We’ve got our eye on these long-time leaders of our Associate Board.
Not only are they making a name for themselves within their industry, they are also deeply committed to free and accessible life-long learning resources at Chicago Public Library. Meet Becky Whitehurst, Marc Levy, and Erin Bodendorfer, three members whose contributions over the years have helped our library remain a world-class institution in our city.
Becky Whitehurst
Associate Board Member Since: 2013
Associate Board Committee: Membership
Hometown: Elizabethtown, KY
Occupation: External Affairs at University of Chicago Law School
Currently Reading: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Favorite Book: Hard to answer but a classic I come back to is The Catcher in the Rye
Favorite TV Show or Podcast (or both!): TV Show: Blackish; Podcast(s): Keep it, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Most Rewarding Aspect of the Associate Board: Supporting public libraries, which are cornerstones of communities and provide much needed access to information via all forms of media.
Favorite Library Fact I’ve Learned Over the Years: Chance the Rapper recorded his first mixtape at YouMedia. I love walking by the YouMedia center and seeing it filled with the city’s youth. Libraries aren’t just about books anymore. They provide the public access too the latest technology too.
Marc Levy
Associate Board Member Since: 2012
Associate Board Committee: Development
Hometown: Chicago
Occupation: Digital Analytics Consultant
Currently Reading: These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore
Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye
Favorite TV Show or Podcast (or both!): Ozark on Netflix
Most Rewarding Aspect of the Associate Board: It’s a great feeling when you can persuade folks to support the library, whether it’s friends, colleagues or corporate donors.
Favorite Library Fact I’ve Learned Over the Years: Distinguished historian David McCullough spoke at the Harold Washington Library and noted that if you ever feel down about the country take comfort in the fact that in the United States there are more public libraries than McDonald’s locations.
Erin Bodendorfer
Associate Board Member Since: 2012
Associate Board Committee: Communications Committee
Hometown: Tinley Park, Illinois
Occupation: Family Law Attorney at Katz & Stefani, LLC
Currently Reading: The Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen
Favorite Book: Invisible Man
Favorite TV Show or Podcast (or both!): Sex and the City
Most Rewarding Aspect of the Associate Board: It has been tremendously rewarding having had the opportunity to serve on the Associate Board essentially since its inception. I have loved watching the Board grow and evolve over the last six years. Also, I served as the Communications Committee Chairperson the first year of the Board’s existence. There was no guidebook and we had to figure out everything as we went, which was challenging but also very exciting.
Favorite Library Fact I’ve Learned Over the Years: How many branches of the Chicago Public Library there are! 80!! Also, I very much enjoyed our Associate Board’s recent visit to the Special Collections Department at the Harold Washington Library, which is truly a hidden gem.
To learn more about our Associate Board and Associate Council click here.
