WVU Libraries welcomes Tracy Grimm as the Libraries’ Associate Dean for Special Collections and Exhibitions. Grimm comes to WVU from Purdue University Libraries where she served as Associate Head and Barron Hilton Archivist for Flight and Space Exploration.
“Tracy brings great experience as an archivist and leader,”
Dean of WVU Libraries Karen Diaz said. “Her background in donor relations,
project visioning and management, archival and information literacy and
collaborative initiatives will help us at an interesting time in the life of
our West Virginia and Regional History
Center, our Art in the
Libraries program, and the new William
A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences.”
“As she leads each of these library initiatives Tracy will
help us find new ways to strengthen each, and help them collaborate on
interesting projects that will advance the success of students at WVU, our
land-grant mission, and our strong campus research agenda,” Diaz said. “We
are so excited to have her here.”
While at Purdue, Grimm managed the Barron
Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives, which holds the personal
papers of pioneering aviators, astronauts and engineers including Amelia
Earhart, Neil Armstrong, and others.
Along with daily oversight of archival and preservation work,
Grimm sought and formed partnerships with faculty in teaching, scholarship and
outreach.
In collaboration with Purdue faculty, Grimm taught primary
source modules and co-developed and co-instructed semester long research
seminars that taught archival literacy, critical thinking and research methods.
She has published on the role of special collections in
student success, in particular on special collections providing experiential
learning opportunities, as laboratories for student learning and engagement,
and as a catalyst and resource for teaching partnerships between special
collections and campus faculty.
Grimm's first day was Feb. 28. As WVU Libraries’ new associate dean, Grimm will provide
strategic direction for continued growth of special collections.
Initially, she will concentrate on continuing to build a collection that represents the great diversity and contributions of West Virginians and the Appalachian region and garnering support for the WVRHC. Priorities for the Neal Museum include relationship building with the Health Sciences and museum community to support the work of the curator. One of her goal’s with Art in the Libraries program will involve identifying opportunities for shared resources and fund development to enhance the program.