Graham practically grew up in the library. As a child, Rebecca frequented the bookmobile that would visit local schools, and when she became old enough to drive, Rebecca often turned her wheels in the direction of the county library. Rebecca grew up in the Kansas City area and remained planted there for almost 30 years.

Like many GSLIS students, Rebecca was unsure of what career path she wanted to choose. After bouncing around majors for a year and a half, Rebecca decided to put career plans on the shelf for a while. She uncovered an itch to travel, and became interested in the Air Force. "Enlisting in the USAF was a good experience for a woman from the Midwest," Rebecca claims. Rebecca ended up serving most of her enlistment in Germany working in a job that took her to a number of European countries.

After returning, Rebecca began a two-year program in data processing. With this experience behind her, Rebecca landed her first library systems job at the same public library that housed the books she thumbed through as a child. Rebecca worked hard for the Johnson County Public Library for almost nine years.

Believing that Rebecca had a great deal to offer a graduate school, her co-workers encouraged Rebecca to pursue a LIS program. "I narrowed my search to three library schools, and I have to say, after visits to each, I found Curt McKay to be the deciding factor—he was a great listener and an excellent resource for both personal and educational needs." Having a solid working-background in library science, Rebecca uncovered the theoretical backbone of what she'd been working at for nine years.

After finishing her education at the University of Illinois, Rebecca took a position at the Digital Library Federation (DLF) in Washington DC. DLF was a relatively new group of academic research libraries and organizations interested in exploring the new arena of digital libraries. Rebecca recalls that her experience "was an amazing introduction to a range of topics and expansion of issues I had only just been exposed to in library school—access, preservation, archives, and much, much more." Though she describes her experience as "challenging," her background prepared her well for her current position as Associate Director of Library Operations for the Countway Library of Medicine at Harvard University.

Rebecca is responsible for access and technical services, including collections and preservation. "Having spent all of my career working in systems and digital libraries, this position presents me with the opportunity to apply the knowledge I've gained of the operations of these areas combined with my own experience of thinking about the changing nature of library business, services, and users."

Right now, Rebecca is focused on managing her new position. However, she finds lots of time for her twin sons, Noah and Gabriel. "Being a parent is absolutely the best life experience in ways expected and unexpected." In addition to juggling family and work, Rebecca hopes to find time for kayaking lessons. Already an avid snorkeler, she hopes that both will present intriguing travel opportunities.

Cliff Haka

Cliff Haka graduated from Western Illinois University with every intention of teaching high school history. However, things didn't quite work out as this Chicago native had planned. "I'd still like to teach," Cliff admits, "but maybe that'll be my retirement job." Cliff and his wife, Susan, who also planned to teach, started their careers in Springfield, Illinois. Due to a glut of history teachers, however, Cliff set aside teaching aspirations for a position as a historical research editor for the Illinois State Historical Library. Despite some initial hurtles, Cliff and his wife, who was working for the school district and taking classes in accounting, called Springfield home for five years.

After the excitement of new jobs and a first home had settled, Cliff and Susan decided that they both wanted to return to a university town. Cliff began looking for jobs with historical collections located at a university, but discovered that his potential employers sought someone with a master's degree in library science. Following three years of teaching middle school mathematics, Susan was planning a career change and sought to pursue a master's degree in accounting. This led to both of them enrolling in graduate school at the University of Illinois in the summer of 1976.

Sue and Cliff moved to Urbana, IL two days after the birth of their daughter, Abigail (named after Abigail Adams). Cliff recounts how Susan took classes in the morning, and he took classes in the afternoon. "There was a bus stop in front of the house," Cliff recounts. "She'd come home from classes, I'd hand her Abi and I'd get on the bus to go to my classes."

After graduation, Cliff and Susan traded the Illini for the Jayhawks. Cliff found a position as Circulation and Support Services Librarian for the University of Kansas Libraries. Susan passed her CPA exams, and began pursuing her PhD in business and accounting. Cliff decided that his career options would be enhanced with additional education and elected to pursue an MBA while at Kansas.

Cliff and Susan received a dual job offer from Michigan State University. Susan became a professor of accounting, and Cliff started as an information librarian, and after holding several other positions, was appointed Director of Libraries for MSU in 1997. Cliff feels that his MBA has really come to his advantage. "Everyone that works in a library can offer you a librarian's perspective," Cliff states. "I've had the ability to switch hats and look at it from a another perspective, the business perspective, which has proven useful on many occasions."

In addition to his responsibilities at MSU, Cliff serves on the executive board for the Center of Research Libraries and the Board of Directors for the Library of Michigan. Within the MSU Libraries Cliff has worked to enhance and endow the Turfgrass Information Center, the leading index for turfgrass students, researchers and practitioners.