Meet Our 2023 Advisory Board
The Cherry Lake Publishing Group Advisory Committee is made up of a group of individuals who have different experiences and perspectives. They are committed to our mission of inclusion. Their different views will further aid Cherry Lake Publishing Group to publish books for every child that are authentic, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse society we live in.
Heather Bruegl
Heather Bruegl is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and first-line descendent Stockbridge Munsee. She is a graduate of Madonna University in Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in U.S. History. Her research comprises numerous topics related to American history, legacies of colonization, and Indigeneity, including the Dakota War of 1862, the history of American Boarding Schools, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (#MMIW). Heather has presented her work at academic institutions including the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the College of the Menominee Nation, as well as at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for Indigenous Peoples Day 2017. Heather is the former Director of Education of Forge Project, a decolonial art and education initiative on the unceded homelands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok in Upstate New York, where she organized public programming and events and led the Forge Project Fellowship program. Now, Heather is a public historian, activist, and independent consultant who works with institutions and organizations for Indigenous sovereignty and collective liberation.
Christine Quince, PhD
Christine Quince, PhD is a proud Detroiter, researcher, consultant, teacher educator and three-time University of Michigan alumna. In her work, Dr. Quince centers Black elementary students’ strengths – or “cultural capital,'' as wealthy examples that educators can learn from in order to improve their teaching practice and the success of Black students. Currently Dr. Quince consults K-12 educators using her dissertation research as a guide. In her dissertation study, Dr. Quince centers student-voice and their perspectives by having Black elementary students document aspects of their home life using photographs and then discussing with students whether and how their home life is embedded in their classroom learning. In the end, Dr. Quince’s research is aimed towards helping educators critique their practice and shift towards an asset-orientation of Black elementary students.
Nick Rapson
Nick Rapson is a graduate of Wayne State's Master of Library and Information Services program, 2020, and has been working as the Library Director for Churchill High School in the Livonia Public School District since the 2021 academic school year. He worked as a teen librarian in public libraries before transitioning into education and enjoys the challenges each new day brings working with teens. He is a fervent supporter of increasing Own Voices material in library collections and creating safe, nurturing spaces for readers to explore, learn, and grow in. With experience in diversifying library collections at the public and school level and successfully challenging reluctant readers to find stories they love, he is excited to partner with Cherry Lake Publishing Group in their efforts to provide diverse and exciting literature to young learners.
Neha Thakkar
Neha Thakkar studied elementary education, then collected two master’s degrees: one in library and information sciences and the other in educational administration. She strives to share the importance of research, reading, and technology for students and staff, and best practices on teaching these tools. Her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Social-Emotional Learning aspires to bridge the gap between literacy and the whole child, giving students experiences that value their backgrounds and needs.
Jeri Kay Thomas
Jeri Kay Thomas earned her Master’s in Education from Wayne State University and spent thirty years as a classroom teacher, igniting a love of reading in the youngest learners. Now, she is the owner and founder of 2 Dandelions Bookshop in Brighton, Michigan, along with her long-time friend Jeanne Blazo. What began as a dream on the wind, took root and grew into a place where joy and curiosity flourish. Thomas is dedicated to building connections throughout her community through a shared love of reading, saying “I truly believe books bring people together.” She is a member of the Brighton Arts and Culture Commission and collaborates with her county’s National Literacy Program, Talking is Teaching, and Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program.
2022 Advisory Board
Opetoritse "Ritse" Adefolalu
Opetoritse "Ritse" Adefolalu is the Children's Librarian at the Lower Mills Branch of the Boston Public Library. He previously worked in children's, teen, and adult services at the Inglewood Public Library, and received his Master's in Library and Information Science from the iSchool of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in youth services and K-12 librarianship. Ritse believes that literacy in its many forms (reading and writing, digital, financial, etc.) is the most universal path to self-determination, and that the journey down that path should begin as early in life as possible. "As adults, it can be easy to think of children's literature as reading exercise at best and empty diversion at worst. But I guarantee you, some of the most moving, impactful, and beautiful writing you can find is waiting between the covers of a picture book."
Kathy Burnette
Kathy Burnette was a school librarian for over 16 years before she decided to open her own bookstore in South Bend, Indiana. Her store, Brain Lair Books, focuses on selling high-quality titles for children and young adults that foster inclusivity, empathy, and community. “I’ve also been looking at a lot of what We Need Diverse Books is doing, as well as this nonprofit that’s looking to publish new indigenous voices,” she said. “I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and most of the books we had in school did not represent who we were. I was lucky I could still find role models, but I think because we are so isolated today, kids need to see themselves in books so that they can have something to aspire to.”
