The PLIX team is delighted to announce our 2026-2027 cohort of PLIX Library Ambassadors. These 14 library professionals join our colorful network of library ambassadors across the country, now totaling 81, who share our passion for hands-on creative learning programming and a keen desire to foster STEAM confidence, and broaden access to high quality STEAM learning experiences.
Our fifth Library Ambassador program supports communities across the U.S. in thinking about different ways that STEAM learning experiences can be offered for diverse audiences. Through our Community of Practice, this network of library professionals will share their explorations, excitement, and resources with their peers in libraries across the U.S., to inform the ways we support homeschooled populations, children, tweens, teens, multigenerational families, adults with disabilities, English learners and more.
Meet our PLIX Ambassadors
This year we have a cohort of 14 librarians and 3 library mentors joining from all corners of the country, from Maine to Florida to California to Alaska. They represent a range of community types (rural, tribal, military base, suburban, urban), early to late career, low to high STEM confidence, and a curiosity-driven range of interests (stand-up comedy, homesteading, strength training, tabletop games, home servers, encrypted radio communications).
These library professionals share our passion in offering creative STEAM experiences for their communities, and enthusiasm for PLIX and its potential to transform library programming with its unique approach to hands-on, creative STEAM learning.
Emma Ashby 📕
Youth Services Librarian
Boise Downtown Library (Boise, Idaho)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Play + Gathering
Recently up to: Headstands + laying on the ground
Looking forward to: Learning from everyone, playing, celebrating STEAM!
Brian Barg 🤘
Adult Programming and Outreach
Page Public Library (Page, Arizona)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Backpacking and pretty much anything involving my dog, Sabrina
Recently up to: Making homemade pizza and experimenting with different toppings
Looking forward to: Learning about different programs other Ambassadors are doing, and strategies for successful programming.
Christa Bell 🐶
Library Media Specialist
Lafayette County C-1 School District (Higginsville, Missouri)
Ask me ANYTHING about: books and dogs
Recently up to: Buying questionable clothing at the bins because I was convinced I could turn it into something wearable. The jury is still out. 😂
Looking forward to: Meeting other curious people who like to experiment, make things, and ask “What if?”, and stealing lots of ideas from each other!
Maggie French 🧶
Staff Librarian for Youth Services
Valente Branch (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Ask me ANYTHING about: tabletop role playing games & questions I have about science mysteries
Recently up to: practicing new songs on my harp
Looking forward to: Learning new ideas from my fellow PLIX Ambassadors
Lourdes Gonzalez 🎖️
Lead Children's Programmer
JBSA Lackland (San Antonio, Texas)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Nature: birdwatching, Fat Bear Week, Big Bear Bald Eagles and libraries (or course!)
Recently up to: Making the perfect banana bread or playing baseball with my son
Looking forward to: Expanding my knowledge and bringing innovative programs to my community among passionate and creative individuals
Kendra Jordan 😏
Library Manager / STEM Programming SMART Goal Lead
Parklands-Turner Library (Washington, DC)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Home life and soccer
Recently up to: Coaching my daughter’s 6U soccer team made me realize I’m way too out of shape to keep up with six-year-olds—but I definitely know far too much about soccer.
Looking forward to: Sharing knowledge and “borrowing” ideas. I love hearing what others are doing and meeting new people in the profession.
M Kelley ✨
Outreach Coordinator for Studio NPL
Nashville Public Library (Nashville, TN)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Natural Dye, and World-building!
Recently up to: I've been working on a few new game designs, both online and play-by-mail!
Looking forward to: Sharing ideas and learning some new skills! Also the opportunity for silly hats.
Abby Morrow 🤓
Youth Services Librarian
Jesup Memorial Library (Bar Harbor, Maine)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Taskmaster and Leopardus tilcayo, the new cat that was discovered recently in Bolivia
Recently up to: At our library, we created a mystery scavenger hunt for after school kids to unveil our new SuperSpace building tiles
Looking forward to: Learning from others and sharing programs and ideas that have worked for us
D. Pina 📝
Youth Services Librarian
Boone County Public Library Scheben (Union, Kentucky)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Video games (playing, making, etc), Internet Culture
Recently up to: I'm working on creating a self-hosted server for media, such as movies and pictures! I am done with streaming and paying for a cloud.
Looking forward to: I'm looking forward to finding new ways to support my commuity and bring awesome services to the teens here.
Kathryn Rosenburg 👻
Library Programs Coordinator
St. Johns County Public Library System, Main Branch (St. Augustine, Florida)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Art and Video Games
Recently up to: Preparing a large program for World Space Week!
Looking forward to: Nerding out and collaborating over STEAM with others.
Loretta “Rhett” Thompson 🐻
Librarian 1 Trainee
Miami-Dade Public Library System Main Branch (Miami, Florida)
Ask me ANYTHING about: 1. Human behavior, persuasion, and strategy (I'm a big fan of The 48 Laws of Power). 2. Performing stand-up comedy.
Recently up to: I'm on a solo mission to try every Indian restaurant in my corner of Miami-Dade County without raising suspicion of my family, hoping the scent of cumin and cardamom doesn't give me away.
Looking forward to: I look forward to becoming more confident in creating fun and engaging STEAM programs, to try new things, and bring new ideas back to my library.
Kim Tran 🍄
Public Education Specialist
Fort Worth Public Library, Life Long Learning Systemwide Services (Fort Worth, Texas)
Ask me ANYTHING about: Dinosaurs and mushrooms.
Recently up to: purchased 10 acres of land. Trying to homestead. not profitably
Looking forward to: to meet like minded individuals. Belonging.
Jenna Williamson 🩵
Library Aide
San Mateo County Libraries Belmont Library (Belmont, California)
Ask me ANYTHING about: stationery, visual novels, classical music (sorry, I had to pick three!)
Recently up to: I visited the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition at the Chicago Field Museum! 🦖⚡
Looking forward to: I'm really looking forward to bringing programming ideas to my community!
Stuart Wilson 🐘
Technical Coordinator
Nashville Public Library Main Branch (Nashville, Tennessee)
Ask me ANYTHING about: 3D Design and Printing, Flight simulations
Recently up to: Learning how to use a flatbed knitting machine.
Looking forward to: Meeting new people and developing fun new programs for our communities.