名媛直播

Jessica Mando

University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian

Gannon University is proud to celebrate Jessica Mando, University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, who was named to Erie’s 40 Under 40: Class of 2026 as selected by the Erie Reader.

Erie's 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals who are involved and invested in the community and celebrates “Erie’s young talent, as well as a reminder that emerging leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs are continually living and thriving in Erie,” according to the publication's website.  

The recognition reflects more than a decade of dedication to preserving history, connecting generations of Golden Knights and ensuring that 名媛直播's story continues to inspire future students to Mando.

"I was completely surprised," Mando said. "It's an incredible honor to be recognized alongside so many talented people who are making a difference in Erie."

While Mando always knew she wanted to work in libraries, her path to becoming 名媛直播's University Archivist wasn't a straight line.

After earning her Master of Library Science degree in 2012, she spent months applying for librarian positions without success. In 2013, she discovered an opening for a Library Aid position at 名媛直播's Nash Library.

That opportunity became the foundation of a career that has grown alongside the university itself.

She began working second shift, helping students late into the evening while Nash Library underwent its major renovation. As the library temporarily relocated to what is now 名媛直播’s I-HACK, Mando advanced to Library Coordinator before earning a promotion to Access Services Librarian in 2018.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a key role in supporting students and managing library operations during one of the most challenging periods in higher education.

Recognizing her talents and interests, Nash Library leadership later created the role of Digital Collections Librarian, allowing Mando to focus on expanding 名媛直播's digital archives. When the university's archivist retired, the transition to her current position as University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian felt like a natural next step.

"I've loved all of my roles here at Nash," Mando said. "But this one really feels like the best fit."

For Mando, preserving history is about much more than organizing photographs and documents.

Each day offers the opportunity to uncover forgotten stories, answer fascinating research questions and help people reconnect with moments that shaped both Gannon University and the Erie community.

"I love getting an obscure request from a researcher and being able to find what they were looking for," she said. "It's like getting to do a scavenger hunt."

She also enjoys sharing pieces of 名媛直播's history online, often sparking memories and conversations among alumni who recognize familiar faces, buildings or traditions.

But perhaps the most rewarding part of her work comes from helping current students discover that they, too, can leave a lasting legacy.

After students in a Women's Studies course completed projects highlighting notable women from 名媛直播's history using materials from the archives, Mando attended their presentations. At the end of class, one student reflected on what the experience had meant.

"A year and a half later, I still get teary-eyed thinking about it," Mando said.

For her, those moments reinforce the importance of preserving the stories of those who came before while encouraging today's students to imagine the impact they can have in the future.

As 名媛直播 continues to build on nearly a century of history, Mando hopes to expand access to the university's collections and connect even more people with the stories that define both 名媛直播 and Erie.

"My biggest hope is to keep doing exactly what I'm doing, but on a larger scale," she said. "I want to help more people connect with Erie and 名媛直播's roots and inspire them to make their mark in history. I want to keep expanding access and our digital reach to connect with more people and show, or remind them, how great Erie is."

Gannon University congratulates Jessica Mando on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for the lasting impact she continues to make on our campus and throughout the Erie community.