Emory University seeks a visionary, collaborative, and inclusive leader to unite and envision the future of the Emory Libraries and the Michael C. Carlos Museum as its inaugural vice provost for libraries and museum. Nominations, inquiries, and applications are invited.
The Emory Libraries and the Michael C. Carlos Museum have a long history of collaboration to make university collections accessible to the Emory community and beyond, forming a strong connection through shared goals and values. Uniting the organizations under a single executive leader formalizes the connection between the libraries and museum to build on this strong relationship; facilitates closer coordination in the fulfilment of their complementary educational, research, and discovery missions; and enhances support for both. Emory seeks a leader who can strengthen both organizations, find opportunities in their shared missions, and still recognize the distinctions between their missions. The inaugural vice provost is a visionary who will discern key directions for the libraries and museum, discover new ways to advance research and scholarship, address barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion, leverage available resources to achieve priorities, and establish fundraising priorities and institutional partnerships to advance the overlapping and distinguishing missions of the libraries and museum.
Ranked among the top 20 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in North America, Emory University Libraries in Atlanta and Oxford, Georgia are the interdisciplinary intellectual commons for Emory and the heart of the university. The Emory University Libraries include the Robert W. Woodruff Library; the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, which includes clinical branches serving Emory Healthcare; the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library; the Goizueta Business Library; the Science Commons, Heilbrun Music and Media Library, and Cox Hall Computing Center; Academic Technology Services; and the Library Service Center (co-managed with Georgia Tech Library). Other campus libraries, reporting to their respective deans, are the Oxford College Library, Pitts Theology Library, and the Hugh F. MacMillan Law Library. The collections at the nine Emory Libraries include more than 5.6 million volumes, 400,970 electronic journals, over 1.6 million electronic books, and internationally renowned special collections.
Since its formal establishment on Emory’s Atlanta campus in 1919, the Michael C. Carlos Museum – named in 1993 for philanthropist Michael C. Carlos – is one of the premier university museums in North America and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum holds more than 25,000 objects and is one of the most comprehensive collections in the region with artwork from ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East; Greece and Rome; the Americas; Africa; and Asia as well as a collection of works on paper from the Renaissance to the present. Through world-class permanent collections and special exhibitions developed in-house and/ or in partnership with international institutions and lenders, innovative programming, and one-of-a-kind opportunities to engage with art firsthand, the Michael C. Carlos Museum serves Emory University and the Atlanta community as a dynamic interdisciplinary center that cultivates literacy in the arts and fosters understanding of diverse religions and civilizations.
Located in Atlanta, Georgia and founded in 1836, Emory University has an international reputation for world-renowned scholarship and research, unparalleled teaching, and a preeminent medical center that provides students with the access to, and opportunity for, hands-on learning experiences with researchers and scholars. A member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) since 1995, the university benefits from collaboration across its nine undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. With approximately 15,000 students, including 8,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate and professional students, Emory attracts students from every state and more than 100 countries. Over the last year, Emory has hired two top leaders, President Gregory L. Fenves and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda.
The successful candidate will possess expertise in an academic discipline and/or the field of library/information science. A relevant graduate degree is required, and a PhD is preferred. Substantial and progressively responsible administrative leadership experience in an academic or research library setting is required; experience in a museum setting would be highly advantageous. An ability to lead, envision and innovate; to engage and unite stakeholders; to listen carefully and communicate persuasively; to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively; to understand and support the needs of all disciplines; to secure external funding; and to operate the library system and museum administrative and budgetary functions with a high level of skill, and a clear understanding of national trends in higher education, the academic library profession, and museums are all desired qualities of the new vice provost. In addition, a steadfast commitment to the success of students and faculty in a dynamic research university is essential. The new vice provost will be recognized as a peer among Emory’s deans and a colleague who will join the Provost’s Leadership Team.
WittKieffer is assisting Emory University in this search. All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile, which can be found at www.wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by August 6, 2021 and should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Suzanne Teer and Jessica Herrington at EmoryLibrariesandMuseum@wittkieffer.com.
Emory University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all applicable Federal and Georgia State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action in its programs and activities. Emory University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status.
Inquiries should be directed to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30322. Telephone: 404.727.9867 (V), 404.712.2049 (TDD).
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