Tisha Woo Honored with Calian Award
Tisha Woo has been named the 2026 recipient of Pittsburgh Seminary’s Calian Award for Campus Community Service, which recognizes “an exemplary individual, a member of the Pittsburgh Seminary community who demonstrates excellence in carrying out responsibilities and volunteer assignments, and also expresses a caring spirit of good will and hope so essential in our life together as a community.” Tisha credits her colleagues at the Barbour Library for supporting her contributions to the PTS community, saying, “We truly help one another to do our best work so that patrons fully benefit from the library's resources.”
As the Seminary’s user services librarian, Tisha manages circulation operations and develops programming, policies, and services that support user access to the library. Often one of the first people whom visitors encounter upon entering the library, Tisha’s work to facilitate patrons’ experiences spans responsive, individualized attention to guests—answering questions, pointing to resources, or simply offering a warm welcome—and proactive curation of a variety of offerings to enhance community members’ experiences. For example, Tisha works with other librarians to create informational displays relevant to upcoming on-campus events (like public lectures and BookTalks), maintains the “Community Reads” display (in which community members recommend favorite media from the library’s collection, along with a short description of its impact on them), and corresponds with guests who inquire about borrowing privileges, materials donation, use of library spaces, or other concerns.
Tisha also supervises the Seminary’s circulation desk staff, including work-study students who work part-time at the circulation desk during their courses of study, working with them to create shift schedules which accommodate class times and other life commitments. “Tisha has been such a steady, kind presence during my journey as a seminary student and a wonderful supervisor,” one student says. “Her warm greetings, consistent presence, and good listening make such a positive difference in my day-to-day life. Tisha goes above and beyond to care for students and library staff, especially during stressful times of the semester like finals week.”
Beyond the library, Tisha is also known for her thoughtful planning and coordination of community enrichment activities, such as a spooky haiku contest in October, a blackout poetry create-and-share station during National Poetry Month, and relaxation activities for finals week each semester, like a pet gram exchange, meditative crafting spaces, and an annual “pupsicles” dog-and-ice-cream social. “Tisha works to create community on campus for the students by hosting/creating events for community engagement, having the library workers come together for monthly lunches, and by being intentional to interact with the students (through chapel, in her office, etc.) whenever she is able,” another nominator says. “Her friendly demeanor, immense kindness, and her care for the students and the community are what make her perfect for this award.”
“For many of our employees, the Seminary is more than just a place to work; it’s a place to connect with a community working together toward a shared mission of investing in the future of the Church by preparing people for ministry,” says President Asa Lee. “As we work to shape this future, it is paramount that we model within our own organization the values we wish to see in the world beyond it. Tisha’s joyfulness and thoughtful investment in the welfare of her on-campus neighbors are manifestations of the spirit of care and connection that the Seminary aims to nurture in the wider world. PTS is incredibly blessed to have someone who lives out these values so consistently as a part of our campus community.”
The Calian Award was established by PTS President Emeritus the Rev. Dr. Carnegie (Sam) Calian, his wife, Doris, and their children.