Coleen Salley - President
Ms. Salley was a Professor for over 30 years at the University of New Orleans and is now retired as Distinguished Professor of Children's Literature. Ms. Salley has toured the world, spreading her joie de vivre as an envoy of reading and the oral tradition. She has performed as a storyteller at hundreds of schools, libraries and festivals including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. She has appeared as a speaker at numerous conferences and conducted in-service workshops for teachers, librarians and, sometimes, parents. At the young age of 73, Ms. Salley published her first children's book, "Who's That Tripping Over My Bridge" (illustrated by Amy Dixon, Pelican Publishing) and has 2 more titles to her credit "Epossumondas" and "Why Epossumondas Has No Hair On His Tail" (both illustrated by Janet Stevens, Harcourt Publishing).

Susan Gibson - Secretary
For over 20 years, Susan worked as a computer scientist for Planning Systems, Incorporated, and as a Technology Consultant for Accenture.
She is now a Project Manager for ThoughtWorks, Inc., a company specializing in custom software development and delivery for a wide variety of industries around the globe. She attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. She has since earned a Master's degree in Applied Physics from the University of New Orleans.

Julie Hunt- Treasurer
Julie Hunt is a New Orleans resident, currently self-employed as a Contract Paralegal with over 25 years of legal experience. A summa cum laude graduate of UNO with a themed degree in Legal/Medical Issues and minor in Paralegal Studies, Julie also has several hours of study in Library Science and volunteer hours at the Williams Research Center of the New Orleans Historic Collection. Julie recently accepted a job with the Louisiana Supreme Court as a paralegal.

Genevieve Athens
Genevieve Athens is the daughter of Coleen Salley. In 1992, Genevieve became Mrs. Salley's booking agent. Genevieve's background is PR and Marketing which helped her engage Mrs. Salley into professional speaking engagements, in-service workshops and storytelling performances throughout the country. A long time advocate for women and children, Genevieve has performed volunteer work in San Francisco at a battered women's shelter, a Salvation Army shelter for homeless families and was a mentor for a high-risk teenage girl. Genevieve resides with her husband and two children in Portland, Oregon and is currently the President of the Autism Society of Oregon.

Pat Austin
A twenty-year veteran of the elementary classroom, Patricia Austin is currently Professor of Children's Literature at the University of New Orleans. She has written more than thirty articles for educational journals, edited the Journal of Children's Literature, and published a children's book, "The Cat Who Loved Mozart" (illustrated by Henri Sorenson).

Freddi Evans
Freddi is a native of Madison, Mississippi. She received a dual undergraduate degree in piano performance and psychology from Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS and a Masters Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA. As an artist, therapist, educator and administrator, she has worked with children of all ages and exceptionalities in various public and private settings for over 25 years. She presently resides in New Orleans and works as an artist facilitator of the Jefferson Parish Public School System.

Freddi has written a children's book "A Bus of Our Own" (illustrated by Shawn Costello, Albert Whitman & Co.) . Her second book for children "The Battle of New Orleans:the Drummers Story" (illustrated by Emile Henriquez , Pelican Publishing), and her first nonfiction book "Come Sunday New Orleans Congo Square", will both be available in fall 2005.

Meb Norton
Meb Norton is Director of Libraries at Metairie Park Country Day School. She is also an adjunct instructor at the University of New Orleans. She has served on several national book award committees, including the Caldecott Committee and the Pura Belpre Award Committee. Meb is active in the American Association of School Libraries, having served on the board and as a member of the Nation Guidelines Committee.