In an email from Barnard Provost Rebecca L. Walkowitz, Barnard welcomed Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz as Dean of Barnard Library.

On Thursday, February 6, Provost Rebecca L. Walkowitz welcomed Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz as Dean of Barnard Library in an email to the Barnard community. According to the announcement, Shawn will assume the role beginning on March 24. 

Shawn has served as the Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Engagement (TLE) at NYU Division of Libraries since 2020. While at NYU, Shawn directed strategic planning and implementation for four departments: Undergraduate and Instructional Services, External Engagement, Reference Services, and Digital Studio. Shawn also previously served as Head of Reference at the CUNY Graduate Center, Public Services Coordinator at Pratt Institute Library, and Archive Coordinator for StoryCorps. Shawn earned an MFA in Creative Writing/Fiction and an MLS with a focus on Archiving and Records Management from Queens College, CUNY as well as a BA in Queer Women’s Studies from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program, Walkowitz wrote.

As the new Dean of Barnard Library, Shawn will oversee the interdisciplinary and collaborative spaces of Barnard Library. This consists of supervising 21 staff from the Library’s five units, including Exhibits and Public Engagement; Archives and Special Collections; the Zine Library; Teaching, Learning, and Research Services; and Library Operations. According to the email, Shawn will also serve as a member of the Provost’s leadership team and Barnard’s representative to the Columbia University Library system.

In the email announcement, Walkowitz thanked the Library Dean Search Committee, specifically naming Co-Chairs Vice Provost Alex Cooley and Professor Elizabeth Hutchinson. The Provost also thanked Interim Dean Melanie Hibbert and Koya Partners of Diversified Search Group, an executive search and strategic advising firm employed by Barnard to assist with recruitment.

In closing, Walkowitz notes that “Shawn joins [Barnard] at a critical moment for institutions of higher education and particularly for libraries,” encouraging the Barnard community to “join…in welcoming her.”

Email sent from Barnard Provost Rebecca L. Walkowitz to Barnard community at 12 pm on Thursday, February 6:

Dear Barnard Community,

I am delighted to announce that Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz will be joining Barnard as Dean of the Library, beginning March 24, 2025. Shawn comes to us from NYU, where she has served since 2020 as the Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Engagement (TLE) at NYU Division of Libraries. Prior to joining NYU, Shawn was Head of Reference at the CUNY Graduate Center, Public Services Coordinator at Pratt Institute Library, and Archive Coordinator for StoryCorps. 

As Associate Dean of Libraries at NYU, Shawn led strategic planning and implementation across four departments, including Undergraduate and Instructional Services, External Engagement, Reference Services, and Digital Studio. She prioritized collaboration, vision, and growth, and will bring those strengths and experiences to Barnard. A scholar of library science and archive science, as well as a creative writer, Shawn has published articles and essays in major scholarly journals, literary periodicals, books, and digital magazines. She has also delivered numerous keynote and invited lectures on librarianship, library hiring practices, and archival practices at professional conferences and libraries throughout the U.S. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing/Fiction and an MLS with a focus on Archiving and Records Management from Queens College, CUNY and a BA in Queer Women’s Studies from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program.

As Dean of Barnard Library, Shawn will steward the interdisciplinary, collaborative spaces that make up the Library’s digital and physical presence, supervising twenty-one staff across the Library’s five units, including Exhibits and Public Engagement; Archives and Special Collections; the Zine Library; Teaching, Learning, and Research Services; and Library Operations. She will serve as a member of the Provost’s leadership team and as Barnard’s representative to the Columbia University Library system. In collaboration with faculty, students, and staff at Barnard, Shawn will lead and grow the Library’s initiatives, supporting academic departments and programs, enhancing faculty and student research, and expanding our wealth of archival resources. 

I would like to express my gratitude for the work of the Library Dean Search Committee, especially Co-Chairs Vice Provost Alex Cooley and Professor Elizabeth Hutchinson. Koya Partners of Diversified Search Group provided expert support for the search process, and I am grateful for their help. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Melanie Hibbert for her willingness to serve as Interim Dean and for her able management of the library over the past months. 

Shawn joins us at a critical moment for institutions of higher education and particularly for libraries. I am thrilled that she is bringing her expertise and experience to Barnard. Please join me in welcoming her.

All best wishes,

Rebecca

Rebecca L. Walkowitz

Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Claire Tow Professor of English

Barnard Library via Barnard