At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Organizational Development Manager Kelly Woessner a few questions about her work, to find out more about the inspiration behind her contributions to the campus community.
Q: In your own words, what is a quick overview of your role at the Libraries?
A: In the Libraries, I get to help make work work better! I focus on things like professional development, team building, communication, and creating a great employee experience. Whether it's scheduling a workshop, improving onboarding, or just making space for people to connect and grow, I’m all about helping our teams thrive and feel good about the work they do.
Q: Talk a little about the work you’re most passionate about. Why have you chosen to pursue this work within a library setting?
A: I’m really passionate about helping people feel good about themselves and the work they do. I love creating opportunities for connection, helping folks feel like they belong, and reminding them that what they do matters. Libraries are all about people — learning, curiosity, community — so it feels like the perfect place to do this kind of work. I get to support the amazing people behind the scenes who make all of that possible, and that’s what keeps me excited every day.
Q: Share an experience or skillset that people might not expect a librarian/library worker to have. How is it a game changer for the work you do at CMU?
A: One skill people might not expect from someone in a library setting is relationship building — but it’s at the heart of so much of what I do. Whether it’s helping a new team get to know each other, supporting a colleague through a change, or creating space for people to share ideas and feel heard, those connections are what move everything forward. At CMU, where collaboration is constant and things evolve quickly, having someone who focuses on the people side — how we work together, how we support each other, how we build trust — really changes the game. It’s not flashy, but it makes the work stronger, more human, and more sustainable.
Q: The Libraries serves as a neutral convening space to bring different areas of campus together. How do you value collaboration in your work? Can you give us an example of a recent collaboration that has helped a project reach new heights?
A: Collaboration is honestly one of the parts of my job I enjoy most. I love getting to build something alongside others—especially when we bring different strengths to the table. A recent example was working with Brian Mathews on the AI Sandbox. We wanted to introduce AI to Libraries staff and faculty in a way that felt approachable and low-pressure. We focused on creating a space that felt welcoming and easy to engage with and used feedback from early conversations to shape the sessions around what people were curious about.
It turned into this really energizing experience where people could explore, ask questions, and try things out without needing to be experts. Watching people go from unsure to genuinely curious and engaged really showed me how much impact we can have when we team up with intention.
Q: What’s an area that you want to innovate and push boundaries in? Why is it exciting to you?
A: I want to rethink how we do professional development — less sitting through slides, more real conversations, hands-on learning, and chances for teams to grow together. One of the ways I’ve been experimenting with that is the AI Sandbox. It wasn’t about being an expert — it was about creating a space where people felt safe to try, ask questions, and even play a little. Watching folks go from hesitant to genuinely excited was the best part. That’s what gets me energized — when learning feels approachable, useful, and even fun.
Q: What’s something in the Libraries that speaks to you personally? This can be a book, something in the Archives or Special Collections, a space in one of the buildings — anything you want to highlight!
A: I love De Fer Coffee and Tea in Hunt Library. During the academic year, it’s just fun to see how many people come through — some are regulars, and others are stepping into the space for the very first time. The students are always busy collaborating, chatting, and doing their thing, and the coffee’s great too. I really like that it feels like a true community space — it’s warm, welcoming, and has this great energy that reminds me how alive the library really is.