Dr. Jessica M. Lilly is an Assistant Professor, tenure track, in UWG's College of Education.  She teaches courses for the School Library Media Program, and is an advisor to students pursuing their certification to become a school librarian.

Dr. Lilly's experience in and passion for leadership and management of and dedication to providing exemplary school library services to diverse PreK-12 clientele have provided her with a myriad of professional experiences. She has been a librarian for students PreK-Grade 12  in elementary, middle, and high schools, a district-level library director for three large diverse Texas school districts, and has been an adjunct professor for library graduate students since 2017 for the University of Houston - Clear Lake.  In addition, she's been a community college librarian, a university library director in New Mexico, and a public library branch manager in Houston, Texas. Throughout her career she has partnered with public and county libraries, university libraries, and local businesses, and has been an active member in leadership roles in the Texas Library Association. Over the years, she's mentored hundreds of librarians and school library students, supporting them with integrity, focusing on their well-being, and prioritizing providing excellence in school librarianship. At UWG, she has accomplished her aspirations for a career in academia as a professor at an esteemed school library media program and university. 

Professional strengths include building relationships with stakeholders, leadership and leadership development in others, engaging and equitable instructional strategies both face-to-face and electronically, planning and implementing initiatives, collaborating with stakeholders within and outside the organization, program assessment and improvement, ongoing scholarship, and her commitment to excellence.