Felton Thomas, Jr. was appointed Director of the Cleveland Public Library (CPL) in January 2009. Since then, he has positioned CPL as a community deficit fighter and launched initiatives aimed at addressing community needs in the areas of technology, education, and economic development.

Felton earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from The University of Nevada-Las Vegas and his Masters in Library Science from The University of Hawaii. His awards and accomplishments include being named a “Mover and Shaker” by the Library Journal, and acting as a fellow in the Urban Library Council’s Executive Leadership Institute. He is a past President of the Public Library Association, and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Cleveland. Felton currently serves as a trustee on the boards of United Way of Greater Cleveland, University Circle Inc., Greater Cleveland Food Bank, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cleveland School of the Arts, where he serves as President. Most recently, Felton was named the 2019 Community Leader of the Year by Cleveland Magazine.

Felton lives in Shaker Heights with his wife and two daughters, is an accomplished musician, and has become a devoted Cleveland sports fan since his arrival on the shores of Lake Erie.