Welcome, new Library Director Crissy Ross

Crissy Ross is joining Cincinnati State as the Director of the Johnnie Mae Berry Library, effective Monday, March 14.

Crissy said she is proud to join the excellent team and continue the essential work of the Johnnie Mae Berry Library at Cincinnati State.

“Libraries are the heart of any institution of higher education, and I look forward to contributing to the Library’s collaborative and strategic vision as we work to complement Cincinnati State’s continued and impactful evolution,” she said.

Crissy has worked in libraries for over 20 years and said she is “passionate about community access to higher education, diversity, and inclusion.”

Most recently, she served as the Scholarly Communications Librarian at Northern Kentucky University.

• At NKU, she led student-centered projects focused on textbook affordability in higher education, and scholarly resource customizations that emphasize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
   
• Through this work, Crissy was a key leader on a Kentucky taskforce and cross-university team that worked to bring the benefits of open practices and information literacy to educational institutions in the Commonwealth.

Previously, Crissy coordinated the research library at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she enjoyed the opportunity to work with international researchers, nurses, and nursing students.

Her work focused on identifying and accessing information necessary to progress work, scholarship, and innovation at the hospital, as well as collecting and celebrating faculty scholarship.

Crissy started her library career in Cincinnati’s public library system, where she said she “learned the value and impact of building community.”

Crissy is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and completed her Master’s in Library and Information Science (MSLS) at the University of Kentucky.

Crissy and her partner have been residents of Cincinnati for over 15 years. Their son is a proud student of Cincinnati Public Schools.

Crissy added, “It is a true honor to return north of the river and directly serve students, faculty, and staff in my cherished community. Go Surge!”