Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation is about supporting our community

Literature and the arts flourished during the Renaissance due in large part to the tireless support of an enlightened patronage. Today, the Carlsbad City Library continues to grow with the same enthusiastic involvement of those who wish to create and preserve a lasting legacy of learning for future generations.

The Carlsbad City Libraries, the Dove and the Cole, both recently remodeled and the Learning Center are a community treasure. From the extensive collection of nearly 250,000 volumes to a wide range of online data services, from an imaginative gallery of art to a state-of-the-art auditorium, the Library has amassed a wealth of cultural resources from a long tradition of civic pride and responsibility.

Continuing in this tradition, the Carlsbad Library Foundation was created to stimulate the enlightened patronage of our time in providing for the future growth and development of the Library as it anticipates and responds to the ever-changing needs of our growing and diverse community.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Gita K. Nassiri, JD, MBT, CPA
‍Gita K. Nassiri, Esq., MBT, CPA, is the current President of the Board of Trustees for the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation and a devoted supporter of the Carlsbad’s libraries and cultural arts. As a parent, she enjoyed bringing her children to the libraries, and has personally experienced how the libraries create welcoming spaces filled with learning, creativity, and connection. Gita is the managing attorney of Capital Legacy Law, Inc., an estate planning and probate firm recently voted Best Estate Planning LawFirm by the Coast News’ Best of North County, and brings over 33 years of experience as both an attorney and CPA. She is deeply inspired by the Carlsbad libraries’ role as vibrant community gathering places—where the arts thrive and there is truly something for every age—and is proud to support and serve an institution that means so much to the local residents, including her family.

John Lucas
‍I have been a resident of Carlsbad since 2009. I moved from the Los Angeles area to North County to be close to my children and grandchildren. I spent over 55 years in the mortgage banking industry but am now semi-retired. I joined the CLAF Board of Trustees in 2014 after meeting with Heather Pizzuto and touring the Dove Library. I was so impressed with all of the services that the library provided that I wanted to help in some way. The Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation manages major endowments and other contributions which enables it to support the Carlsbad Libraries and Learning Center financially on an annual basis.
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Frank Ruscetti
‍I was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the winter of 1943. During my childhood, my prized possessions were my library an gym cards. From 1964-68 I treated the war wounded as a medic and did hematologic research on astronauts after space travel. In 1972 after earning my doctorate in microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh, the rest of my career was spent at the National Cancer Institute going from post-doc to Laboratory Chief. I was fortunate in co-authoring seminal discoveries in human hematology, immunology, oncology and retrovirology. Since retirement, I have been volunteering on the Carlsbad Library and Cultural Arts Foundation.
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Christinna Hall
‍Christinna Hall is a life long patron of the arts and has been a part of the Carlsbad community since 1979.  For almost 30 years, she taught for Carlsbad Unified School District, where she established award winning choral music programs. Chris formed Sound Express at Carlsbad High School and Show Stoppers at Valley Middle School. Her groups competed on state and national stages.  As a mentor, she shared her passion for arts by providing opportunities for her students to see theater productions, Broadway musicals and some of the best museums in the country.  Chris will state her biggest achievement is the memories for her students grown through these experiences that have been carried forward to new generations of art patrons. Her career as an educator brought opportunities for grant writing, leadership, public relations and more.  Chris holds a Masters degree in Education Administration.  She served as president of San Diego County Music Educators Association and was a member of the State Board of CMEA.  She enjoys being part of the Library Foundation Board. As a mother and avid reader, Chris understands the tremendous influence books can have on young readers.  She appreciates the opportunity to continue to work for the community to bring access and programs that enrich the lives of our youth and their families.

Michael P. Hall
‍I’m a native San Diego resident and lived in Carlsbad for 31 years. My background and education is in Finance and Business with a degree from San Diego State University. I feel strongly in volunteering in the community, a role, which has always been important to me. In the past I’ve been involved in the Poway Incorporation Committee, Carlsbad Citizen Academy, San Diego County Water Citizens Academy, San Diego County Grand Jury, on the San Diego County Parole Board, Rotary Club, and others. I’m honored to be a part of the Foundation Board in their dedicated work for the Carlsbad Library.
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Joanna Murphy
‍I was born and raised in Alhambra, Ca., a suburb of Los Angeles. I attended a Catholic school, Ramona Convent, where I started learning French in the first grade. That opened up a whole new world for me which led to an interest in other cultures. I majored in French, Spanish, Philosophy, and Theology  in college and received my Masters in French from Claremont Graduate School. I began teaching French, Spanish and English as a Second Language to students from Montessori School age to university students. I taught in California, Taiwan and Argentina and have traveled widely in North and South America, Europe and Asia. I have also loved libraries since a youngster and am so appreciative of the Carlsbad Libraries which offer so many cultural activities free: movies, concerts, lectures, the art gallery etc.The librarians are a wealth of information which they provide professionally and courteously. I am very grateful to be a member of CLAF.
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Jennifer Paterson
When Jennifer Paterson started music lessons at the age of 6 she had no idea that the most interesting, inspiring and joyful people and experiences she would have in her life would be through those connections she has made through music. Jennifer feels fortunate to have degrees from The Royal Conservatory of Toronto, a Masters of Music from Boston University, and the University of British Columbia. She was the recipient of the Canada Council Award to study at the Royal Opera house in London (Covent Garden) and was the principal Soprano for the New England Chamber Opera. She has thrilled audiences with her exceptional performances of classical and popular music throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and has released several recordings. Jennifer has performed in almost every genre of music.  Her leading roles include Maria in West Side Story and Carrie in Carousel among many others. She originated the role of Phoebe in the world premiere of Le Devin du Village by Rousseau with the Boston Early Music group, The Friends of Doctor Burney. Jennifer is one of the most distinguished teachers in the San Diego area. Jennifer was the founder and CEO of California Music Studios from 1992 to 2017, the largest music teaching service in California, with over 2000 students and 350 teachers.

Jan Rodriguez
‍Jan Rodriguez is an avid consumer and promoter of literature and the arts. During her childhood, her family moved frequently and she accumulated a large, cherished collection of library materials, books, and art from around the Southwest and coastal California. After a fulfilling career asa social worker and a secondary school teacher of English, ESL, history and art, Jan retired as a Los Angeles Unified School District administrator and relocated to Carlsbad in 2009. Her children and grandchildren followed her lead and also relocated to Carlsbad, where they have thrived. Jan is honored to be serving on the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation to preserve and protect our cultural resources for future generations.
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Stan Schatt
Stan has served in senior management positions for several of the world’s leading market research companies. He also was an award-winning professor at several universities including a Fulbright Professorship toTokyo University. He also is the author of fifty books on a wide range of subjects. His latest books cover artificial intelligence’s impact on jobs and the latest research on the keys to a longer, healthier life. Stan has served as a member of the City of Carlsbad’sBoard of Trustees. He and his wife Jane are long-time residents of Carlsbad who never moved because they also wanted to be walking distance from the Dove Library.
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Thank you so much for your support!