Library school dean to resign

José-Marie Griffiths will not seek an additional term as dean of the School of Information and Library Science when her term ends in June.

She plans to stay at UNC, but will focus on duties outside of the dean’s office.

“I have a number of interests, and I think the school is doing very well, so I’m continually pulled in two directions,” said Griffiths, who will have served as dean for five years.

“I’m being lured back to do some of the fun research and engagement activities.”

UNC’s School of Information and Library Science is tied with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the top-ranked school of its kind, according to U.S. News & World Report, . It awards bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and has 363 students.

After Griffiths’ announcement, Provost Bernadette Gray-Little met with the School of Information and Library Science faculty to figure out the next step.

Evelyn Daniel, associate dean for academic affairs, said the decisions include whether to find an interim dean or go directly to a national search to fill the position.

“I would imagine they will be looking for someone who can keep things moving, someone who can be a visionary leader and make sure the school moves through the transition from where it is today and where it will be in the future,” Griffiths said.

In addition to serving as dean, Griffiths is involved in UNC research initiatives, represents the University nationally in the Clinical and Translational Science Awards and works with N.C. State University on health-related data projects.

She was also recently appointed to the U.S. National Science Board.

“I’m told by people who move on from administrative positions that you suddenly realize how much time you have that’s your time as opposed to everyone else’s time,” Griffiths said. “That sounds very nice to me right now.”

Griffiths informed the school of her decision in a Nov. 14 letter.

“My main reason for stepping down is to allow me to focus more attention on the institutional, statewide and national activities I have been asked to lead,” she said in the letter.

Griffiths also wrote that she has accomplished most of her intended goals as dean.

During her tenure, Griffiths brought in new faculty and staff and increased enrollment, campus involvement, visibility and philanthropy.

Daniel said Griffiths’ leadership in the school will be missed.

“If she continues on the faculty here, which at the moment I think her plans are to do so, she’ll continue to participate in those activities,” Daniel said.

Daniel said it would be nice for the new dean to come from within the school.

“I think that when the search is initiated it will be a national search even if there are internal candidates,” she said.

“I think we have a strong faculty, a very solid school, a very high reputation so we’ll want to continue the path that we’re on. We won’t want to go in a radically new direction,” Daniel said.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.