Mallory (Walker) Wareham ’20MS and Jason Homer ’11MS, ’26PhD were named Movers & Shakers 2025 by Library Journal.
Mallory Wareham ’20MS, in the category of “Community Builders,” was highlighted for introducing programming at Loyola Notre Dame Library (LNDL) aimed at bringing patrons back to the library following the pandemic.
Wareham’s “Fall Fest,” which attracted more than 300 students in 2023 and 400 in 2024, features multiple activities, including an “Archives & Special Collections petting zoo,” a makerspace, and information about Loyola’s student groups.
“Before Fall Fest, LNDL had never hosted a large-scale annual event,” Wareham told Library Journal, noting that the event led to “a 36 percent increase in gate count since our first Fall Fest, as well as a 47 percent increase in scheduled events at LNDL.”
In the “Change Agent” category, Jason Homer ’11MS, ’26PhD, Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library, addresses issues of equity, access, and bridging the digital divide in a district with a high percentage of residents born outside of the US and living below the poverty line. As a result of the efforts — including overseeing a $13 million library renovation — Homer reports more than 25,000 people have been connected to resources within the last two years.
“I encouraged my team to take chances and make mistakes, and I couldn’t be more proud,” Homer told Library Journal. “I am also deeply proud as a gay man leading an organization. I try everyday to make myself a signal of safety to everyone in my community. My goal is to empower all people to reach their full potential by removing barriers of access.”