Work

University of Washington

Located in Seattle, Washington, the University of Washington (UW) also has campuses in Bothell and Tacoma, Washington. The UW is the flagship public institution for Washington state. The UW Seattle campus educates more than 48,000 students annually and employs over 4,500 faculty members. The Seattle campus is classified as an R1 Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity with a research expenditure of $1.89B in sponsored grants and contracts. The Seattle campus includes 17 schools and colleges.

Senior Associate Dean, Research & Learning Services
8/2022 – present
Associate Dean for Research & Learning Services
12/2019 – 8/2022

Additional Interim Roles
Co-Interim Assistant Dean for Administrative Services
7/2021 – 8/2022
Co-Interim Dean
7/2021 – 8/2021

As Senior Associate Dean and Co-Interim Assistant Dean for Administrative Services: Work closely with the Dean and Co-Interim Assistant Dean/Senior Associate Dean to ensure the Libraries serve the needs and aspirational goals of the University. Work with Dean and Co-Interim Assistant Dean/Senior Associate Dean to lead the tri-campus Libraries’ Cabinet. Partner in developing budget, staffing, and labor strategy for the University Libraries. Responsible for the strategy and work of the Assessment and Planning, Communication, and Facilities and Events units.

As Associate Dean for Research & Learning Services: Responsible for vision and strategic operations, change management, policy and program development, and oversight of operations, personnel, and budget for the Access Services, Information Technology Services and Digital Strategies, Learning Services, Research Services, and Scholarly Communication and Publishing units. Responsible for space and services for the main Suzzallo and Allen Libraries, the Odegaard Undergraduate Library, eight subject library branches, and an offsite repository facility. Work closely with other senior leaders to ensure services and collections are responsive to the needs of diverse user groups. Supervise nine direct reports and approximately 130 staff members, including most subject librarians. Represent Libraries public services with external senior leaders and organizations outside of the University of Washington. Nurture an inclusive environment that supports diversity, inclusion, and equity. Maintain a deep understanding of the changing role of academic libraries in the 21st century including physical spaces, digital infrastructure, student success, online learning, open educational resources, emerging research practices, trends in scholarly communication, and knowledge curation to enable the work of University of Washington faculty, staff, and students.

As Co-Interim Dean: Worked closely with Associate Dean for Collections and Content as Co-Interim Deans for the University of Washington Libraries. Responsible for the tri-campus environment including 350 staff (148 librarians) and 16 libraries. Dean of Libraries is an active participant in the Provost’s Board of Deans and Chancellors and supervises six Associate Deans, two Assistant Deans, and the Director of the University of Washington Press. During this period, continued monthly all-staff town hall meetings and sent weekly email updates to Libraries staff across the three campuses.

Key projects as Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean include:

  • Operationalizing consultative leadership practices for RLS while effectively moving projects forward. Instituted weekly touch-base meetings for Directors to foster collegiality and cooperation, monthly departmental updates to increase shared understanding of portfolio work, and open agendas and minutes for transparency and accountability.
  • Representing Libraries in the UW Negotiating Team for initial SEIU 925 Libraries contract.
  • Co-leading UW Libraries planning and implementation for expanded off-site collections storage and renovation of existing libraries spaces in partnership with the Information School and Campus Architecture and Planning.
  • Advancing the Libraries’ commitment to justice and equity through leadership for, or participation in, all Cabinet projects centered on equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Led an RLS policy review process.
  • Leading Libraries COVID-19 public service response strategy and implementation through shepherding strategy, internal communication, and external messaging. Created an Online Learning & Innovation unit to support all Libraries operations during this period. Worked with fellow Associate Dean to charge a new UW Libraries Seattle Directors group to operationalize our COVID-19 response. Led Cabinet planning to create documentation to support caregivers while working remotely.
  • Enabling reimagining of current physical space and infrastructure needs through mentoring and support for the Open Scholarship Commons co-chairs. Secured central funding to remodel ground floor of the main library in support of this project and to enable one point of service for aligned units across the University.
  • Initiating the development of a digital space, data, and infrastructure plan through an internal appreciative inquiry that is informed by faculty and student needs assessment data. Building consensus with UW Libraries stakeholders on a digital infrastructure planning process.
  • Supporting advancement efforts through presentations and event facilitation.

Association of College & Research Libraries

At the time, the Association of College & Research Libraries represented more than 10,000 individuals and libraries. ACRL develops programs, products, and services to help all academic and research librarians learn, innovate, and lead within the academic community. ACRL publishing includes CHOICE, books publishing, College & Research Libraries, and C&RL News.

Past President
7/2019 – 07/2020
President
6/2018 – 07/2019
Vice President/President Elect
7/2017 – 06/2018

Election to ACRL’s chief leadership role is a three-year appointment of deep engagement with ACRL staff and member leaders. Throughout this appointment participated in weekly phone calls with the Executive Director and Presidents, advised the creation of agendas, monitored the division’s strategic goals, identified actions in the best interest of the association and of the profession, and recommended actions to the Board of Directors.

