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Editor’s note: Hero photo captured by Nicholas McLaughlin. This article originally appeared in the summer 2025 edition of art/sci. Read more from this issue.

 has immersed herself in the world of children’s literature for the past decade, studying how stories shape perceptions of race, age and identity. As a lecturer in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø â€™ writing program, she explores these themes in her courses, research and a book slated to be published next year by . The book analyzes children’s books that include health and wellness messaging.

But her work extends far into the community as well.

Byrne (GRS ’11, ’16, English) developed Book Buddies, a program that connects her students with second graders at  in Cleveland Heights through pen-pal letters, one-on-one reading sessions and frequent visits—to Noble and the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø campus. Byrne’s students carefully select books covering a range of voices and perspectives and then meet with the younger students for meaningful conversations that foster a love of reading.

Byrne, also a researcher at the Schubert Center for Child Studies on campus, believes children’s literature can build bridges—inside and outside the classroom.