Newsletter Edition: Spring 2026
Contributed by Gina Flores
The University Library is guided by core values of curiosity, learning, service, and inclusive excellence. Our deep commitment to student growth and opportunity is reflected in the Library’s internships and fellowships, which provide hands-on learning, meaningful professional development, and a space for passion to thrive.
We introduce you to this year’s interns and fellows, who embody the Library’s vision in action: a pioneering fellow advancing original archival research; an emerging librarian exploring the evolution of rare texts and information; a dedicated alum building expertise in research, instruction, and community engagement; and a graduate student whose passion for music and preservation drew him to CSUN’s renowned collections.
Together, their achievements showcase the transformative power of Library-supported experiences—and illuminate a bright future for all who seek to explore, question, preserve, and innovate.
Alexandra “Alex” Winnik
Alex is the inaugural winner of the Gardner Research Fellowship in Special Collections and Archives. She is a CSUN student who is double majoring in Gender and Women's Studies and Jewish Studies, and minoring in Human Sexuality. Her research project focuses on women pedophiles, and she drew heavily on rare and primary sources in the Vern and Bonnie Bullough Collection on Sex and Gender that provide first-person perspectives critical to the feminist dimensions of her research. Alex shared, “Using the archives has been one of the most fun things I have done during my time at CSUN. Being able to look back into history and how it is reflected on today’s society is really exciting.”
Cheryl Acuna
Cheryl accepted the CSUN Librarians Legacy Internship in Collections Access and Management Services. She is a 2021 graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has previously worked or interned at the Chinatown Branch of Los Angeles Public Library, the Japanese American National Museum, the and Field Museum. Cheryl is a second-year MLIS student at UCLA, where her research and course work focuses on rare books, early Christian and Gnostic texts, and the history of information transmission and evolution through digitization. Cheryl began her internship in Special Collections & Archives in January 2026. She shared, “I’ve found that I’m drawn to the environment of a university archive—the quiet, methodical pace of the work, the focused independence of the backroom setting and the collaboration within a small team has influenced my interest in pursuing similar archival work moving forward after graduation.”
Kate Ridgewell
Kate accepted the Ecklund Internship in Research, Instruction, and Outreach Services. She is a 2023 CSUN graduate (English Honors). Kate worked as a tutor in the Learning Resource Center in the University Library, was a student scholar in the Office of Community Engagement, and served as research assistant in Special Collections and Archives for English. Kate is a second-year MLIS student at UCLA, and is currently a Reference by Mail intern for SFPL’s Jail and Reentry Services Department, as well as a library research assistant at UCLA’s YRL Library.
Alexander “Alex” Turney
Alex was selected as the 2025-2026 Ronald C. & Elizabeth-ann Purcell International Guitar Research Archives (IGRA) Fellow. Alex earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Boston College, and is now pursuing his Masters at CSUN in Music/Guitar Performance. While researching graduate programs, CSUN caught Alex’s attention because of the IGRA. His experience with digitizing, archiving, and preserving documents were the perfect fit for this role in Special Collections and Archives.
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