October 29, 2020

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

It was clear before the pandemic—and it is even clearer now—that library and information technology services are critical elements of Trinity’s future. In the near term and beyond, how we deliver a high-quality educational experience will evolve as we increasingly need to move seamlessly between in-person and online formats.

This is important context as we begin the search for a new vice president for library and information technology services (LITS).

To create the search process, I spent much of the summer learning about and beginning to assess our information services organization, processes, and strategies. I must ensure that divisional strategies align with the vision articulated in Summit, our strategic plan. Also, I’ve carefully considered how best to navigate a search for such a key position at the college amid a pandemic.

I’ve asked Sonia Cardenas, acting dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs, to chair the search. Given that the division touches every part of the college, it was not possible to create a search committee with members from every constituency. I recognized, too, that in a time of COVID-related gathering limitations, a small search committee could best accommodate face-to-face meetings with candidates.

Therefore, in addition to Sonia as chair, the search committee members are:

  • David Andres, Director of Analytics and Strategic Initiatives
  • Carlos Espinosa, Director of Community Relations and Trinfo.Café
  • Jordan Lewis ’22, Student Government Association Vice President of Communications
  • Dan Lloyd, Brownell Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Library and Information Technology Committee (LITC)
  • Christina Posniak, Assistant Vice President for College Advancement
  • Ewa Syta, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and member of the LITC

I am pleased to announce that Isaacson Miller will serve as our search consultant. The firm has extensive expertise in this area and will provide opportunities for the entire campus to participate in the process. The search will begin in November 2020; we hope to conclude it by April 2021. In the meantime, I am grateful to Fred Kass for serving as our interim chief information officer during this period.

I ask for your help in contributing to this important search and your advice about how Trinity will navigate a future in which in access to and strategies for information services will play a key role.

Sincerely,

Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College Professor of Neuroscience