Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Calendar of Events - Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
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Dr. Kawanna Bright (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Library Science at East Carolina University. Dr. Bright earned her PhD in Research Methods and Statistics from the University of Denver in 2018. Prior to earning her doctorate, Dr. Bright worked as an academic librarian for 12 years, with a focus on reference, instructional services, and information literacy. Dr. Bright’s current research focuses on assessment in libraries, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in libraries, the application of research methodology to the study of LIS, and the importance of the liaison librarianship role in academic libraries. Dr. Bright provides consulting and training for libraries and other information organizations in support of EDI efforts, strategic planning, and project development.
Kim Garret, Deputy Director for the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library System
Sarah Everly, Mobile Library Services Manager, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library System
With more than two decades of award-winning experience in the library field, Arnessa Dowell has worn many hats, starting as a Page and eventually taking on the role of Library Director in four different institutions working at academic, public, and federal government libraries. She earned her Master of Library Science degree from North Carolina Central University with a focus in academic librarianship and special collections. Additionally, she earned her Masters of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama with a concentration of Executive Leadership. Ms. Dowell is a passionate advocate for blending strategic planning with AI to expeditiously achieve the desired outcomes. 
Elizabeth Alessandro has been a technology trainer for Cuyahoga County Public Library for 3 years. She is a certified Microsoft Office Specialist Expert with certifications in all Microsoft Office Associate 365 programs, as well as Microsoft Word Expert and Microsoft Access 2019. She is also an Adobe Certified Professional in Adobe Photoshop. Before teaching technology, she was an educator of English to speakers of other languages for over 10 years. She has found that teaching technology is very similar to teaching a language and this has helped her develop my skills in this field.
Teanna Weeks (she/her) has worked in libraries for most of her adult life. At the Shaker Heights City School District, she is central processing for library materials for all school buildings. Teanna has a passion for advocacy in all areas and consistently works for inclusivity in all spaces. Be careful if you chat her up; she can talk for hours about nail polish, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., BTS, and Star Wars.
Marisha Sullivan (she/they) is the Librarian at Holden Forests & Gardens, overseeing the Archives, Special Collections, and Circulating Collections at both Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum. Previously a public librarian, Marisha brings a passion for lifelong learning, accessibility, and equity to her work with plants, trees, and people. When not in the library or wandering the woods, Marisha enjoys fiber arts, video games, and exploring the Greater Cleveland area.
Katie Mattise (they/them pronouns) joined Kent State in 2016, first serving as program coordinator and later as assistant director of the LGBTQ+ Center. Through this position, Katie worked across Kent State to educate, advocate and be a resource to the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to Kent State, they worked at various universities in residence life. Katie now serves as a director in the Division of People, Culture, and Belonging. Through this role, they work with others to create, provide and facilitate opportunities for people to engage in meaningful conversation around various social justice topics.
Shaunte Rouse was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Music from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Education degree in College Student Personnel from Ohio University. During her professional experience in Higher Education, Shaunte developed expertise in areas including strategic partnership cultivation, student advocacy, advising, mentoring, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making.
Paula Miller has served as Director/Administrator in four states –Baltimore County Public Library and Eastern Shore Regional Library (both MD), Pikes Peak Library District (CO), Westlake Porter Public Library (OH), and Dover Public Library (DE). Most recently, she molded BCPL’s role as a community hub and instrument of democracy, and she oversaw the development and opening of award-winning and state-of-the-art Library 21c in Colorado Springs. Enamored by libraries since her first shelving job at age 16 at Kent Free Library, she believes our public libraries are critical community resources that bring people together and that serve as bridges to opportunities in individuals’ lives. She is focused on identifying new and emerging needs, roles, and connections that keep our libraries relevant and effective.
Ris Labib, is a librarian in the Business, Government, & Science Division at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, Main, believes in the power of a good book. She has been talking with others about books -- in a professional and personal capacity -- since middle school and was even on NPR! One of the (many) books she is currently reading is “Book of Love” by Kelly Link. 
County Public Library whose areas of specialty are cookbooks, fashion & folklore, and general trivia. She is the co-leader of specialty book clubs like: Romance Book Club and Speculative Fiction Book Club. Her favorite read of 2024 was “Funny Story” by Emily Henry. 
Barbara Klipper is a retired public librarian who has been an advocate for people with developmental disabilities in libraries since the early 2000s. She is the author or Programming for Children and Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ALA, 2014), and co-author with Carrie Banks of several book chapters as well as Library Programming for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (ALA, 2021). She created the “Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services, and More grant, which funded innovative programs and services over a five-year period.
Carrie Banks runs Brooklyn Public Library’s services to children and teens with disabilities, Inclusive Services. Inclusive Services serves youth throughout Brooklyn in libraries, schools, hospitals, transitional housing facilities, group homes and detention centers. She taught Including Youth with Disabilities at Pratt Institute. Active in ALA since 2000, she was ASGCLA’s President in 2020 and part of ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo’s EDI Presidential Team. Publications include revising Including Families of Children with Special Needs: A How to Do It Manual for Librarians, Libraries and Garden: Growing Together, with Cynthia Mediavilla, and Library Programming for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, with Barbara Klipper. She is currently working on a book on libraries disrupting the school to prison pipeline.
Crystal Trice, CSM, CSM@Scale, Library Consultant, Scissors & Glue, LLC
Heather Feenaughty is the PR/Marketing Manager at Westlake Porter Public Library. Heather brings over 14 years' experience in marketing and public relations. She served as a Public Affairs Broadcast Journalist in the U.S. Army for five years and spent seven years at Case Western Reserve University’s Undergraduate Admissions marketing team. Heather has been in the library world for almost 3 years and plans to add many more. Heather has yet to receive the prestigious Cannes Lions Award for Creative Effectiveness but is a five-time local scarecrow contest winner (should be six), won a Rosette at the Cuyahoga County Fair in the crochet division, and spear-headed WPPL’s 2024 Westlake in Bloom first place win.
Rebecca Hass (she/her/hers) is the programming and outreach manager for Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) and author of 101 Seeds for Library Joy. Prior to AACPL, she served in librarianship and management with the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Ramsey County Public Library. Rebecca received her MLIS from Dominican University in 2008 and her Life and Engagement Coaching Certificate from Anne Arundel Community College in 2022. Rebecca integrates positive psychology practices with DEIB approaches in libraries, community engagement, coaching, and consulting in her business, Joy Work, LLC: