The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is pleased to welcome Tori Willis as its new operations director. In this role, Tori will support organizational operations, strengthen internal systems and processes, and help advance MLS’s mission of empowering libraries across the Commonwealth.
Tori brings more than 20 years of experience in operations, administration, strategic planning, and organizational leadership across the nonprofit, education, and human services sectors. Most recently, she served as director of operations and culture at the Initiative for Energy Justice at Northeastern University School of Law, where she provided leadership in financial management, human resources coordination, organizational planning, and workplace culture. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving operational effectiveness, building collaborative teams, and creating systems that support organizational success.
Tori holds a Master of Management from Cambridge College and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership at Northeastern University, where her research focuses on organizational culture, leadership, and the alignment between institutional values and practices.
Passionate about people and organizational effectiveness, Tori believes strong operations are the foundation of meaningful organizational impact. She looks forward to contributing her experience and collaborative leadership approach to MLS while supporting its staff, member libraries, and the communities they serve.
Outside of work, Tori enjoys traveling, shopping, discovering new places, and cheering on her favorite Boston sports teams. A proud Bostonian, she is an avid fan of Boston sports and enjoys every opportunity to support her hometown teams.
