Library Director
Following an extensive national search, Jodi Shepherd has been appointed to be the new director of the Auraria Library, starting September 1, 2025. Ms. Shepherd will lead the library’s vision and operations, as well as nearly 60 faculty and staff who serve 38,000+ students and thousands of faculty and staff across three Auraria Campus institutions.
She brings to the role a deep expertise in library leadership, resource management, and strategic planning. She joins the library from the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico, where since 2008 she has held several high-leverage roles, including two stints as the library’s interim dean along with her primary role since 2016 as head of acquisitions, collection management, and evaluation.
In nearly 20 years in academic libraries, Ms. Shepherd has developed an extensive track record of publication and national presentation, and has had success securing substantial grants, modernizing the library, and collaborating with faculty and university leadership. She earned a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon State University.
While the Auraria Library’s director reports to the CU Denver provost and is administratively affiliated with CU Denver, she will serve all three Auraria higher education institutions equally and vigorously.
During her May campus visit, search committee members were particularly impressed by her depth and breadth of experience, collaboration with faculty, staff, and the community, and focus on student success. Marvin Lynn, dean of CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development, and Catherine Kleier, associate vice president of faculty affairs at MSU Denver, chaired the national search.
She will expand on the efforts of Cinthya Ippoliti, the most recent Auraria Library director who departed June 1. Keith Teeter will continue to serve as interim library director until Ms. Shepherd’s arrival, when he will resume his role as associate director of research, learning, and user services.
Serving one-seventh of all Colorado college students, the Auraria Library is a vital anchor for the success of our students and the scholarship of our academic community.
