New York Library Association President Named Clarkson University Dean of Libraries
Clarkson Director of Libraries & Associate Professor Michelle Young has been promoted to Dean of Libraries. Young has worked in academic libraries for more than 18 years. She has extensive experience in leadership, financial management, budgeting expertise, and an assortment of technology skills.
Young will work to provide more visibility for all Clarkson libraries both internal and external as she leads and manages facilities, staff, and services of the Harriet Call Burnap Memorial Library (Potsdam Hill Campus), Health Sciences Library (Potsdam Downtown Campus), Capital Region Campus, Beacon Institute, and the Clarkson interests at the Trudeau Institute.
“With the new library in the Educational Resource Center (ERC) and the continued innovation and expansion of library assets in support of teaching, learning, and research, we could not ask for a better leader of our libraries. She is an extraordinary leader whose financial and management skills combined with her national reputation as an intellectual driver of library science in the 21st century to position Clarkson University’s libraries among elite, forward-thinking, and visionary higher education library systems,” said Clarkson University Provost Robyn Hannigan.
She is experienced in staff development, strategic planning, construction and renovation projects, as well as policy and planning work. Young has extensive involvement in working with a variety of committees, teams, and boards that span the academic spectrum. Additionally, she has successfully been involved in organizational governance, publishing, presenting and fundraising activities.
Young currently serves as the New York Library Association President, State Leadership Representative of the American Library Association, and is Past President of the Northern New York Library Network.
During her tenure as NYLA President, she has made it her mission to increase the collaboration of Academic, School, and Public libraries. She has toured the state speaking with librarians of all types, asking how to better the cooperation between libraries across New York. Next year, Young will serve as NYLA Immediate Past President where she will be charged with running the Nominating and Awards Committees.
Jeremy Johannesen, Executive Director of the New York Library Association: “Working and traveling the state with Michelle for the past year has been exciting! She is high energy, collaborative, and willing to work through any challenge that arises. Michelle’s work on the NYLA Council has helped position the organization for the future and identified new ways to serve our members.”