Walnut Creek Library Foundation Board and Staff

Our Staff

Joanna Grossman

Executive Director

Joanna Grossman joined WCLF as the permanent Executive Director in June following a six-month stint as its Interim Executive Director.

Joanna will help guide strategic direction, and the overall operations, including programming, donor relations and community engagement.

A seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience in the field, Joanna previously served as Executive Director of the Walnut Creek Education Foundation. Joanna describes herself as an avid reader and sports fan. She helps bring joy to school children with her volunteer work with her certified therapy dog Dugan.

Joanna can be reached at joanna@wclibrary.org.

Database Manager

Alison McDaniel

Alison McDaniel joined WCLF in June of 2026 as its Database Manager, and brings valuable experience in database administration, data management, and systems oversight.

In this role, Alison will lead efforts to strengthen our data infrastructure, support informed decision-making and fundraising efforts including WCLF’s Authors Gala, and help ensure the accuracy and integrity of our systems.

Alison is a longtime Walnut Creek resident, the mom to three amazing young women, and is looking forward to helping our Walnut Creek public libraries thrive.

Alison can be reached at database@wclibrary.org.

Walnut Creek Library Foundation Mourns the Passing of Board Member Ward Pynn

The Walnut Creek Library Foundation (WCLF) is deeply saddened to share the passing of Board of Directors member Ward Pynn, whose decades of service helped shape the Foundation and strengthen our community’s libraries.

Ward played a foundational role in the creation of WCLF. In 1998, he prepared the articles of incorporation, bylaws, federal and California exemption applications and charitable registration. Just months later, he was named one of the Foundation’s 10 original Board members and served as its first Vice President. He served on the WCLF Board for 28 years. As a Board member, Ward handled WCLF taxes and some of the Foundation's financial management needs, including an endowment policy in 2004. He also organized an annual workshop series called Finance 101. Ward also played key roles in capital upgrades to the Ygnacio Valley Library and in the development and construction of the Walnut Creek Library.  

Ward’s enthusiasm, wit, and energy will be greatly missed.