Jayhawk Family Ties
Janet Cinelli and Eric Ryan build their legacy through library support
It’s all in the family for Janet Cinelli and her husband Eric Ryan, library supporters and proud KU alumni. Both Janet and Eric are surrounded by Jayhawks on all sides — her sister and brother, his son, the list goes on. Their big Jayhawk family holds degrees from schools and departments across the Hill. So when Janet and Eric decided to make a gift to KU, they wanted to find that one thread that would impact every Jayhawk, regardless of their studies.
“We thought, ‘what’s the one thread?’ Of course it’s KU Libraries!” Cinelli said.
Cinelli received her B.S. in Journalism from the William Allen White School of Journalism. Ryan completed both his B.A. in Psychology and Master of Science in Education Counseling Psychology at KU. Together they attend as many library events as possible and have become passionate supporters of open educational resources (OER). In 2020, the couple donated a renovated study carrel in Watson Library, naming it in honor of their parents.
“We learned that the students who study in the Watson carrels felt a connection to the donors who had named spaces there,” Ryan said. “We felt that naming a carrel was a way to go forward and honor our family members who supported us through school — both financially and emotionally.”
Cinelli and Ryan recognize the need for libraries to continue to change with the times and adapt
to new needs — and they look forward to supporting the libraries as they evolve.
“The libraries remain relevant, and people need to understand that libraries provide so much more than books,” Ryan said. “The libraries provide opportunities for the community to gather and learn.”
Cinelli joined the KU Libraries Board of Advocates in 2016 and has been an engaged member ever since.
“KU Libraries have really supportive and genuine administrators who truly have the best interest at heart — that of the students and the researchers,” Cinelli said. “Libraries are the glue that holds the university together. Getting involved with KU Libraries has allowed us to honor the Jayhawks in our families across generations.”