Meet new library trustees Peg Dunlap & Jim Ramos
The Mayor of Topeka recently appointed Peg Dunlap and Jim Ramos to serve on the Library Board of Trustees. Both trustees will serve on the board through 2025.
Peg Dunlap
Peg Dunlap is a native Kansan and she's lived in Topeka for 35 years. She trained as an elementary school teacher at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Northwestern University. After 12 years in the classroom in Cedar Rapids, IA, Dunlap moved to Topeka to become Director of Instructional Advocacy for Kansas National Education Association (KNEA). She worked at KNEA for 25 years advocating for teachers and teaching. Dunlap has served on the boards of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Meals on Wheels of Shawnee and Jefferson Counties, the Mulvane Art Museum, and the Kansas Commission on National and Community Service. In retirement she serves as a CASA, assists with fundraisers for CASA and Child Care Aware, and is a member of the Junior League of Topeka and Topeka Jazz Workshop. Her hobbies include cooking, gardening and reading – taking full advantage of all the library has to offer. Dunlap was married for more than 30 years to David Monical, former library trustee, until his death in May 2021. Their grandson, Miles, is a student at Washburn University.
Book questions
We asked Dunlap a couple questions about her reading.
What is the best book you read this year?
“Best book this year: I’m a former teacher. This is like asking me to name my best student. I can’t. I read in a multitude of genres and have favorites in each. If FORCED to name one, it would be Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series - not new, but new to me. He is a supremely talented, gentle but forceful, thoughtful leader. Good qualities that don’t always occur simultaneously.”
Which book character would you like to be stranded in an elevator with and why?
“Biography and autobiography count, right? I would enjoy being stuck with Judith Jones, an editor at Knopf. She shepherded Julia Child and a multitude of others and produced some of the classic cookery books of our time. I love to cook and read about cooking and appreciate her wisdom in identifying talent. And, her autobiography is delightful.”
Jim Ramos
Jim Ramos is a proud member of the 13 Marketing/WIBW family. He said he loves using more than 30 years of sales experience to help develop, customize and grow businesses using a wide variety of marketing solutions.Ramos was born and raised in Topeka. He has lived all over the country but has come home to the community he loves. He said he feels honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Topeka South Rotary, Topeka Public Schools Foundation, and now on the Library Board of Trustees.
"I see the library's role in the community as providing education, promoting literacy, and enhancing and developing creativity," said Ramos. "As a trustee I look forward to educating myself and doing my part to promote and support the mission and values of our amazing library."Ramos previously served on the ArtsConnect Board and the Board of CASA of Shawnee County, where he is also an active volunteer. He served as an ambassador with the Topeka Chamber of Commerce. Ramos has been involved with the American Cancer Society as a multi-year Relay for Life team captain. He has served on the Celebration Walk Committee at Midland Care. Ramos is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corp.
Ramos has acted since he was 8, mostly in theatre, but has also acted in television, film, industrials, commercials and voiceover work. Ramos said his passion, however, is live theatre. Having acted professionally, he now does it just for “the fun and love of it.” In 2010 Ramos was inducted into the Topeka Civic Theatre Hall of Fame. He continues to be very active with the Theatre with his wife and children. Ramos is married to the love of his life, Shelley, and has 9 children and 8 grandchildren.Book Questions
We asked Ramos a couple questions about his reading.
What is the best book you read this year?
“John Grisham's A Time to Kill”
Which book character would you like to be stranded in an elevator with and why?
"Gandalf. Who wouldn't want to hang out with a wizard who can read your mind?!"
Library Board of Trustees
The 2021 Board of Trustees are led by Chair Jim Edwards, Vice Chair Kacy Simonsen, Secretary Joan Hicks, and Treasurer Shawn Leisinger. Other members of 2021 Board of Trustees are Immediate Past Chair Liz Post, Kristen Brunkow O’Shea, Beth Dobler and Jennifer Miller. The 10-member library board is comprised of seven representatives appointed by the Mayor of Topeka and three representatives appointed by the Shawnee County Commission.
