Roberto Vargas
Roberto is the Head of Research and Instruction and Humanities Librarian. He is also working toward a Masters' degree in Philosophy at the European Graduate School, and is slowly trying to introduce inefficiency, slowness, and exnovation in his life. His favorite part of the day is biking to campus as the sun rises.
What are you reading these days?
Julia Stern, '26
Julia (they/she) is a junior from New York City studying History and Environmental Studies. They work as a Library Associate in the Friends Historical Library, and they’re an organizer on campus with Jewish Voice for Peace, SJP, and C4. They love spending most of their time in libraries and bookstores and have strong opinions about books and music. One of their favorite places on earth is the Lesbian Herstory Archives in NYC and they collect lesbian pulp fiction.
What are you reading these days?
Roderick Wolfson
Roderick is an architect and Senior Planner/Project Manager in the College's Facilities Management office, working on the Sustainable Capital Planning and Project Management team. He has been collaborating with the Libraries since 2018 on projects that include the Lib Lab and the Library Master Plan. He is also leading the planning to renovate Martin Hall, which should open in the summer of 2025.
What are you reading these days?
James Lewis, '27
James Lewis (he/they) aspires to complete a double major in PPE (a special major that combines Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics) and Sociology and Anthropology. He is on the boards of the Amos J. Peaslee Debate Society and the Swarthmore Mock Trial organization. Additionally, he is the incoming President of SwatDems. In his free time, he enjoys street dance, puzzles, Taekwondo, and creative writing.
What are you reading these days?
Hannah Breithaupt, '26
Hannah Breithaupt, '26 is studying Sociology & Anthropology and Peace Education. They are a student researcher with BarrioEd Project and the PEPL lab, alongside working and spending countless hours in the libraries on campus. Beyond Swarthmore, Hannah loves their dog, used book shopping, collaging, and Fiona Apple.
What are you reading these days?
Sony Devabhaktuni
Sony joined the Art Program at Swarthmore in the Fall of 2023 after having taught in schools of architecture in Hong Kong, Switzerland, and France. He studied Architecture at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science, and Art and English Literature at Stanford University.
What are you reading these days?
Elsa Toland, '25
Elsa is pursuing a major in History and a minor in Mathematics. She's been passionate about both history and reading since she was small. On campus, she works to support these interests through her work as an archivist assistant for the Peace Collection, an editor for the undergraduate history journal, and the librarian for Psi-Phi's 3000-book science fiction collection. She's also the President of Swarthmore's Swing Dance Club.
What are you reading these days?
Gabriella Nash, '26
Gabby is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Psychology with a double minor in Dance and History. She is passionate about clinical psychology and the implications of intersectionality on mental health and well-being. Gabby is a co-founder and co-president of the Swarthmore Literary Association, a research assistant in the SOAR Lab, and secretary/choreographer in Rhythm N’ Motion.
What are you reading these days?
Olivia Medeiros-Sakimoto '25
Born and raised in Honolulu, Liv (she/her/they) is a junior at Swarthmore, pursuing an individualized special major titled Ethics in Film, Design, and Human-Computer Interaction. She is the president of Swarthmore's Student Government Organization, a University Innovation Fellow with the Stanford d.school, and a UX research intern with the Swarthmore Libraries.
What are you reading these days?
Elaine Allard
Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Director of the Teaching and Learning Commons, Elaine is also an alumna of Swarthmore's class of 2001.
What are you reading these days? Right now I'm finishing up a new book for the course I'm teaching this fall. It's called Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education, and it's a history of immigrant education education in the U.S., written by high school teacher Jessica Lander.
