Board of Trustees

Bryce currently teaches English at Lewis-Clark State College and has been a board member since 2018. His love for reading blossomed when he thumbed through The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White in a bookstore and couldn't leave without it. In his down time, he and his wife foster and rescue animals and will also attempt to not kill the vegetables in the garden.

Term Expires: 2027

Jay Backus, a Washington State native, received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Washington State University and a master's degree from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin. He held progressive positions in the pulp & paper industry, culminating  as Operational Vice President for Clearwater Paper in Lewiston and Spokane. He retired in 2020. Jay has been married for 42 years with two adult children and one delightful granddaughter. Libraries have always been an important part of his family. Each time his family moved to a new community, one of the first items on their family agenda was signing up for a library card. His appointment to the Board of Trustees has allowed him to assure that Asotin County residents have the same benefits his family enjoyed for so many years.
Term expires:  2025

Shannon Grow is the Community Development Director for the City of Lewiston as well as the Director for the Lewis-Clark Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. She has an undergraduate degree from Lewis-Clark State College and a Master's in Public Administration from Villanova University. Although a lot of her spare time revolves around her daughter, Shannon enjoys serving the community. Along with the Asotin County Library Board, she is also a Board member for the Lewiston Rotary Club, as well as a Board member for the Lewiston Civic Theatre. 

Term Expires: 2026

Mary Jackson, a valley native, taught at Lewiston High School for 35 years before retiring. She holds a Bachelor's in Education and a Master's in Curriculum from the University of Idaho. At a young age, she enjoyed the benefits of local libraries, and this enthusiasm continues today.  As an advocate for the written word, her support for community members to take advantage of resources and opportunities presented by the Asotin County Library is a priority.

Karen grew up in Burlington, Washington with a passion for libraries and literacy. A retired middle school teacher, she taught reading and later was a librarian for 35 years. She graduated from Washington State University with a BA in Education and a major in Fine Art. She later earned a major in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading from Lewis Clark State College in Idaho. She received a Masters in Educational technology from City University, in Seattle. Karen has been married for 44 years to her husband Larry and currently lives in Asotin, Washington. She believes that libraries are special places in any community. She loves spending time with her family, participating in her many hobbies including horseback riding, biking, camping, and reading books!
Term Expires: 2024