Curriculum Vitae
B.A., Thomas Aquinas College, 2002; M.S. Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Assistant Librarian, Thomas Aquinas College (2011-2016); Catechist, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (levels 1-3) St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Fillmore, California (2012-); Assistant Librarian, Thomas Aquinas College (2011-2016); Librarian, Thomas Aquinas College (2016–).
Profile
“I find working with students very rewarding, and I love librarianship,” says Richena Curphey. “There is always a new puzzle to solve. You get this book and have to decide, where does it belong? How will our community be best served?”
After five years as assistant librarian, Miss Curphey succeeded the College’s head librarian of 45 years, Viltis Jatulis, in 2016. A member of the Class of 2002, Miss Curphey explored several careers and vocations — including teaching, managing youth summer camps, and the religious life — before earning a master’s degree in library and information science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It helps that I was a student here because I understand how our students use this library,” she notes. “The mission and goal of the school are clear, and that makes our collection-development strategy clear.”
Besides librarianship, Miss Curphey cares for her llamas on a California Campus ranch pasture. She enjoys taking them for walks with the students and spinning their fiber in to yarn. She also serves as a catechist at her local parish.