AALL Announces New Executive Director
National Association of Realtors’ manager to lead law libraries association
WASHINGTON, DC (October 11, 2018) – Following a national search conducted by Sterling Martin 
Associates, The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) announced it has hired Oolagamani (Vani) Ungapen as the venerable association’s new executive director. Ungapen joins AALL following the retirement of Kate Hagan, who held the executive director position for 11 years. Ungapen will officially assume her new role on Oct. 15, 2018.
“After a methodical search, the board of directors was thrilled to offer the position to Vani Ungapen. Vani brings to her new role more than 14 years of association management experience,” said Femi Cadmus, president of AALL. “Vani’s background in continuing education, member recruitment and retention, as well as legislative research and public policy strategy in her prior nonprofit roles will be huge assets to us, and we welcome her to AALL.”
Most recently, Ungapen served as manager of global education and membership for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), managing certification programs as well as marketing those certification programs to the country’s more than 1.3 million Realtors. Prior to joining NAR, Ungapen spent 12 years as director of global business and legislative research with Florida Realtors where she created education programs, served as a public policy liaison, and was responsible for initiating the strategic planning of the association’s legislative and global agenda.
“I began my early professional career as a law clerk after earning my graduate degree in law and business, and I’m thrilled to bring my years of association management experience back to the legal industry as AALL’s executive director,” said Ungapen. “AALL’s reputation as a powerful, proactive advocate of access to justice and legal information is highly regarded, and I’m proud to be associated with the organization and its welcoming membership.”
Ungapen earned her bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Manchester School of Law in England, and her master’s degree in international law and business, magna cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in Florida. She is a resident of Naperville, Illinois.
About AALL
The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) is the only national association dedicated to the legal information profession and its professionals. Founded in 1906 on the belief that people—lawyers, judges, students, and the public—need timely access to relevant legal information to make sound legal arguments and wise legal decisions, its more than 4,100 members are problem solvers of the highest order. AALL fosters the profession by offering its members knowledge, leadership, and community that make the whole legal system stronger. For more information, visit www.aallnet.org.
About Sterling Martin Associates
Sterling Martin Associates is a national executive search firm founded in 2006 by CEO and Managing Partner, David Martin. SMA specializes in working with associations and nonprofit organizations on senior-level executive searches. With five office locations in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York and California, SMA offers national reach and scope while providing a superior quality of service in a cost-effective manner. Our partners and consultants bring association, nonprofit and for-profit management experience to each of our client engagements. Our team also serves as volunteers for a wide range of nonprofit governing boards.
