New University of Guelph CIO and Chief Librarian Named

GUELPH, Ontario March 22, 2012 - University of Guelph Campus Bulletin - Rebecca Graham has been named the University of Guelph’s new chief information officer (CIO) and chief librarian. Her five-year term begins May 23.

The announcement was made today by provost and vice-president (academic) Maureen Mancuso, who chaired the search committee.

"Rebecca possesses the knowledge, skills and qualities that we were looking for in our next CIO and chief librarian,” Mancuso said. “She is a strategic thinker and an exceptional leader whose experience, vision and passion will help us further build our reputation as a forerunner in information technology and library systems."

In making the announcement, Mancuso expressed gratitude to Catherine Steeves, the University’s associate chief librarian, who has been acting in the role since Mike Ridley completed his second term in January.

Mancuso also thanked members of the search committee, which included faculty, students and staff members, for their hard work and commitment, and the University community for its participation.

Most recently, Graham was the associate librarian for preservation, digitization and administrative services at Harvard College Library (HCL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She oversaw all administrative services and managed a $90-million budget and 12 library buildings, and was responsible for HCL’s preservation and digitization program. She also led the effort to expand the library’s digitization of special collections, particularly in support of teaching and learning.

She was also the co-director at Harvard Medical School’s Countway Library of Medicine and headed computing services and the digital library program at Johns Hopkins University. Graham also served in various capacities at the Digital Library Federation in Washington, DC, and managed integrated systems at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"Given the continuing influence and impact of technology in higher education, the opportunity to serve in a strategic role with oversight of both IT and the library is unparalleled," Graham said. "To do so at an innovative institution like the University of Guelph is all the more compelling. I look forward to joining the Guelph community."

At U of G, Graham will be responsible for the overall strategy and policy administration of the University’s information technology, information services and information resources. She will also oversee the administration of the library as chief librarian and of Computing and Communications Services (CCS).

She earned a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Wilberforce University in Ohio and a master of library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. She was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Association of Research Libraries Research Library Leadership Fellows in 2004.