Meet the Newest Additions to the JMU Libraries Team!

Posted on: April 22, 2024

We’re excited to formally introduce our newest staff, faculty, and 2023-24 graduate assistants to the campus community!

Pictured, left to right: Kayleigh Bishop, Chloé Lucas, Almothana Matarneh, David Gaines, Nathaniel Taeho Yu, Samantha Joy Whitaker 

Get to know our graduate assistants: 

  • Iliana Cosme-Brooks graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Arts and Humanities & Professional and Public Writing and is about to complete her MA in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. 
  • Mariam Ismail graduated from the American University in Cairo with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and is about to complete her MA in Communication & Advocacy.  
  • Chloé Lucas is a Double Duke, graduating from JMU with her B.A. in Psychology in 2023 and is currently in the master’s program for Adult Education and Human Resource Development. 
  • Almothana Matarneh is an international student with a B.A. in Pharmacy and is currently in the Kinesiology master’s program.  
  • Liberty Snipes is a graduate assistant whose love for bagels has recently been rekindled, and who is also getting married in August. Which is more exciting? Who’s to say. 
  • Harmony Nicole Wilson is graduating May 9 with her M.S. Ed. in Adult Education/Human Resource Development. 

Get to know the folks who joined the Libraries (or started new faculty or staff positions) between November 2023 and March 2024: 

  • Kayleigh Bishop, library services specialist, is now a Triple Duke, having graduated from JMU with both a Bachelors (2020) and Masters of English (2023). 
  • Morgan Brown joins us as a Music Library night supervisor. 
  • David Gaines, now a lead application support specialist, has been with JMU Libraries since 2011. 
  • Kimberly Gillette joins us as the executive assistant for the Dean and the Libraries’ Administration. 
  • Declan Leach joins us as a delivery services specialist. 
  • Noah McQueen joins us as a library services specialist. 
  • Peyton Newsome joins us as a makerspace instructor. 
  • Samantha Joy Whitaker, instruction developer, is a recent master’s graduate from the JMU School of Music. Her degrees are in Music Education (B.M.) and Vocal Performance & Pedagogy (M.M.) with an Emphasis in Singing Health. 
  • Nathaniel Taeho Yu, instructional designer and Associate Professor, loves collaborating with colleagues and looks forward to more opportunities to contribute to interesting projects. 

Please help us extend a very warm welcome to these colleagues when you see them! Learn more about their roles on our Staff Directory.  

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