This spring, Karen Diaz will close the chapter on her nearly 40-year career in higher education and academic libraries, after 8 years as dean of West Virginia University Libraries.

First appointed as dean in 2018 following a year as interim dean, she will soon conclude her tenure at WVU Libraries, which stewards 2.8 million unique titles, more than 650 research databases, nearly 245,000 journals and newspapers, and more.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as dean of WVU Libraries. I have been inspired by the great commitment to this institution that I see colleagues, community members, and donors exhibit every day. Karen Diaz, Dean of WVU Libraries

During her time as dean, Diaz successfully integrated the WVU Humanities Center and the WVU Press into the Libraries’ administrative oversight. The Libraries also opened the William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences and developed administrative infrastructure for ongoing museum curation and programming.

“We’ve really developed a vast approach to our cultural engagement,” Diaz said. “WVU Libraries has an excellent portfolio of ways to engage and bring together campus and community in a variety of programming. Art in the Libraries, though started by my predecessor, has really grown. I’m proud that the Libraries now houses some of the most distinguished centers, museums, and other cultural programs within the University.”

In addition, she led through the COVID pandemic and a restructuring of the Libraries. This effort allowed the Libraries to keep vital collections and services accessible.

“Dean Diaz has been an exemplary University citizen and a consummate leader during her tenure as dean,” Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Kreider said. “She will be sorely missed, but we know the Libraries are poised and ready for the future.”

Prior to her arrival at WVU, Diaz served as head of teaching and learning at Ohio State University Libraries where she spent 25 years after also serving in librarian positions at the University of the Pacific and Louisiana State University.

“My story is not an uncommon one. I came to librarianship by way of working as an undergraduate student in an academic library where my supervisor recommended I look into this work since it suited me,” Diaz said. “I’ve always been happy in academia and in academic libraries. I love being in an environment where people are learning all the time and the sky is the limit.”

Knowing she’ll miss her colleagues and friends of WVU Libraries the most, Diaz imagines it will be hard not showing up every day and seeing everyone, working collaboratively to serve and solve the day’s challenges together.

Librarianship is a service and most people in libraries have a genuine desire to help others. We get to help people do their best study, their best research, their best teaching, and so much more. I have been inspired by the talent my library colleagues bring to their work and service to this campus. WVU Libraries has been a great opportunity for me, and I will miss the work and the people. Karen Diaz, Dean of WVU Libraries