Hedreich Nichols
Hedreich Nichols is a curriculum designer and Middle Years program district tech lead. She is also an equity advocate and consultant who helps teachers amplify the voices of all students. Hedreich also has a vlog on YouTube, Small Bites, that focuses on "equity strategies for busy people." Prior to being an educator, she was a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Hedreich received her Master of Education at Texas A&M University.
Bryan Overholt
Bryan Overholt has been a librarian for ten years, and is currently the Children's and Teen Librarian at Bexley Public Library, where he does a little bit of everything, from leading Rhyme Time, to supervising volunteens, to co-hosting bar trivia, and much, much, more! When he's not at the library, he's playing drums in the bands We Are the Movies and Thief Club, playing hockey, listening to music, playing video games, or watching TV and movies. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Elaine, dog Penny, and cats Sally and Kevin.
Kelly Sotsky
Kelly Sotsky earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology and deaf studies at College of the Holy Cross and was a goalkeeper for the field hockey team. She later received a Master of Education in deaf education at Boston University. She has been working at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA for seven years and has worked in a variety of classrooms from middle school to high school. She currently coaches a middle school’s math competition team, as well as the softball team. She also coaches field hockey at a local high school and several travel clubs and clinics. She loves her partner and their two puppies. (One puppy is deaf and the other only has one eye!)
Neha Thakkar
Neha Thakkar studied elementary education, then collected two master’s degrees: one in library and information sciences and the other in educational administration. She strives to share the importance of research, reading, and technology for students and staff, and best practices on teaching these tools. Her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Social-Emotional Learning aspires to bridge the gap between literacy and the whole child, giving students experiences that value their backgrounds and needs.
2021 Advisory Board
Kathy Burnette
Kathy Burnette was a school librarian for over 16 years before she decided to open her own bookstore in South Bend, Indiana. Her store, Brain Lair Books, focuses on selling high-quality titles for children and young adults that foster inclusivity, empathy, and community. “I’ve also been looking at a lot of what We Need Diverse Books is doing, as well as this nonprofit that’s looking to publish new indigenous voices,” she said. “I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and most of the books we had in school did not represent who we were. I was lucky I could still find role models, but I think because we are so isolated today, kids need to see themselves in books so that they can have something to aspire to.”
Shameka Coleman
Shameka Coleman is an Assistant Principal of an elementary school in Massachusetts. Prior to becoming an Assistant Principal, she was an elementary school teacher for six years and received her Master of Education. She is also the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying the volunteering field.
Alex Fernández
Alex Fernández has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Theatre from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. His law degree is from Georgetown University Law Center. He has practiced law for close to 30 years. In addition, he has taught law locally at colleges and universities and enjoys substitute teaching in PK-12. His theatre credits range from Stage Managing at the Kennedy Center to directing local and professional theatre productions. You can find his writings in publications that include Red Tricycle and Fatherly. He is Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Mr. Alex’s Bookshelf, a website dedicated to reviewing children's literature and promoting healthy parenting habits.
Crystal Hernandez-Drillen
After earning her BA in English from TAMUCC, Crystal Hernandez-Drillen earned a graduate degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas. She has been a librarian for 6 years with Nueces County Public Libraries. She is also part of the planning committee with Teen Bookfest By the Bay which was created 4 years ago in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her hobbies include spending time with family, traveling, playing the piano and reading. She enjoys reading almost any kind of genre and category from adult, nonfiction, young adult, and kids’ books.
Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan
Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan is an author, university faculty member, and former K-8 teacher. She’s currently the Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Center at San Diego State University. She writes books about things that geek her out. She especially likes to write about her Chinese-American heritage. After all, she was born on Flag Day in the Year of the Dragon. She’s also interested in writing fun facts about monsters, weird bodily noises, urban legends, hot dogs, and anything on the odd side. She lives in northern San Diego with two non-trained naughty dogs and one semi-well-trained husband.
Hedreich Nichols
Hedreich Nichols is a curriculum designer and Middle Years program district tech lead. She is also an equity advocate and consultant who helps teachers amplify the voices of all students. Hedreich also has a vlog on YouTube, Small Bites, that focuses on "equity strategies for busy people." Prior to being an educator, she was a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Hedreich received her Master of Education at Texas A&M University.
Bryan Overholt
Bryan Overholt has been a librarian for ten years, and is currently the Children's and Teen Librarian at Bexley Public Library, where he does a little bit of everything, from leading Rhyme Time, to supervising volunteens, to co-hosting bar trivia, and much, much, more! When he's not at the library, he's playing drums in the bands We Are the Movies and Thief Club, playing hockey, listening to music, playing video games, or watching TV and movies. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Elaine, dog Penny, and cats Sally and Kevin.