2026 Core Forum

Formerly Head of Teaching & Learning at the University of Houston Libraries, I am now serving in an interim capacity as Associate Dean for Research and Student Engagement. My portfolio includes the Open Education Services, Research Services, and Teaching & Learning departments as well as the Health Sciences Libraries.

Kellee Forkenbrock is the award-winning Public Services Librarian for North Liberty Library in North Liberty, Iowa. She assists with the recruitment and leadership of the library’s assistant staff as well as serves as the business engagement liaison for the library. She has spoken about library outreach and engagement on behalf of organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA), Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Entrepreneurship and Libraries Conference (ELC).

Kellee earned an MLIS from the University of Iowa as well as certifications in both Digital Humanities and Entrepreneur Librarianship. Prior to launching her career as a library professional, her twenty-plus years of experience in the private sector included skills such as project management, public relations, and multimedia advertising... Read more

I oversee programing, exhibits, and learning spaces at Skokie Public Library. You can talk to me about informal learning facilitation and observation, team building and management, and library leadership.

Wendy Tressler serves as Planning and Strategy Officer at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) and is a member of its Executive Leadership Team. Since joining CML in 2001 as the library’s Training and Development Manager, Wendy has held a variety of leadership roles, overseeing a broad range of functions that have supported the library’s growth and transformation. She currently oversees Strategy, Capital Planning and
Construction, Marketing and Communications, Lean and
Operational Excellence, and Technology Projects. She focuses on aligning strategy with execution, advancing strategic externa... Read more