Topeka's Top "20 Under 40" Lissa Staley

Photo by Nathan Ham

Through her work at the TSCPL, Lissa leads teams that plan and implement innovative programs, which are featured in TSCPL’s winning Library of the Year application, and which other libraries emulate. Lissa co-hosts the library’s podcast, produces trivia nights, creates online content and represents the library as a facilitator at Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods and Heartland Visioning meetings. As a Reference Librarian, Lissa provides excellent customer service directly to the public and mentors coworkers toward advancing their own work goals.

Through the Community Novel Project, she engages a community of writers in content creation, publishing and marketing through a hands-on collaborative project. She has helped community writers create and publish five original books for the library since 2012.

Lissa serves as the Leadership Team vice chair and workgroup co-chair for Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods. She is a member of the Program Development Committee for K-State Research & Extension Services, the president of the McCarter Elementary School PTO, and was named 2008 Woman of Excellence in Operations by the YWCA of Northeast Kansas. Lissa is married to Daniel Fogt and has two children, Kivrin (8) and Travis (6).

“Overachiever, tireless, compassionate, and motivated are just a few of the words that describe Lissa Staley. She would never be content watching others roll up their sleeves unless she was working right beside them. Her positive can-do attitude helps motivate those around her to do more.” —Katherine Cooney, McCarter Elementary School