University Faculty Scholarship
Publications and Grants

Cat Ellis

Sr. Assistant Librariancellis@sdsu.eduorcid.org/0000-0002-8578-3256

Appointments

Mary Catherine “Cat” Ellis is Health Sciences & Evidence Synthesis Librarian at San Diego State University, serving as liaison to the Schools of Nursing and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Her research focuses on neurodiversity, accessibility, and critical health literacy.

  • Senior Assistant Librarian, 2023-Present
    University Library, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, US

  • Master's of Science in Library Science, 2020-2022
    Information Science, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, US
  • Bachelor of Arts, 2018-2020
    Anthropology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, US
  • Associate of Arts, 2016-2018
    San Antonio College, San Antonio, Texas, US

  • Consumer Health Information Specialization, Level II, 2025-2028
    Medical Library Association, Chicago, Illinois, US
  • Data Services Specialization, Level I, 2024-2027
    Medical Library Association, Chicago, Illinois, US

  • 2025-Present
    California Academic & Research Libraries, N/A, California, US
  • 2024-Present
    Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona, N/A, US
  • 2022-Present
    Medical Library Association, Chicago, IL, US

  • Chair, 2025-2026
    Accessibility & Disability Caucus, Medical Library Association, Chicago, Illinois, US
  • Chair-Elect, 2024-2025
    Accessibility & Disability Caucus, Medical Library Association, Chicago, Illinois, US

Profile updated November 11, 2026.

Grants

Mapping California State University's Evidence Synthesis Output: An Evidence Map
Cat Ellis
California Academic & Research Libraries, 2025 - 2026, USD 339.00
Academic libraries California State University Reference services (Libraries) Systematic reviews (Medical research)
The Spectrum of Data: Visualizing Autism Statistics
Cat Ellis
Network of the National Library of Medicine, 2024 - 2024, USD 500.00
Autism Information visualization Public health Statistics

Scholarship

Academic Publications

"It’s more than the building”: An autistic librarian’s perspective on library accessibility
Cat Ellis
Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Academic Libraries, 2025, book chapter
Academic libraries Accessible Web sites for people with disabilities Autistic people Computer-assisted instruction
Consumer health information resources for autistic adults
Cat Ellis
Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 2024, journal article
Autism Autistic people Health literacy

Academic Conferences

Krafting an Evidence Synthesis Program: A Mapping Review of Evidence Synthesis Published by a Teaching-Centric University System
Rachel Keiko Stark; Dawn E. Hackman; Cat Ellis; Yuqi He; Essy Barroso-Ramirez
Mla’26: Cultured Collaborations, 2026, conference paper
California State University Library science Reference services (Libraries) Research methods Systematic reviews (Medical research)
Mapping Evidence Synthesis Production in the CSUs: Reproducibility, the Role of Librarians, and Opportunities for the Future
Cat Ellis; Essy Barroso-Ramirez; Yuqi He; Dawn Hackman
Carl 2026 Virtual Conference, 2026, conference paper
California State University Reference services (Libraries) Systematic reviews (Medical research)
Booked for wellness: Mental health kits for academic libraries
Cat Ellis
Mla '25, 2025, conference poster
Academic libraries Bibliotherapy Information services Mental health
New directions in self-directed programming at the academic library
Cat Ellis
Ala Annual Conference, 2024, conference poster
Academic libraries Library outreach programs Self-managed learning
Surveying library accessibility
Cat Ellis
American Association for the Advancement of Science-Pacific Division, 2024, conference poster
Academic libraries Libraries and people with disabilities Library surveys

How do consumer health websites talk about Autism?
Cat Ellis
Medical Library Association Meeting, 2022, conference poster
Autism Electronic information resource literacy Health literacy Internet
How do websites talk about autism?
Cat Ellis
South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, 2022, conference paper
Autism Electronic information resource literacy Health literacy Internet

Data and Process

Mapping California State University’s Evidence Synthesis Output: A Protocol for an Evidence Map
Cat Ellis
2026, research technique