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Dean of Libraries and University Librarian

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications and nominations for a visionary, innovative, and collaborative strategic leader to serve as the Dean of Libraries & University Librarian. VCU Libraries is a people-centered, mission-driven community within a leading urban, public research university, supporting student success, research and innovation, scholarly and creative expression, and clinical care. The Libraries encompass the James Branch Cabell Library (Monroe Park Campus), the Health Sciences Library (MCV Campus), and the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library, with global collaboration through VCUarts Qatar.

VCU Libraries has earned national recognition, including Library Journal’s 2016 New Landmark Libraries Award for Cabell Library, the 2018 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, and the 2020 MLA Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Dean will provide strategic leadership for VCU Libraries’ mission of transforming our communities by enriching scholarship, learning, creative endeavors, and clinical care through inclusive and equitable teaching, collections, and leadership. The Dean will lead VCU Libraries colleagues through promoting learning and teaching success; advancing research, collaboration, and discovery; fostering scholarly and creative expression; invigorating collaboration and intellectual pursuit; and improving health and wellbeing. The Dean will steward budgets and facilities; recruit, develop, and retain exceptional library faculty and staff; and serve as an effective advocate and communicator for the Libraries’ mission, achievements, and impact. As part of VCU’s senior leadership, the Dean collaborates with VCU Deans and VCU Health leaders to realize One VCU aspirations.

Leadership Opportunities

Provide Visionary Leadership for VCU Libraries

The Dean will contribute to, shape, and implement the VCU Libraries Strategic Framework 2028, aligning with Quest 2028: One VCU Together We Transform. This includes maintaining commitment to access while elevating VCU Libraries’ national reputation as one of the preeminent research library systems in the country. The Dean will be forward-looking, anticipating shifts in scholarly communication, data and AI, digital scholarship, and health sciences information dynamics, building on current successes and driving future growth and impact.

Advance the Profile of VCU Libraries

The Dean will embrace the distinctiveness of VCU Libraries and work to build its reputation and visibility in a competitive environment. This requires articulating a compelling value proposition to students and parents, championing research support and community impact, conveying the Libraries’ unique advantages to faculty, clinicians, and partners, supporting library faculty and staff as thought leaders, and promoting the success of alumni and Friends of VCU Libraries.

Foster Impactful Research, Digital Scholarship, and Publishing

Research is central to VCU’s mission. The Dean will develop and implement a vision for research support and scholarly expression: strengthening research lifecycle services (data planning, curation, sharing and compliance), expanding digital libraries initiatives and repository and publishing services, advancing open scholarship and rights education, and increasing visibility of library-enabled impact across disciplines and the health sciences.

Enhance Student Success and Learning

The Dean will scale library-enabled pedagogy and student-facing services, including open and affordable course content initiatives, information and data literacy, systematic review training, makerspaces, and multimedia support. The Dean will embrace online and hybrid learning and innovative methods that enrich the educational experience for undergraduate, graduate, and first professional students.

Grow Increased Philanthropic Support for VCU Libraries

In partnership with Development and Alumni Relations and Friends of VCU Libraries, the Dean will be an energetic relationship builder and storyteller who makes fundraising a top priority. The Dean will engage alumni, friends, foundations, and corporations to grow philanthropic support, including endowments for strategic priorities such as open and affordable course content.

Facilitate Enhanced Engagement and Partnerships with VCU Health and the Richmond Community

Richmond is home to diverse sectors, and VCU Health anchors regional clinical excellence. The Dean will actively engage with community and clinical partners, forming strategic collaborations, embedding librarians in interdisciplinary initiatives, and facilitating experiential learning opportunities that address real-world needs in health, arts, culture, and civic life.

Embody Collaborative Leadership

The Dean will foster a collaborative and inclusive culture of integrity and transparency across the Libraries. The Dean will create a synergistic environment where faculty and staff work toward shared objectives, align academic excellence with student-centered support, and promote professional development and career progression.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The Dean will encourage interdisciplinary collaboration in instruction, research support, and publishing within VCU Libraries and across schools and colleges, including VCU Health and VCUarts Qatar. This culture of collaboration will enable broader societal impact and enriched academic and research experiences for students and faculty.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate has a record of distinguished academic library leadership, innovation in teaching and research support, and/or strong leadership experience in complex information organizations. Applicants should have experience in planning, budgeting, team building, problem-solving, and project management. Candidates should have a proven record of accomplishments and effective leadership and have demonstrated the ability to foster a climate where learning, research, discovery, and respect flourish. The Dean will balance strategic leadership with external relationship-building and resource development through effectively articulating the Libraries’ diverse accomplishments and aspirations with a sense of common purpose and pride.

Preferred qualifications include substantial administrative experience; demonstrated leadership and collaboration; success in external fund development; commitment to shared governance; experience aligning unit goals to the larger organizational vision; and credentials that merit appointment at the appropriate library faculty rank.

• An earned terminal or post-graduate degree in library/information science or a closely related field
• Administrative leadership experience in an academic or research library, that may include strategic planning, infrastructure development, budget oversight, and organizational effectiveness with an entrepreneurial, innovative and global orientation
• Ability to articulate the Libraries’ vision, goals, accomplishments, and needs to constituents
• Demonstrated ability to foster deep engagement with the Libraries through building community/university collaboration and partnerships
• A demonstrated commitment to developing and promoting quality research support and scholarly communication
• A student-centric focus with deep investment in student outcomes and the learning experience
• A record of advancing open education, affordable course content, and digital scholarship
• Experience working within library environments that support academic health sciences programs, clinical partners, and related stakeholders
• Fundraising experience and success
• Experience working with global partners
• Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic environment
• Exemplary personal and professional integrity
• Commitment to cross-disciplinary programs

Specific Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of VCU Libraries, reporting directly to the Executive Vice President and Provost.
• Supervise and support faculty and staff across library units
• Create a climate that promotes professional civility and meets the goals of the Libraries’ Strategic Framework
• Support student success at undergraduate, graduate, and first professional levels through providing services that ensure success and support innovative teaching
• Lead the advancement of a strategic vision for VCU Libraries and articulate it to internal and external constituents
• Oversee collections strategy, budget management, space planning, external resource development, and alumni and community relations
• Recognize, reward, facilitate, and advance the scholarship, publishing, and research support endeavors of the Libraries
• Partner with Deans in their strategic plans for research growth in line with promotion and tenure policies, creating a culture of research excellence across schools
• Establish new and expand existing partnerships with academic units, VCU Health, and community organizations
• Develop global strategies for collaboration with Education City and other international partners
• Develop long-term planning for recruitment, professional development, and evaluation of library faculty and staff
• Represent VCU Libraries on the Council of Deans and to external constituents and partners
• Engage actively with Friends of VCU Libraries and development boards

Applications, Nominations and Expressions of Interest

For best consideration, please submit application materials by March 22, 2026. Applications should include: (1) a curriculum vitae or resume; (2) a letter of interest addressing leadership opportunities and desired experiences and attributes in this profile; and (3) contact information for five references (to be contacted later in the process with candidate consent).

Applications, nominations and expressions of interest can be submitted to:

Buffkin / Baker

Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner

Chelsie Whitelock, Associate Partner

vculibrariesdean@buffkinbaker.com 

Full Leadership Profile Here