As the Associate Professor and South Asian Studies Librarian, Mara has a wide range of responsibilities, including collection development, research, instruction, reference support, and committee work both within and outside the library. Her areas of expertise are Hinduism, Indic Languages, and South Asian Studies. Although outreach and public engagement are not officially part of Mara’s responsibilities, she has shown a strong interest in these areas during her nine years at the University Library to enhance the Library’s collections and services for patrons.

Nominators have praised Mara for leading the International and Area Studies’ outreach efforts. She established the Chai Wai speaker’s series, which is now in its 8th year and serves as one of IAS’ primary methods for engaging the campus and local community in important conversations on contemporary topics related to the library’s collections, campus expertise, and public interest. Mara has also collaborated widely with colleagues across the library and other campus units to organize larger and more impactful events. For example, she recently secured a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant to host a community-wide Big Read. Mara’s leadership on this project led to partnerships with Krannert and Spurlock museums and a series of events on campus and in the community, including local businesses and public libraries, showcasing the university’s resources. The news coverage of the series reached readers across Central Illinois and attracted over 5,500 participants.

In addition, Mara, along with her colleagues, founded and launched the open-access Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement and is currently serving as its editor. Mara integrates her intellectual and professional expertise to amplify the impact of public engagement not just within the University of Illinois and local community but also within the broader profession.