Dean Rosann Bazirjian to Retire April 1

Dean of University Libraries Rosann Bazirian

 Rosann Bazirjian, Dean of University Libraries at UNC Greensboro for the past 11 years, has announced her retirement from the University, effective April 1, 2016.  Rosann first became Dean in August 2004 when she came to UNCG from Penn State.

With her ability to see changes others might not have foreseen, the University has benefited greatly from her broad vision.  Among her many accomplishments:

• Dramatic enhancement of the Library’s spaces, including

• beautification of both the interior and (with such strong support from the Friends) the exterior of the building;
• creation of new collaborative learning spaces including the Learning Commons and Digital Media Commons,
• renovated space for Special Collections and University Archives, Electronic Resources and Information Technology, and the Music Library, which was named the Harold Schiffman Music Library during her tenure

• A strong commitment to diversity, including the creation of the ACE Scholars Program, the naming of Gerald Holmes as Diversity Librarian,  the creation of the Diversity Residency position, and the development of a strategic plan for diversity that has made our library a national and campus leader in this area, as well as multiple visits from international guests.
• A passion for innovation, as witnessed by the creation of the Librarian Entrepreneurial Conference, the Triad Area Library Association’s Paraprofessional Conference, and our Innovation and Program Enrichment Grant, awarded annually to someone in the University Libraries to implement a new idea.
• A commitment to make research broadly available to the scholarly community and to the public, which led her to secure membership for the University Libraries in leading professional associations working toward the goal of open access such as SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) and CNI (Coalition for Networked Information).  NC DOCKS, our own database of UNC system research from multiple universities in addition to UNCG, is further evidence of this strongly held commitment.
• A deep engagement in encouraging her colleagues to publish and serve in professional  organizations and engage in community activities that resulted in dramatically increased scholarly and creative output.
• A renewed emphasis on the value of special collections and making them available to the research community through digitization and increased use in teaching students.
• The rebirth and repositioning of the Jackson Society to support the University Libraries, to which many of you belong, and which has raised the level of private support.

Provost Dana Dunn has said that she expects to appoint an Interim Dean in the coming months to work with her during the transition and following Rosann’s retirement while UNCG conducts a national search for the next Dean.  That search will commence in the fall of 2016.

Please join us in congratulating Rosann on her retirement and thanking her for the many contributions she has made to UNCG and to the Friends of the UNCG Libraries.