Jenny Colvin, Associate Director for Outreach and Access Services, and library faculty member passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 12.
Jenny, who joined the Furman University Libraries in 2006, was deeply connected across campus, collaborating with many students and colleagues on a variety of initiatives. An expert in storytelling, she taught in our May Experience program, and served as an academic advisor.
Jenny believed strongly in working together to build a more inclusive campus, and just finished serving as chair of the DEI subcommittee on education and training. In that role, she facilitated DEI conversations within and across academic departments. At a national level, she had chaired the American Library Association’s “Over the Rainbow Booklist” committee which promoted the improved quality and accessibility of LGBTQIA+ literature for adults. At the state level she was involved in initiatives with the South Carolina Library Association and PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries).
Jenny was an avid and fast reader and hosted a book podcast called Reading Envy. The tagline is “I’ll have what you’re reading.”
Jenny was also an accomplished baker and had a baking blog called Jenny Bakes. She often brought sweet treats to the library and shared them with all of us.
We in the libraries will deeply miss Jenny’s energy, passion, and strong spirit.
If you would like to make a charitable gift in Jenny’s memory, you may do so by contributing to the following causes:
- Greenville Animal Care – promoting the compassionate treatment of animals was something that Jenny cared deeply for.
- A Mindfulness Space in the Duke Library – help make Jenny’s long-held dream of establishing a “mindfulness space” in the Duke Library a reality. Contribute using the Friends of the Library form. Under comments please write “in memory of Jenny”.
Jenny leaves behind her husband and four-year-old son.