From the Stacks to “I Do” — A JMU Love Story

Posted January 21, 2026 in Feature Friday, JMU Libraries News

Some love stories start with a chance meeting in class or a swipe on an app — but for Jess Hoare and Cameron Kelahan, their journey began on the Club Quidditch Team in 2016. 

Though they didn’t meet through the Libraries, the Libraries quickly became a central part of their JMU experience — and, in many ways, the quiet backdrop to their growing friendship. 

Cameron worked in the Libraries from his very first semester, starting as a student assistant and taking on other roles over time. Jess often studied in Carrier, where she’d catch glimpses of him shelving books or working at the front desk. 

“As our friendship developed, it was nice to have an excuse to see him without it being awkward,” Jess said. “I would wait for him to be sitting at the front desk or shelving books to say hi.” 

The two started dating in April 2017 — and the Libraries remained an important part of their lives throughout their four years at JMU. It was more than just a workplace; it was a hub for their friends and shared memories. 

“The Libraries were basically a meeting place for all our friends,” Jess said. “We hung out there, donated our ESPN Gameday posters, planned group meetings in the study rooms, and took advantage of every resource the Libraries had to offer.” 

In 2018, Jess became secretary of the Club Quidditch Team — and even recruited Jeff Campbell, one of the Libraries’ beloved staff members at the time, to serve as their faculty sponsor. Then in the summer of 2019, on Jeff and Cameron’s recommendation, Jess joined the Libraries staff as a supervisor. 

“We very rarely worked shifts together,” she said, “but we developed the same friendships and still talk to those people to this day.” 

Cameron went on to work at NASA for two years and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in Astronomy at the University of Warwick in England. In January, Jess joined him at the University of Warwick as a Student Support Officer in the Statistics Department. Both still look back fondly on their time at JMU Libraries — and the community that helped shape them. 

“The library was a community that felt like a family away from home,” Jess said. “We’re so grateful for it.” 

They even still have plants from Andrew Evans, one of their former supervisors, growing in their home — a living reminder of the people and place that helped nurture their story. 

And every time they return to Harrisonburg, one of their favorite stops is, of course, the Libraries. 

Because for Jess and Cameron, it will always be more than a building full of books — it’s where their community flourished, their friendships grew, and their love story quietly took root. 💜 

Happy Valentine’s Day from JMU Libraries — where stories of learning, friendship, and love are always in circulation.