This month’s spotlight award goes to Frances Rose Rouse. Hailing from McKittrick, Missouri, Frances recently returned to the area to be closer to family. Since then she started at MU Libraries in Circulation at the Health Sciences Library where she is a Library Information Assistant.

Frances is a regular Francophile, having obtained a degree in French from Central College in Pella, IA. Her interests have even taken her to the City of Light: Paris, France! Being the coolest place Frances has ever visited, she was excited about being able to stay in the Louvre until 10pm on a Wednesday night. Magnifique!

When asked what person (real or fictional) she would like to have a drink with, Frances opted for a mojito with Ralph Fiennes.

When Frances is not at work, she can be found spending time with her dog Indy and her two cats (Violet and Tiger) and reading a book, watching a movie, or catching the latest English Premier League game.

This month’s MULSA spotlight award winner is Michelle Patrice Baggett! Be sure to congratulate this Columbia, MO native the next time you’re in the Engineering library.

The MUSE Co-Editors recently had a chance to sit down and interview (read: survey via email) our winner for the month of February. Michelle has worked at MU Libraries for seven years, and prior to that, she was a part of Central Methodist College’s final graduating class with a BA in history (fun factoid: Her husband was a part of Central Methodist University’s first graduating class!)

At the Baggett household, one might come across a collection of scrapbooking materials and paper crafts (two of Michelle’s hobbies), and perhaps a photo of the Tower of London (the coolest place Michelle has been to). If you hear a calling out for “Moosho” or “Suzie”, expect the household doggies to be not far behind. Other fun pets that the Baggetts own include: several salt fish and marine life, betta fish, and a bearded dragon named Derek.

In the movie about Michelle’s life, she would like Kathy Bates to portray her. In the movie, Ms. Bates may be sporting purple danskos, Michelle’s favorite pair of shoes. The actress playing Michelle may be working toward one of Michelle’s aspirations, writing books (specifically romance books). The soundtrack will be done by Adele. All excellent choices!

When asked the question “what person would you enjoy having a drink with”, Michelle opted for a kinky liquor (mixture of mango and passion fruit liquor) with Jack the Ripper.

Updated to add this great picture of Rachel Brekhus, MULSA Vice President, presenting the Spotlight Award to Michelle.  Congratulations!

This month’s MULSA Spotlight Award winner is Ann Campion Riley, Associate Director of the Access, Collections, and Technical Services Division at MU Libraries. Originally from Peoria, IL, Ann is now a solid Missourian, and a part of MU Libraries for the past 5 years (as of June this year!)

Ann received an AB in English and her MA LIS from University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and travelled westward to obtain an MA in English at UMSL and doctoral studies at Saint Louis University in English and Comparative Literature. Ann also shared the topic of her dissertation: “Fifteenth Century Conduct and Culture in the Prose Works of Christine de Pizan”. This was all while accruing experience as a reference librarian and teaching Freshman Composition for 16 years.   Not too shabby!

When not working away at MU Libraries, Ann spends her time cooking, watching movies, listening to decent light jazz, travelling and attending the occasional wine tasting. She has two long haired cats that enjoy her company, Hamilton and Guinevere. When asked about the coolest place she’s ever been to, she replied with Skagway, Alaska.

In a movie about Ann’s life, expect to see Jennifer Garner playing the lead role of this librarian. Ms. Garner will likely be sporting a replica pair of Ann’s favorite shoes, a pair of Black Christian Louboutin pumps with 3 inch heels. Mrs. Riley would love to see a feature of her in Cosmopolitan, a favorite magazine. And if she could have a drink with anybody? She’d have a Manhattan with Stanley Fish.

Asked if there’s anything she’d like to share, Ann said the following: She’s been married to her fascinating spouse Dave for over 30 years, whom she has three wonderful grown children with—one who is a lawyer, one who is a biologist, and one software designer/engineer.

Paula Roper is the Spotlight Award Winner for December 2011!

Paula LaJean Roper is a Social Science Librarian in Ellis Reference.  She has worked for the MU Libraries for 26 years.

Paula is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri- St. Louis with a BS in education and history.  She pursued both her graduate degrees here at Mizzou: a master of arts in library science, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.  Paula also counts her life experience as educational background.

In her free time, Paula enjoys reading, television, Scrabble, kakuro (a mathematical crossword puzzle), and playing a type of thumb piano called a kalimba.  She has three dogs, all papillons, and may be accepting applications for a resident cat and perhaps a bird.

Paula counts New Orleans as the coolest place she’s ever visited.

Her response to a question about her favorite snack or candy?  “God, where would it end?  I’ll just go with grapes.”

Of any actor/actress (living or dead) to portray Paula in a movie of her life, Paula would choose Charlton Heston, obviously!  The movie soundtrack would feature Acyuta Gopi, Missa Luba, Mos Def, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, and Krishna Das.

What are her favorite shoes/boots?  “The ones I’m wearing.”

Paula would be surprised and thrilled to be featured in the magazine Playgirl.

If she could have a drink with any real or fictional person, Paula would choose to share a glass of vintage spiced blood with Anthony Bourdain.

In conclusion, she shares the following: Isaiah 5:8.

Congratulations, Paula!

Part two of our November 2011 Spotlight award winners is none other than MU Libraries’ own Head of Access Services, June LaFollette DeWeese!

Born in Trenton, MO, June is a lifelong Tiger. She came here for her undergraduate degree in Political Science and subsequent MLS. She began working for MU Libraries as a student employee and has been here since–for total of 42 years of service!

In her free time, June enjoys reading and attending book clubs, going to concerts, and playing with her two dogs: a chocolate lab and a white lab basset hound mix.

The coolest place June has ever visited is Liberia. If a movie were to be made about June, it would star Helen Mirren, and the Elvis cover “You Never Walk Alone” would be included in the soundtrack. Helen Mirren would also at some point be sporting those coveted gold walking shoes June acquired during a trip to Las Vegas in the 1980s.

Out of any fictional or real person to share a drink with, June would choose Ice tea with her mother.

We have two November 2011 Spotlight Award winners.  The first of the two is Diane Johnson.

Diane is Assistant Director of Information Services and Resources at the Health Sciences Library, and has been with the MU Libraries for 31 years.  She is originally from South Carolina, and graduated with undergraduate degrees in Radio, TV, & Film and Library Science.

Our award winner’s favorite snack is Cadbury Mini Eggs (available at Easter).

Diane enjoys cooking, concerts, travel, and Harolding, which she defines as “visiting cemeteries, a callback to the movie Harold & Maude“.

Russia is the coolest place she’s ever visited.

“I will never forget sitting up in bed at the Hotel Rossiya looking out the window at the Kremlin; overnight train trip to St. Petersburg; hurtling along the Neva embankment in a cab watching the sunset on the Peter & Paul Fortress at 11:30pm – White Nights!”

Diane has a cat named Cindy.

If a movie was made of her life, Diane does not care who would portray her, “but I must look thin in every scene”.

If she could have a drink with a fictional or real person, she would drink absinthe with Trent Reznor.

Does she have a favorite pair of shoes or boots?  “Naturally all my shoes are sensible librarian shoes.”

Diane has just returned from volunteering with Earthwatch at Meerkat Manor in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa this fall, and sent us the above picture to include on Muse.

“I always wondered what I’d look like with a Meerkat on my head, and now I know.”