Carisa Valle

Carisa Valle (she/her) is a proud queer latina, who is passionate about advocacy and fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in libraries and communities. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Denver and expects to complete her degree in November 2023. Carisa lived in Lynchburg from 2018-2022 before accepting her current role as Access Services & Resource Sharing Specialist at the law library for William & Mary. She remains connected with family, friends and colleagues in the Lynchburg community and she is dedicated to supporting the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community there.

As a member of the Hill City Pride Board of Directors, Carisa aspires to foster an inclusive environment where humanity and diversity is honored. She firmly believes that the LGBTQIA+ community intersects in a powerful and beautiful way with the Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) community. The histories and goals of these groups are intertwined, connected by the many queer BIPOC who experience marginalization for their identity within both. She also believes the LGBTQIA+ community and its social intersections, especially in Lynchburg, deserve to be respected, protected, and celebrated.

Outside of her professional work, Carisa enjoys spending time with her partner, their family, and their dogs. Her favorite activities are visiting cideries in the mountains and going to concerts at the beach. She is a foodie, a poet, and an avid reader of a variety of genres.