Meet the Staff

Mario A. Ascencio, Library Director
mascencio@corcoran.org
(202) 478-1543

Mario has been the Library Director of the Corcoran Library since November 2009. Mario strives to maintain a welcoming and pleasant environment at the Corcoran Library. Whether you are looking for information about art or want to learn more about the cultural resources available in Washington, D.C., Mario's door is always open.

Mario was previously the Visual Arts Liaison Librarian at George Mason University and has held positions at the Getty Research Institute, the UCLA Arts Library, and the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. In addition, Mario held graduate internships at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

On a national and international level, Mario has presented lectures, keynote addresses, workshops, and radio and television interviews throughout the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and Panama. Topics have included InfoDiversity, Libraries and Civil Societies, Web 2.0 Technologies in Libraries, and Library Services to Latinos and Spanish-speakers.

Mario holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of California, Los Angeles; and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History with a minor in Italian from California State University, Northridge.

Victor Benitez, Reference Librarian & Instruction Coordinator
vbenitez@corcoran.org
(202) 478-1544

Victor joined the Corcoran Library in February 2012 as the Reference and Instruction Librarian. He loves the challenges and opportunities of today’s informational environment and looks forward to aiding the CCA+D community with all its informational needs. He continues to learn everyday from the Corcoran students’ creativity and curiosity.

Victor holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a Certificate in Community Informatics from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois. Before working at the Corcoran, he completed internships at the U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress and the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections in the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Before relocating to Washington, D.C., he worked at Professional Development Programs for Teachers at the Newberry Library in Chicago. He serves in the District of Columbia Library Association’s Student Financial Assistance Committee. 

Jacqueline Protka, Digital Assets Librarian & Media Coordinator
jprotka@corcoran.org
(202) 639-1765

Jacqueline became a librarian because she enjoys learning something new every day. She loves the diversity of questions brought to her by students, faculty, and staff at the Corcoran.

Jacqueline has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the College of William & Mary, with credits earned at Oberlin College and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute in New York City. Prior to working at the Corcoran Library, she served as Reference Associate at the Frick Art Reference Library in New York City. Jacqueline is the current Chair of the Visual Resources Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and the President-Elect of the District of Columbia Library Association.

Patricia L. Reid, Technical Services Associate
preid@corcoran.org
(202) 478-1545

Patricia originally came to the Corcoran Library as a part-time, evening library technician in September of 1989. In March 1990, she became a full-time employee. Prior to coming to the Corcoran Library, she worked for Trinity College Library.

Ye Ja (Sunny) Sanders, Access Librarian & Metadata Coordinator
ysanders@corcoran.org
(202) 639-1822

Ye Ja (Sunny) joined the Corcoran Library in January 2012 as the Access Librarian and Metadata Coordinator.  She holds a Master’s degree in Library Science from Indiana University.  She also has Master’s degree in Education from the University of Southern Indiana.  Ye Ja (Sunny) loves working with students and taught at colleges for years.   Prior to joining the Corcoran Library, she worked at the Lilly Library (Rare Books and Special Collections Library) in Indiana University and Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. as government documents project manager.  Ye Ja (Sunny) is a member of Society of American Archivists and American Library Association.