November 22, 2024
Laurel Littrell to serve as interim dean of K-State Libraries
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
Laurel Littrell, professor and associate dean for research and education at K-State Libraries, will serve as interim dean of K-State Libraries, effective Nov. 24.
Littrell will serve in the interim role until a permanent appointment for dean is made. The university will begin a national search in spring 2025.
"Dr. Littrell is a staunch advocate of K-State Libraries and possesses strong leadership skills that make her well-suited for the interim dean role," said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president.
As interim dean, Littrell will provide overall program leadership, ensuring that plans, policy, practices, programs and services align with university and college-level strategic directions and goals. She will be responsible for the administration, coordination and oversight of all activities related to: strategic planning; assessment; policy development; library, archives and records management services and programs; physical space; collections development and preservation; budget planning and fiscal stewardship; staffing; fundraising; and technology adoption.
"I am honored by the opportunity to serve K-State and the Libraries in this interim capacity," Littrell said. "As a child, I tagged along with my mother studying in Farrell Library at K-State as she worked on her master's degree. I have always had a heart for this university and have always found my roads leading back here. The faculty and staff of the Libraries are the most dedicated, resilient and resourceful people that I know, and I am committed to supporting and advancing their efforts in any way possible."
Littrell currently oversees the Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, and the academic services department, which includes the Center for Scholarly Publishing. Prior to her role as associate dean, she was the planning and assessment librarian. In her time at the Libraries, Littrell has also served as the head of general information services and as the interim assistant dean for user services.
Littrell earned both her bachelor's in music and her master's in composition from K-State. She later earned her doctorate in composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a master's in library science from Emporia State University. In addition to previously serving on the K-State music faculty, Littrell is a past president of K-State Faculty Senate.