Blogs

By Ann Zlotnik

Just last year, Kayla Harris was promoted to assistant director of the Marian Library and associate professor. And, just last month, she succeeded Sarah Cahalan as director of the Marian Library.

Harris came to the Marian Library in October 2016, soon after Cahalan succeeded longtime director Father Thomas Thompson, S.M., who retired from the role. As the sole archivist in the Marian Library, Harris quickly familiarized herself with the diverse collections and the mission of the Marian Library. Though much of her success has been out of the public eye — organizing, preserving and adding materials to the Marian Library’s holdings — she has also curated popular exhibits, both in person and online, and supported her colleagues in their work.

Harris does not shy away from the public eye, however. She has a passion for instruction and connecting with faculty and students and has collaborated on and initiated several classes and programs that bring undergraduates to the seventh floor of Roesch Library to interact with the Marian Library’s materials and exhibits. She reaches out to community members and the media to engage them with happenings in the Marian Library, and in addition to presenting and publishing scholarly research and commentary, she has been featured in international media as an expert on Marian topics, collection items and online archiving. 

The Marian Library has been an example of the Marianist tradition at the University of Dayton for 80 years. To demonstrate her commitment to perpetuating the Marianist charism at UD, Harris recently completed her initial formation as a Marianist Educational Associate.

Please join Harris’ colleagues, family and friends in congratulating her as the new director of the Marian Library.

— Ann Zlotnik is a graphic designer and the communications and creative coordinator for the University Libraries and the Marian Library.