Suzanna Conrad named dean of TU's University Libraries
Conrad joins Towson University from California State University system
By Sean Welsh on May 28, 2020
Suzanna Conrad has been named dean of University Libraries for Towson University.
Conrad joins TU from the University Library at California State University, Sacramento, where she is the associate dean of digital technologies and resource management. She begins her new role on Aug. 1.
“I am pleased to announce that after a national search, Suzanna Conrad has agreed to join Towson University as the next dean of libraries,” TU Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Melanie Perreault says.“Suzanna has more than 15 years of multifaceted experience in personnel management, technology and content management in academic libraries, public libraries and multinational corporations.”
“I am excited to join the TU community in a time where the library continues to innovate and find new ways to support the instruction and research needs of faculty, students and staff,” Conrad says.
Her research interests include human–computer interaction, scholarly communication, change management and ethics in librarianship. Her work includes a number of federally funded grants including a current grant on assessing library scholarly communication programs in public institutions.
Conrad obtained her Master of Science in library and information science from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and her MBA from the University of East London. A regular presenter, she's also published a book on prison librarianship.
She has served in her current role for the last two years. Conrad been in the California State University system for eight years, starting at Cal Poly Pomona in 2012 and spending the past four years at Sacramento State.
Before beginning her career in libraries, Conrad spent 10 years working in corporations in business development, sales and product management.
As TU's dean of libraries, Conrad will oversee the renowned faculty and staff who manage the multitude of resources, programs and offerings at the Albert S. Cook Library.
Cook Library supports and enhances the learning, teaching and scholarship of the TU community, facilitating intellectual inquiry, inspiring innovation, fostering effective collaboration and creating pathways to lifelong discovery.
“I look forward to working with the TU community to cement the library’s role as the heart of the institution, especially as methods of interaction and delivery are shifting to support new virtual models,” Conrad says.