New Library Dean Announced

Ms. Simmons-Welburn currently is associate dean at the University of Arizona Libraries, where her responsibilities include administration of daily operations of the libraries; collaboration with the assistant dean for external relations on development and implementation of fundraising plans; management of team leader review processes; and final recommendations on continuing status and promotion cases for librarians.  She also holds interim responsibility for management of the Digital Library and Information Systems team, which includes the libraries' computing infrastructure and information technology goals for the library and campus.  In making the announcement, Dr. Wake said "Janice brings a wealth of experience in academic library leadership, a strong vision for the future, and valuable national connections.  I invite you to welcome her to the Marquette community."

Prior to her 2003 appointment at Arizona, Simmons-Welburn held several positions at the University of Iowa Libraries: director of central public services and facilities (2000-03); director of human resources and central processing (1995-2000); and head of information and instructional services (1990-95).  Earlier, Simmons-Welburn held librarian positions at New York University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Indiana University (as interim head of the Medical Sciences Library), and Princeton University (as head of the Psychology Library). She also served as a librarian for the Indianapolis-Marian County Public Library and at Bishop College in Dallas, where she began her professional career.

Simmons-Welburn has published extensively and made numerous presentations in her fields of interest in librarianship. She co-edited the 2004 book Human Resources Management in Today's Academic Library: Meeting Challenges and Creating Opportunities (Greenwood Press) and is currently on the editorial board of the journal, Portal: Libraries and the Academy, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. She is vice chair/chair-elect of the University Libraries Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

Simmons-Welburn earned a bachelor of arts in history at Bishop College and a master of arts in American history focusing on the antebellum South at Atlanta University. She earned a master of science in library and information studies from Atlanta University in 1978.

As chief officer of the libraries, Simmons-Welburn will be responsible for development of a vision based on the university's mission and vision; the direction of planning within the context of changes in academic libraries, the disciplines of the university, and society; oversight of recruitment, development, and evaluation of librarians and staff; and securing resources through fundraising, budget negotiation, grants and contracts. "The issues of digital resources, the changing nature of scholarly communication and advances in technology will require new resources and skills for everyone," Simmons-Welburn says. "As these issues arise, we need to teach lifelong skills to our students and make sure faculty have the needed resources for scholarship and research. That means having the right people and what the librarians and staff of Raynor Memorial Libraries have done is most impressive. I hope to continue the journey that Marquette and Dr. Burckel have started in collaborating with the university community."

The search committee was chaired by Dr. Margaret Bloom, vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching, and also included Mr. Matt Blessing, head of Special Collections and University Archives; Mr. Christopher Daniel (Arts ’87), library acquisitions technician; Dr. Michael Patrick Gillespie, Louise Edna Goeden Professor of English; Dr. Keenan Grenell, associate provost for diversity; Mr. Alberto Herrera, Jr., coordinator of library research services; Ms. Martha Jerme, research services librarian; Dr. Michael Ryan, professor of chemistry; and Dr. Barbara Silver-Thorn, associate professor of biomedical engineering.