Paula Settoon

Paula Settoon is a visionary leader and seasoned library professional with over three decades of experience in academic and public libraries. Currently serving as the Dean of Libraries and Knowledge Management at Tulsa Community College (TCC), Paula oversees libraries across four campuses, while fostering innovation in knowledge systems, strategic planning, and student engagement. Paula is also the Accreditation Liaison Officer for the College as well as the coordinator of a $3.7 million Post Secondary Success Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Under Paula’s leadership the TCC Library was named the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries. 

Paula's career spans a broad range of leadership roles, including Interim Executive Director at Northeastern State University (NSU) Libraries. In her public library career, Paula led 19 branches at Tulsa City-County Library, establishing the Youth Services Department and overseeing numerous system-wide innovations. 

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Paula has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community service through the Junior League of Tulsa. As an active member, she held leadership roles as the Vice President of Communications and Chair of Strategic Planning, where she enhanced public relations efforts and helped chart the organization's future. Her tenure also included chairing the Gilcrease Museum Task Force and Holiday Market, where she excelled in partnership development, event planning, and fundraising. Her work helped strengthen community engagement and provided vital support to Tulsa's cultural and nonprofit sectors. 

Beyond her professional and JLT achievements, Paula is a passionate advocate for other nonprofit work. She is currently in her second term as president at the Community Action Project (CAP) Tulsa, the largest Head Start provider in the region. Paula has also volunteered for the Tulsa Area United Way serving as the employee campaign coordinator and co-chairing community investment panels for nearly a decade. 

Paula chairs the Board of Directors for the Amigos Library Services, a not-for-profit membership-based organization dedicated to serving libraries through the sharing of collections, services, and training. Additionally, she is the president of Tulsa Chautauqua, a living history program run entirely by volunteers. Paula's legacy is defined by her ability to inspire innovation, build collaborative networks, and champion equitable access to education and resources, all of which underscore her enduring impact on both the education sector and the broader community.