As President: Chaired the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and was responsible for planning and facilitating meetings of the Board, Leadership Council, and membership meetings. Created an effective environment for the Board to conduct its work. Held broad communication responsibilities including presenting Excellence Awards at on-campus ceremonies and presiding over opening ceremony at the ACRL Conference.

Accomplishments included:

  • Advocated for ACRL’s adoption and implementation of the Core Commitment for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). My President’s Program centered on organizational change in support of building more equitable, diverse, and inclusive libraries. <https://acrl.libguides.com/2019presidentsprogram>
  • Demonstrated strong executive leadership and shared governance expertise in planning the annual Strategic Planning and Orientation Session for the Board and senior staff to clarify our commitment to EDI and develop a plan for implementation. Contributed to changes for committee appointment processes to support the new Core Commitment.
  • Advocated for, represented, and promoted ACRL and academic librarianship for the ALA legislative agenda, speaking on background for the Chronicle for Higher Education, and quoted in Inside Higher Ed. Brought a deep understanding of the changing role of academic libraries in the 21st century including open access, digital scholarship, physical spaces, student success, online learning, innovation, open educational resources, scholarly communication, knowledge curation, the continued development of both print and digital collections, and the role of libraries in building more equitable communities.
  • Demonstrated a deep understanding of the mission of academic libraries, representing ACRL for ten local chapters and in meetings of the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, the Coalition for Networked Information, the Orbis Cascade Alliance, and Ex Libris Users of North America.
  • Served as Ex Officio for the Budget and Finance Committee as Vice President, participated in twice- annual budget and finance meetings for the three-year term.
  • Collaborated with other association leadership to partner in support of equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.
  • Spoke at all donor events and personally thanked all individual donors during presidential year.

University of Washington Tacoma

The UW Tacoma campus is classified as a Master’s College & University: Larger Programs. The UW Tacoma is a member of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities and is a recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. The campus enrolls over 5,000 students in eight schools and institutes.

UW Libraries Library Director, UW Tacoma &
Associate Dean, UW Libraries
9/2015 – 11/2019

As Director of the UW Tacoma Library and Associate Dean of UW Libraries: Reported to the Dean and Vice Provost of University Libraries with a dotted-line relationship to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the UW Tacoma campus. Responsible for strategic visioning, policy and program development, operations and personnel, and overall innovation and excellence in the UW Tacoma Library. Responsible for a biennial budget of approximately $4M independent from the UW Libraries budget. Provided leadership for transformational and user-centered services, integrated educational and curricular programs, mentoring and staff development at all levels, an inclusive environment that prioritizes diversity, a responsive collection, assessment, and marketing of services. Worked closely with the Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, to continually meet these responsibilities and anticipate future needs. Fostered cross-campus communication, coordination, and collaboration. Active participant in the UW Libraries Cabinet. Built strong collaborative relationships with senior administrators for both UW Tacoma and UW Libraries.

Accomplishments as Director of the UW Tacoma Library included:

  • Introduced and implemented processes for Library strategic planning within the context of the UW Libraries and the UW Tacoma campus. Implemented a strategic vision that reimagined the Library with goals that supported each organization’s strategic plan.
  • Secured Library representation on key campus committees that previously did not include librarians or library staff: Faculty Assembly Executive Committee, Learning and Retention Council, Student Success Council, Campus Budget Committee, Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee, and the Academic Affairs Leadership Team.
  • Assessed campus needs and repurposed vacant librarian lines in support of those needs: Collections and Budget Librarian, Instructional Design Librarian, First Year Experience Librarian, and Data and Digital Scholarship Librarian.
  • Facilitated a collaborative process to define “subject librarianship” for the UW Tacoma community and a collaborative process to redistribute subject areas across all librarian lines.
  • Built processes to support existing inclusive culture while clarifying where decisions were made in the organization. Built transparent processes to enable quicker decision making while fostering collegiality, cooperation, and consensus building.
  • Created process for more transparent budgeting discussions within the Library. Secured operational funding for an additional library staff member, administrative stipend for Associate Director, and funding partial reemployment of retired staff member. Partnered with advancement to enable funding a temporary staff member for the Founding Stories oral history program.
  • Facilitated the creation of equity statement for the Library, reviewed of the UW Tacoma Library Code of Conduct for equity and inclusion issues, supported community programming like RealLit, and approved the adoption of a land acknowledgment statement for the Library.
  • Worked with the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, and campus space planners on pre-design phase for a Learning Commons that brought the Center for Equity and Inclusion into the Library facility. Advocated for student, faculty, and Library needs throughout the process.
  • Sought out opportunities to redeploy spaces in strategic ways, e.g. secured funding and worked with campus to successfully convert a restroom to be all-gender. Converted a previously occupied public- facing and glass-walled office into a graduate student space.
  • Established “Publish and Flourish” with the Office of Research to celebrate faculty publications.
  • Partnered with library directors of other South Sound academic, public, and school libraries to engage and amplify the outreach and social mission of the UW Tacoma Library and other libraries in the region.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Nine colleges and a graduate school enroll 37,000 students. As a Carnegie ranked Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.

