April 30, 2024
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The Board of Trustees of the Ohioana Library Association announced that Kimberlee Kiehl, Ph.D. has been named Executive Director.
“We are pleased to welcome Kim Kiehl as Ohioana’s new Executive Director. As President of the Board of Trustees, I’m excited and gratified that an experienced leader with so much success in the nonprofit, museum, and university sectors has elected to join our organization. I am certain she will bring to Ohioana the kind of passion that has made her a success,” said John Sullivan Board President.
“We conducted an extensive national search with the services of a seasoned executive search firm. They evaluated more than a thousand prospective candidates and conducted more than a hundred interviews to present a diverse slate of candidates. Dr. Kiehl emerged as our choice to lead Ohioana into its next chapter. With Kim at the helm, Ohioana is poised to do incredible things for and with Ohio’s literary community. She deeply understands our core mission: promoting and amplifying Ohio’s rich literary heritage. The future is bright,” Sullivan added.
Dr. Kiehl joins Ohioana with experience serving c-suite and upper leadership roles at Ohio High School Athletic Association, Center of Science and Industry (COSI, Columbus), and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. She was also an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University. Dr. Kiehl earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Penn State University.
“Inside the walls of the Ohioana Library live the stories of Ohio. The writers and the poets, the illustrators and musicians and the everyday people who put their words down on paper. These are the stories of all Ohioans, and we are committed to continuing to grow the collection and shine a light on Ohio’s literary community leading up to our 100th anniversary. I couldn’t be more excited to work with the staff and the Board to continue to grow this important organization,” said Dr. Kiehl.
Dr. Kiehl will begin her new role on May 28. She succeeds David Weaver, who is retiring as Executive Director. He has served the Ohioana Library since 2005, starting in development and later advancing to the Executive Director role in 2013.
The Ohioana Library Association is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating Ohio’s literary heritage and the authors and artists who have created it. Programs, including the Ohioana Book Festival, Ohioana Book Awards, Ohioana Quarterly, and Ohio Literary Trail, connect readers with Ohio writers and illustrators. Founded in 1929 by Ohio First Lady Martha Kinney Cooper, the association is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees. Learn more at www.ohioana.org/about/.