WWU hires Mark I. Greenberg as new dean of Libraries

Mark I. Greenberg has been hired as Dean of Libraries at Western Washington University.

“Dr. Greenberg brings a wealth of experience and a leadership style exceptionally well-suited for Western Libraries, and the many roles a Dean of Libraries must fulfill in today’s world,” said Western Provost Catherine Riordan.

Greenberg, who will start as Western’s new Dean of Libraries on June 1, was hired following a national search. As Dean of Libraries, Greenberg will be responsible for the overall leadership, management and direction of Western Libraries and their programs.

"I am very excited to join such a talented group of faculty and staff at the Western Libraries as the new dean. Working together with the entire university community, I am confident the Libraries will continue to thrive as an essential component in Western's national reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and learning,” Greenberg said.

Since 2001, Greenberg has been a member of the dean’s senior management team at the University of South Florida Libraries. Greenberg is now associate librarian, with direct responsibility for the Special and Digital Collections, Florida Studies Center, Oral History Program and the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Center.

At the University of South Florida Libraries, Greenberg has been involved in a number of accomplishments, including creation of a learning commons and collaborative learning spaces, integration of writing and tutoring centers and a STEM lab, a better balance of print and electronic resources, and creation of an institutional repository and open-access publishing initiative to support faculty and student research. Working in partnership with students and faculty, they transformed the USF Tampa Library from primarily a storage house for print materials to a center for information, learning support, quiet study and collaborative activities, earning praise for thoughtful use of space, responsive adoption of technology and collaboration with other campus units.

He has a doctorate in American History from the University of Florida, a master’s of Library Science from the University of South Florida and a master’s of Public History from the University of Western Ontario. Previously, he was resident historian for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, in Jackson, Miss., adjunct professor of U.S. Immigrant/Ethnic History at Millsaps College and assistant editor of “Florida Historical Quarterly” at the University of Florida. He has written and edited scholarly books, book chapters and journal articles and has received numerous awards.

Greenberg succeeds Chris Cox, who left Western last August to take the dean of Library Services position at the University of Northern Iowa. Rick Osen, assistant dean of Libraries at Western, has been serving as interim dean since last summer. Riordan thanked Osen for his exceptional leadership and service to the university as interim dean of Libraries. Provost Riordan also extended her gratitude to Bob Thomas, associate professor at Wilson Library and the search committee chair, members of the search committee, and all those from campus and the community who participated in this very successful recruiting process.