ILEAD Ohio Announces 2025 Participants
The State Library of Ohio and OhioNet are pleased to announce the 2025 participants in ILEAD Ohio. Teams and mentors have been selected for the year-long program. The first session kicks off in April and reconvenes in July and October. Over the course of three, in-person sessions, participants will enhance their leadership skills, engage in discussions on critical topics in librarianship and library services, and develop a project aimed at addressing a specific community need. Each team will remain intact throughout the program, with a dedicated mentor assigned to provide ongoing motivation, expertise, and guidance.
“We are thrilled to welcome this year’s ILEAD Ohio participants as they embark on their team projects,” shared Katy B. Mathuews, Executive Director & CEO of OhioNet. “Their ideas, enthusiasm, and collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to meaningful change, not only within their own communities but across the library profession as a whole. It’s inspiring to see such passion and creativity driving the future of our field.”
“I’m delighted for the State Library and OhioNet to again team up and deliver an ILEAD Ohio program that educates, challenges, and inspires a cohort of library staff members from around the state,” expressed Evan T. Struble, Associate State Librarian for Library Development at the State Library of Ohio. Since its inception in 2013, ILEAD Ohio’s unique, immersive experience is routinely mentioned by alumni of the program as ‘transformative’ and I can’t wait for the 2025 cohort to take part, expand their network, and grow as leaders.”
ILEAD Ohio has helped develop present and future Ohio library leaders, no matter their position or title, through a team-based, problem-solving project. The goal of ILEAD Ohio is to support participants in addressing professional and/or community needs through the exploration and application of innovative communication, technology, and collaborative tools and skills.
2025 Teams and Mentors
Supporting New Library Professionals
- Chloe Browne, Ritter Public Library
- Cara Calabrese, Miami University
- Erin Kilkenny, OhioLINK
Mentor: Desiree Thomas, Worthington Libraries
Source Sleuths
- Emily Rozmus, INFOhio
- Amanda Martin, Columbus Metropolitan Libraries
- Sarah Mowery, INFOhio
- Rebecca Wilden, Mechanicsburg Public Library
- Jennifer Seebauer, Teays Valley Local Schools
Mentor: Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Lorain County Library System
Young Library Ambassadors
- Annie Zwisler, Portage County District Library
- Rebekah Hire-Santoro, Huron Public Library
- Savannah Gould, Kent State University
- Shanna Hart, Kenyon College
Mentor: Terwase Ngur, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Ohio Library Spark
- Kim Edsell, Lorain County Library System
- Kyra Nay, Cuyahoga County Public Library
- Jozlyn Heckel, Monroeville Public Library
- Kate McGowan, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Mentor: Gabriel Venditti, Cuyahoga County Public Library
2025 ILEAD Ohio Planning Team
- Erin Kelsey, Program Manager, State Library of Ohio
- Katy B. Mathuews, OhioNet
- Hannah Rosen, OhioNet
- Jillian Tuttle, OhioNet
- Evan T. Struble, State Library of Ohio
- Jeff Regensberger, State Library of Ohio
- Penelope Shumaker, State Library of Ohio
- Katy Hite, State Library of Ohio
ILEAD Ohio is made possible by the State Library of Ohio and OhioNet with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, we help communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage and lifelong learning. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.
Reference to any specific company, products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State Library of Ohio or OhioNet.
