Meet the BookSpring Staff
Email info@bookspring.org for general inquiries.
Dial (512) 472-1791 to reach us by phone.
Emily Ball Cicchini, PhD
Executive Director, ext. 106
Serving as Executive Director since 2015, Emily is inspired by the vision of sustaining a steady stream of the right books to the right kids at the right time. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit and education sectors, including leadership roles with Austin Creative Alliance, Texans for the Arts, ScriptWorks, VSA Arts of Texas, ZACH Theatre, The University of Texas at Austin, the International Centre for Women Playwrights, One Voice Central Texas and others. She co-founded and is serving as President of the National Book Access Association. An experience fundraiser securing over $24 million cumulatively through public and private donors, she also has spent time as a teacher, writer, and producer in the Edtech field, working on animated high school curriculum, online learning, and open educational resources (OER). Her commitment to making knowledge accessible is guided by a strong interest in social justice and a deep passion for language and stories. She’s also an award winning children’s playwright! As a lifelong learner with a BFA, MFA, and PhD, she loves poetry and enjoys gardening and space-watching with her family. Her favorite children’s book is The Golden Books of Poems for the Very Young by Louis Untermeyer, pictures by Joan Walsh Anglund, and also the Basher Science Series.
Bianca Paz-Cisneros
Director of Development and Public Relations, ext. 104
If you’re wanting to join the Flying Book Society with a recurring gift or become a sponsor of BookSpring Fest, Bianca is your contact! Bianca grew up in Brownsville, Texas, and has a BA in Communication and a minor in writing. After college, she decided to pursue a life of nonprofit work. Having all four of her parents dedicated their lives to educating children, Bianca was instilled in the importance and joy of reading and writing from a very early age. She’s thrilled to be a part of the BookSpring team working to build up literacy in Central Texas. Bianca enjoys gardening, crafting, and spending time with her friends, family, and 6 fur babies in her spare time. Her favorite children’s book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault.
Sarah Hill
Accounting Manager, ext. 100
As the lead bookkeeper, proofreader, and support for fundraising activities and events, Sarah brings her knack for organization to BookSpring by handling the little things that keep the wheels turning. A native Austinite, she grew up surrounded by overstuffed bookshelves and believes every child should have that same opportunity. As a kid, some of her favorite books included Go, Dog, Go!, and Stellaluna. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a passion for precision and a love for literature. When she’s not working at BookSpring, Sarah enjoys editing manuscripts, gardening, and painting.
Ana Krueger
Administrative Assistant, ext. 111
As the administrative assistant, Ana provides the necessary support for the various BookSpring departments and board members! Ana grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and has a fondness for mountains and evergreens. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Marketing and a minor in Creative Writing. Ana is very passionate about the power of stories and the unique impact storytelling has on every reader. Growing up, her favorite book series was The Berenstain Bears! Most of her free time is spent somewhere outdoors, rock climbing, or trail running.
Jimmy Minter
Operations Manager, ext. 107
Filling the need to keep day-to-day operations smooth, Jimmy manages the facilities, things, and all Work Study and Internship programs of BookSpring. Raised in Bastrop, Jimmy attended Bastrop High School and later the University of Texas at Austin. During high school, he wrote music with several bands. This was when he realized and embraced his skill to manage others, resolve conflicts, negotiate, and fulfill a sustainable environment for others to enjoy during their time in a shared mission. After that project dissolved, he went on to manage multiple small businesses. There’s a saying, “never work for free.” Jimmy disagrees, saying one can volunteer in roles to gain experience and knowledge that become priceless later in life. Jimmy still makes music and enjoys the therapeutic experience it gives him.
Jessy Morris
Logistics Manager, ext. 105
No matter if you’re an individual looking for a way to give back or leading a group of volunteers for a team building event, Jessy is the person to reach for helpful activities across all programs and book donation deliveries. Jessy recruits, trains, and oversees all BookSpring volunteers, and also manages our Open Book and BookSpring Days community based partnerships. She helps manage book donation requests and coordinates with our book vendors and partners to connect the books we receive with those who need them. Before joining this staff, Jessy worked as a Literacy Tutor through AmeriCorps, helping students in first and second grade improve their reading skills. Outside of her role at BookSpring, she likes to make new clothes, repurpose secondhand items into unique pieces, play guitar, and practice yoga. Her favorite children’s books are the Madeline series.
Idali Reyes
Partner Manager, ext. 101
In addition to being the partner lead for the Books Beginning at Birth program, Idali plans, coordinates, and delivers programs that build early literacy and cultivate family engagement in reading through community partnership collaborations through Early Books for Me and Family and Parent Book Clubs. Originally from El Paso, she moved to Austin shortly after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in History. Idali was a tour guide with the State Preservation Board and served as a bilingual tutor with Literacy First, helping 2nd, and 3rd-grade students develop their reading skills in Spanish. She was a dedicated BookSpring volunteer before joining the organization as an Early Childhood Coordinator. Idali enjoys cooking, painting, and spending quality time with loved ones and her dog when she’s not in the office. Her favorite books included Heidi and the Bailey School Kids series growing up.
Josiah Guajardo
Family Literacy Program Aide
Josiah is a Family Literacy Program Aide for Bookspring. He was raised in League City, Texas just outside of Houston and moved to Austin to attend St. Edwards University. He is a student-athlete on the Men’s Cross Country and Track team and is majoring in Math, minoring in Physics. Coming from a low-income family, he knows the importance of literacy and loves having the opportunity to give back to the community.
Nia McGee
Local Outreach Representative – Houston
Understanding the importance of childhood literacy, Nia is a Local Rep Intern for BookSpring in Houston. She herself indulged in reading popular children’s books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid as a child, and soon couldn’t resist it. Born and raised in Houston, Nia attended Bellaire High School and now attends the University of St. Thomas-Houston. She is a student-athlete on the Women’s Basketball team at her university and is studying Electrical Engineering. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, she believes it is necessary to help others in any way possible and give people, especially our youth, the opportunity to steer in the direction of success and growth.