Acting Commissioner, Chicago Public Library
Mary Ellen Messner has over 25 years’ experience improving outcomes for children, youth, and families in Chicago. She administers one of the largest big-city library systems in the world, with an annual budget of $130 million, 81 branches, three regional hubs and a 750,000-square-foot central library. As CPL’s First Deputy Commissioner since 2018, Messner led the organization in the development of its five-year strategy (2020-2024). She also oversaw program design and delivery, with over 35,000 events offered annually, as well as performance management and strategic partnerships.
Before joining CPL, Mary Ellen served as Deputy Commissioner of Youth Services, leading the City of Chicago’s youth vision around summer employment, violence reduction initiatives and out-of-school time, and supporting over 230 community partners; and as an Assistant Commissioner, coordinating youth workforce initiatives, including the City’s signature summer jobs program employing over 31,000 youth each summer. Messner began her public sector career at the Chicago Park District.
Messner is an advisory board member of Dominican University’s School of Information Sciences and Chicago Children’s Museum and serves as a board member for Chicago Learning Exchange. She is a graduate of the Chicago Arts Leadership Institute and Menttium 100, a leadership and cross-company mentoring program. She earned a master’s in library and information science from Dominican University, a Master of Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Marquette University.