Last week’s visit from the Provost’s office was nothing short of fantastic. The event showcased the dedication each one of you puts into our Library day in and day out. Your commitment has made it effortless for us to boast about the important work happening here.
Bringing Provost John Coleman and his team into our space allowed them to see firsthand the teeming atmosphere, the innovative projects, and the collaborative spirit that defines our Library. Along with Provost Coleman, we had Bill Bernhard (Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Budget and Resource Planning), Kevin Jackson (Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education), Luis Canales (Associate Provost for Illinois International), Mairéad Martin (Chief Information Officer), and Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko (Dean of the Graduate College) here.
The lightning talks we had from eight of our esteemed colleagues below highlighted the work being done in various areas and demonstrated the invaluable role we play in fulfilling the university’s mission and vision. I am continually inspired by the expertise that define us.
Thank you to our presenters (in order of presentation):
- Jennifer Teper – Heavy Metals Project
- Antonio Sotomayor – Self-directed Faculty Research
- Bethany Anderson – Native American Materials
- Heidi Imker – Research Data Service
- Mary Ton – Digital Humanities
- Celenia Graves – IDEA Lab
- Maria Emerson – Student Success
- Jessica Ballard – Black Student Enrollment Research Project
Also, a big thank you to those who worked behind the scenes to make this visit a success. This includes Sara Berthier, Kristen Blankenship, Christina Bonse, Erik Chapman, Evie Cordell, Neil Feuerhelm, JP Goguen, Eric Kurt, Heather Murphy, Tim Newman, Tom Teper, and Hannah Williams.
I am immensely proud to work alongside each one of you. Your dedication makes it easy for me to brag about our Library, not just because of the spaces and information resources we have, but because of the remarkable individuals who bring those resources to life.
Claire Stewart
The Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian