COURSE ADVISOR & INSTRUCTORS
Robert Simmons, Director of Social Services and Public Safety, Oak Park Public Library
Since March 2016, Rob has been Director of Social Services and Public Safety at Oak Park Public Library (IL). Rob is one of the first social workers hired to integrate a social services model into a public library system in the United States. His innovative work has resulted in programs that provide resources such as free mental health assessments and counseling, educational support for low-income students, supportive housing advocacy, and employment assistance. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s degree in Social-Service Administration from The University of Chicago.
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Eddie Kristan (he/him), MLIS, Assistant Head of Fiction, AV, and Teen Services, Mount Prospect Public Library
Eddie Kristan (he/him) is a librarian in the north suburbs of Chicago who specializes in trauma-informed public services with attention paid to preserving access to marginalized populations or patrons in stages of crisis. He began his career as the head of a security team and was named one of Library Journal's Movers and Shakers in the Community Builders category in 2020 before becoming a librarian. He now works with a team of popular materials and teen librarians and is passionate about access for the public and sustainability for his fellow library workers.
Aaron Alonzo, Manager of Public Safety, Oak Park Public Library
With nearly two decades of experience in safety, security, and community engagement, Aaron Alonzo is a dedicated public safety professional committed to creating safe, welcoming, and equitable environments. Aaron served as a police officer, gaining firsthand expertise in crisis response, de-escalation, and community-centered policing. He now leads as Manager of Public Safety for the Oak Park Public Library system, overseeing safety operations while fostering a culture of compassion and respect. Aaron works closely with social service partners to support unhoused individuals, connecting them with vital resources and pathways toward stability. He is also a trainer in empathy-based communication and Verbal Judo, equipping staff with tools to de-escalate conflict, build rapport, and navigate challenging interactions with confidence and care. Aaron’s career is defined by his belief that safety and dignity go hand-in-hand and that strong communities are built through understanding, collaboration, and consistent leadership.
Beth Wahler, Ph.D., Consultant
Dr. Beth Wahler is a consultant, researcher, trainer, and experienced administrator with a primary focus on helping library workers respond effectively to the complex challenges of serving the public while also prioritizing their own well-being and supporting one another in the workplace. She specializes in addressing the needs of individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, homelessness, poverty, and trauma, and in equipping staff with practical, trauma-informed strategies to navigate these interactions with confidence and care.
Bryce Kozla, Librarian II at Washington County Cooperative Library Services
Bryce Kozla is an Oregon librarian and community booster in Washington County, OR, striving to connect with the glistening spots of humanity that somehow still live inside all of us. Bryce was selected to be trained by Trauma-Informed Oregon due in large part to lived experience and was tasked with creating a library-specific training curriculum on the topic in return. Bryce writes about trauma, disability justice, and other library topics at https://brycekozlablog.blogspot.com/.
Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs at Urban Libraries Council (ULC)
Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs at Urban Libraries Council (ULC), brings more than 38 years of public library experience to ULC. Michelle leads all ULC’s programmatic work but has particularly strong expertise in economic opportunity, youth services, civic engagement, and professional development to support the evolving role of urban libraries. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Public Services at Prince George's County Memorial Library System, where she led the mission, vision, innovation, and operations of the system’s 19 branches and county detention center library services. Michelle holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland and an Executive Certificate from Georgetown University.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 2-3:30 pm ET
Live Online Session + 4-Module Workshop
Recommended for all public-facing library staff.
