1) Liz, tell us about your work in your library…?
I’m the Associate Dean for Digital Strategies & Scholarly Communication for the University of Miami Libraries. In this role, I provide leadership for the units of Library IT, Digital Initiatives, Data Science and Research Data & Open Scholarship. I love the fact that this portfolio involves both internally and externally facing services that touch upon nearly every aspect of operating an academic library, and there’s a lot of room for creativity and collaboration within the UM Libraries, across the campus, and with other research libraries and archives. I’m also a member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team, working with my colleagues on budget, position planning, strategic planning, and other initiatives. I also hold the role of Faculty Affairs liaison for the UM Libraries, which includes administering the librarian faculty RPT (Reappointment, Promotion & Tenure) program. It’s a lot of work sometimes, but I’ve learned a lot in the faculty affairs role that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and, when all goes well in faculty affairs work, it’s all about helping faculty thrive, which is an aspect of my role that is important to me.
2) What attracted you to this role?
Fame! Fortune! Well, maybe not. In all seriousness, I didn’t fully know what it meant to be a library administrator before taking the role, but I did know that it was the natural next step in my career. Throughout my career as a librarian, I’ve gone back and forth between working in research archives or centers and academic libraries. I started out at the Library of Virginia working in the prints & photographs division, I then went on to University of Virginia, mainly working in all-things-digital. From UVA, I went to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin (the Ransom Center is a research library, archive, and museum dedicated to the study of the humanities) to build their digital program. My job at the Ransom Center will probably stand as one of my favorites due to their incredible collections and the people I worked with, but I was ready to do something new, and UM came a-calling. Aspects that attracted me to the UM role include going into a job where I knew I would have many opportunities to learn new (to me) aspects of running an academic library, grow as a leader, and build a program. I was also impressed by the high level of professional service and activities of my colleagues at UM Libraries. It’s a dynamic place, filled with interesting and committed staff and faculty; I wanted to be part of that.
3) How have you been involved with ASERL?
For the past three years, I’ve been a member of the ASERL Associate Dean / AUL Networking Group, working with other ASERL colleagues to create stronger professional ties amongst those in library administration, and to develop programs of general interest to the AD/AUL group. I have, of course, also benefitted from many online programs sponsored by ASERL, as have my UM colleagues. Although I’ve now stepped down from a leadership role with the AD/AUL group, I look forward to continuing to connect with and learn from my ASERL colleagues. In fact, a new project I’m leading that has just launched involves strengthening and sustaining a culture of mentoring and belonging for librarians at UM and other ASERL institutions. I’ve just finished recruiting the ASERL cohort of colleagues for this project, and I really look forward to working together over the next year. I think we’ll develop a structure and materials that will really benefit our community.
4) What parts of your job/volunteering with ASERL do you find most rewarding?
I think the answer to both parts of the question is “people.” Libraries are about collections, but, to me, they are mostly about people. And in my role, what I find most rewarding is working collaboratively to create an environment where people can succeed in their careers, in their research, in completing their degrees, and in planning for their futures. Even though the recent past and present have been and will likely continue to be challenging for higher education, I’ve always been glad to be part of this community. And I believe strongly in the librarian’s role within higher education in helping to create a better society for all.
5) What’s one great thing that most people don’t know about you?
Only one thing??? Let me give you several.
- I was a Semester at Sea Librarian while at University of Virginia. During that time, I lived on a ship for three months with 600 students and faculty and staff. I ran the library that was created from what had formerly been a casino. I had a team of students who helped me operate the library; our information desk was formerly a bar. Over three months, we visited Canada and eight other countries in Europe and Africa. The Semester at Sea vessel is a small ship and I loved being on the water and sailing into the historic ports. The trip was fantastic.
- I’m a birder and I’m very good at identifying birds by their calls (I know the Merlin app does this too, but I prefer to use my own ears).
- I’m a proud owner of my family’s seasonal camp in Maine; we will celebrate 90 years in 2026.