The Long Road
My journey across librarianship began as a student assistant in a stacks department. Since then, I've been fortunate to explore a wide range of fascinating areas. As a leader, I've sought to build a wide skill set. This has included managing facilities and learning spaces, directing access services operations, guiding liaison teams, designing educational, cultural, and literacy programs, and leading outreach, marketing, and assessment initiatives. I’ve held leadership roles in libraries at Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and UC Santa Barbara.
Working at the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries has enriched my leadership experience, enabling me to stretch across diverse areas including archives and special collections, data management, research metrics and intelligence, publishing, scholarly communications, and digital scholarship. Currently, I’m focused on reshaping our technical infrastructure and designing an innovation incubator.
Shaping the Future
I've had the privilege to reimagine physical spaces, craft digital environments, shape strategies, build dynamic teams, and lead large initiatives. My career has taken me to a variety of universities, providing invaluable lessons from both challenges and triumphs. From navigating recessions and pandemics to maximizing financial windfalls, cluster hiring, and capital investments, each experience has enriched my perspective and capacity.
While collections, technologies, services, and spaces are major components of my professional role, it's the profound influence of organizational culture that truly ignites my curiosity. Libraries find themselves at a critical inflection point, and the coming decade is poised to define their transformation. I'm committed to the changes ahead and channeling my insights into being a thoughtful, optimistic, and courageous leader.
I’m dedicating the next phase of my career to this purpose: shaping a different type of library. One that is hopeful, imaginative, inclusive, collaborative, and empowering. I want to help define the evolving trajectory of libraries and embark on a journey of transition.
Health & Wellness
I've come to appreciate the increasing importance of health and fitness. It's been a gradual change, marked by a deliberate overhaul of my nutrition and exercise, and the addition of "walking meetings" added to my calendar. The pandemic also brought about a profound shift in my approach to well-being and the priority of mental health.
Bonsai
I'm an aspiring gardener with an interest in bonsai trees. This art form, with its intricate balance of patience and precision, captivates my imagination. I also enjoy spontaneous walks in the woods. I’ve been so focused on technology that it’s nice to get away and feel immersed in nature.
Meditation
Meditation has been a steady practice. It has enriched my life by fostering focus, concentration, and compassion, both for myself and those around me. I go on retreats when I can — mindfulness marathons.
