Tom Hickerson reappointed vice-provost (libraries and cultural resources)

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Tom Hickerson as vice-provost (libraries and cultural resources) for a two-year term extending until June 30, 2018.

Earlier this year, Tom expressed his interest in continuing in the role as his term was nearing completion. An advisory review committee was struck to evaluate Tom’s leadership and invite feedback from the university community. Thank you to everyone who participated in the review process.

Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) has experienced tremendous growth and expansion under Tom’s direction. The portfolio is complex, comprising the central library, five branch libraries on campus, a downtown branch, a library and archives at The Military Museums (TMM), two art galleries, one on campus and the other at TMM, the University of Calgary Press and the University’s Copyright Management Service.

In the past five years, Tom’s efforts have resulted in several significant achievements for LCR. These include obtaining the first-ever Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant awarded in Alberta to study the development of interdisciplinary research platforms, raising more than $1.4 million in federal and provincial operating grants to support Archives and Special Collections, the University Press and the art galleries and netting a record-setting fundraising campaign of $2.4 million in 2014-15. In 2014, LCR was awarded the Students’ Union Presidential Citation recognizing distinguished service to students, previously awarded to LCR in 2010.

Tom has worked with faculty and staff to enhance LCR’s reputation and strengthen our collections with rare and exceptional resources. Notably, in 2009, the university was accepted into the prestigious ranks of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), a distinction reserved for North America’s premier research libraries. Also, the acquisition of the Chicksands Collection raised the library research holdings on military history to be on par with those of the Canadian War Museum. Further, the Nickle Galleries and the Founders’ Gallery at TMM both garnered national media attention for exhibitions such as Oh, Canada and Burnt Generation.

Tom has provided tremendous leadership to external groups — recently serving on the ARL board of directors, and is also a former president (2011-12) of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries. Tom served on The Alberta Library executive committee (2008-13), the Alberta Open Educational Resources steering committee (2014-15), and he also currently serves on the board of The Military Museums. Tom is currently the executive director of the Prairie Regional Research Data Centre and is co-chair of the Health Knowledge Network.

I would like to thank the advisory review committee for their dedication and commitment to ensuring a thorough review. Committee members included Peter Dawson, GFC representative; Mary O’Brien, GFC representative; Richard Sigurdson, decanal representative; Stephan Guscott, SU representative; Blake Lewis, GSA representative; David Daley, AUPE representative LCR; Michelle Lipp, MaPS representative LCR; Leeanne Morrow, LCR academic staff representative; Christine Sowiak, LCR academic staff representative; Sandra Hoenle, TUCFA representative, and Carol Shepstone, external representative (University Librarian, Mount Royal University).

Please join me in congratulating Tom on his reappointment.

Dru Marshall
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)