Director of Learning Environments, Virginia Tech University Libraries
7/2014 – 8/2015
Associate Director of Learning and Outreach, Virginia Tech University Libraries
2/2013 – 6/2014

As Director of Learning Environments: Led, developed, and managed the new Learning Environments unit. Responsible for vision and strategic operations, change management, policy and program development, and oversight of operations, personnel, budget. Learning Environments was comprised of Academic Programing, Access Services, Community Engagement, Learning Spaces, Online Learning, Reference, and Roving Services. Managed physical space and provided mechanisms and opportunities for feedback from students, faculty, and Libraries employees on space development. Defined the University Libraries’ role as a learning environment, built continuity between physical and virtual interactions and services, and facilitated physical and digital space improvements.

As Associate Director of Learning and Outreach: Led and supported numerous learning, outreach, and engagement initiatives. Operationalized the vision developed within the unit through collaborations across campus and via inter-departmental teams. Partnered with Student Affairs to integrate the Libraries into their Unconference. Designed and built an outreach unit to communicate the new role of the Libraries to the campus and external community.

Accomplishments in these positions included:

  • Worked closely with Dean and Associate Dean to create and execute a strategic vision that reimagined the role of the University Libraries. Worked with the Associate Dean for Learning and the Assistant Director for Learning Services to create and execute vision, mission, and measurable goals for the new Learning Division of the University Libraries.
  • Developed intranet, meeting structure, and processes to create an inclusive, collegial, and consensus- building culture for a new Learning Environments department that was created through a Libraries- wide reorganization.
  • Led the Learning Environments leadership group to evolve circulation, reference, roving, and other departmental services based on contemporary practices and faculty, students, and staff needs and desires. Supervised student internship on library spaces. Co-led two classroom renovations.
  • Co-developed a two-day workshop, “Library 101,” to introduce non-MLIS holding professional staff to the values, perspectives, and culture of academic librarianship and create a more inclusive organization.
  • Participated in developing custom online and physical learning environments for faculty across a number of disciplines; designed the Libraries’ approach to developing learning environments in the future.
  • Worked closely with Associate Dean for Learning & Outreach to form a Student Advisory Board.

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private collegiate university with a liberal arts curriculum. It holds a Carnegie classification of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. Wake Forest University has a total university enrollment of over 8,750 across six colleges and schools.

Head of Instruction, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
7/2011 – 2/2013
Instructional Design Librarian, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
7/2007 – 7/2011
Microtext Specialist, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
11/2003 – 6/2007

As Head of Instruction: Provided strategic leadership and direction for the planning, development, and management of the Library’s instruction program. Responsible for all library instruction including credit- bearing courses, guest speaker library sessions, and online tutorials. Planned and offered ongoing professional development for library instructors across the main campus. Administered LIB100/200 program. Led efforts to assess learning and provide consistency for library courses. Promoted academic benefit of courses to larger University community. Provided reference services, managed monograph budget, and as served as liaison to Philosophy, Women and Gender Studies, and the Teaching and Learning Center.

As Instructional Design Librarian: Introduced instructional design to campus as the sole instructional designer at the University. Forecasted emerging technology scenarios and adapted Library services as needed. Developed, contributed to, and provided services through technology and digital scholarship pilots. Consulted on the introduction of open access and digital humanities. Provided regular reference services. Taught credit-bearing information literacy courses. Coordinated between technology and reference units in the library. Managed monograph budget and liaised with Women’s and Gender Studies, Philosophy, and Teaching and Learning Center.

As Microtext Specialist: Directly supported faculty, staff, students, and public in accessing microforms collection. Developed procedures and recommended policies for internal departmental operations. Copy cataloged incoming state and federal government documents. Led and managed 20 to 25 student workers each semester. As a volunteer, co-taught library classes and provided in-person and virtual reference services.

Accomplishments across these positions included:

  • Developed and taught the first online undergraduate course at Wake Forest University.
  • Presented the case for online learning, and the Library’s role in education, to various stakeholders including college faculty, the Provost, and the College Board of Visitors. Directly contributed to the Provost’s and Dean of the College’s planning during early discussions about Wake Forest University’s first online degree program.
  • Introduced Instructional Design to the campus community, advocated for additional staff support for this work, partnered with the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center to select the appropriate person for the role, and worked closely with successful candidates so that they could learn campus culture and establish the Teaching and Learning Center as the place to get Instructional Design support.
  • Led strategic planning initiative for Library instruction and academic technologies.
  • Led and coordinated effort to produce community-driven learning outcomes.
  • Developed new evaluation and assessment models for LIB100/200.
  • Created, proposed, and implemented the Library’s first social media strategic plan with Library’s Web Services Librarian.
  • Created a local learning objects repository framework.
  • Only library employee to serve on both library strategic planning committees.
  • Created and maintained student wiki, which led to creation of a library-wide intranet and library-wide student training wiki.