From Mental Health Professional to Librarian: An Interview with Dawn Behrend

December 2, 2026
1pm Eastern
Online
Free

Dawn Behrend started her career as a mental health professional, and now serves as the Associate Dean of Library Operations and Engagement at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library at the University of North Florida.

How does her background in mental health affect her approach to librarianship? What can we, as librarians, learn from professionals in the mental health field?

Dawn currently teaches 5 courses for Library Juice Academy, all of which pull heavily from her experience in mental health:

Join us as Dawn is interviewed by Sophie Ziegler about her experiences and her work.

Presenter Info

Dawn Behrend

Dawn Behrend is the Associate Dean of Library Operations and Engagement at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library at the University of North Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in clinical psychology, a Master of Business Administration, and a master’s in library science. With extensive expertise in organizational management, project management, and staff development, Dawn brings an interdisciplinary approach to library leadership and operations. She previously worked in the mental health profession and continues to provide workshops, courses, and invited talks on mental health, neurodiversity in libraries, and self-care for librarians. Dawn is a past president of the North Carolina Library Association and is active with the Association of College and Research Libraries, where she has served on several committees and sections.Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn or view her online portfolio.