Welcoming new leaders to UC Libraries
An investment in our people is key to achieving the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan. Along with advancing current library employees, another key element of this goal is hiring people who will bring new skills and expertise to our organization. This fall we welcomed aboard an associate dean of collections and an association dean of operations and user services. These two individuals will collaborate with the dean, librarians and staff to identify UC Libraries’ needs, establish priorities and develop goals, objectives, actions and measures of success.
Jéanne Brooks joined University of Cincinnati Libraries on September 30, 2024, as the new associate dean for operations and user services. In this role, she will have managerial responsibility for circulation, reserves, interlibrary loan, facilities and the user experience.
Brooks has an MBA in marketing from the University of Tennessee and an EdD in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne. She comes to UC from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she served as the senior director of library operations and development. In this role, she led staff and student assistants across five library units as well as communication, fundraising and facilities projects.
While at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Brooks implemented operational excellence principles, leading to improved efficiency and service quality, equitable library policies and higher employee morale. She also oversaw student-centered facility projects, including a new Graduate Resource Center, pop-up instruction space, tech lending storage and the Maker Studio expansion.
Brian Gray joined the University of Cincinnati Libraries on October 21, 2024 as associate dean of collections. In this role, he will join the Libraries’ senior leadership team to be a part of a continuing transformation, working to realize our mission and strategic directions. Gray will be responsible for managing general collections, preservation, special collections and archives within UC Libraries. In addition, he’ll serve as the senior administrator for the Archives & Rare Books Library, John Miller Burnam Classics Library and the Albino Gorno Memorial (CCM) Library.
Gray has an M.B.A in organizational development & leadership from Case Western Reserve University, a masters of library and information science from Kent State University with a focus on management, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Akron. He comes to UC from Case Western Reserve University where he served as the collection strategies librarian. Previous roles include the team leader of research services, research services librarian of chemical and bio-molecular engineering and macro-molecular science, as well as head of reference.
His experience and knowledge of OhioLINK, collection development, reference and research will be an asset in this new role.
“I look forward to working with Jéanne and Brian and welcome them both to the UC community,” said Liz Kiscaden, dean and university librarian. “As we embark on a new strategic plan, their expertise and backgrounds will be a true asset as we work collaboratively to advance the mission of UC Libraries.”
