Boise State University

Dean of the Albertsons Library

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Boise State University in their search for Dean of the Albertsons Library.

For best consideration, please apply by March 16, 2022

This is a rare opportunity and exceptional time to join Boise State. Under a vibrant administration the University is enjoying strong and growing enrollment, geographic diversification of its freshman population in a well-resourced state environment. Located in a bucolic setting of mountains and rivers, Boise State is a top 50 innovation metropolitan research university with an active, supportive community and robust economy.

Boise State seeks a collaborative leader skilled in effective advocacy for the library’s mission across the campus community and throughout the external community at large. The successful candidate will bring their strategic and visionary leadership to navigate the evolving needs and ever changing value of libraries in our modern society, as well as facilitate the implementation of the library’s long-term plans and core services. The dean will be a transparent communicator, a collaborative partner, and the intellectual steward of this critical lynchpin of a public research university. Serving as a member of the Provost’s Dean’s Council and the President’s Administrative Council, this opportunity demands an adept leader, effective operations manager, innovative fundraiser, and transparent communications partner to the library and its surrounding campus.  

This position reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Required Qualifications

• A distinguished record of achievement in the areas of research, teaching, and service with evidence of professional distinction that merits appointment as the rank of tenured, full professor within the Albertsons Library.

• An ALA-Accredited Master of Library Science or Master of Information Science or equivalent or a comparable graduate degree from a non-U.S. university.

• 3 - 5 years of administrative experience in higher education leading library operations of sufficient complexity to prepare the candidate to be successful as Dean of Albertsons Library.

Preferred Qualifications

• A doctorate relevant to leadership of a research university library (e.g. Library Science, Information Science, Higher Education Leadership).
• Proven record of success as a transparent communicator, and a participatory administrative leader who effectively establishes relationships with the faculty, staff, and students who work at Albertsons Library.
• Demonstrated knowledge of important issues facing academic libraries (e.g. scholarly communications, equity of information access, open access, evolving integrated library systems), and a willingness to foster innovation.
• Evidence of a commitment to understanding and addressing the library needs of all the university’s undergraduate and graduate students recognizing a variety of experiences, identities, locations, perspectives, and ways of knowing.
• An understanding of the library needs of faculty teachers/scholars from across the campus in a university that has reached R2 status and which continues to increase its research capacity.
• Experience strategically leading and supporting faculty, professional and classified staff through rapid technological changes and trends in librarianship.
• A record as an effective advocate for the centrality of the library to the university employing successful relationship building with both internal and external constituencies to the university.
• Vision and experience with making library spaces (virtual and physical) attractive, safe, and accessible for students to study, meet, create, and experience emerging technologies (e.g. information resources, MakerLab, Video Production Suite). Such a vision is based on a deep understanding and experience with modern pedagogy for library spaces as lived environments.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion among library staff, faculty and users as it relates to workplace, resources, programs, and accessibility with an understanding of the issues affecting diverse populations.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of a strategic plan.
• The ability to manage complex budgets as well as prioritize resources in alignment with strategic goals in a financially sustainable manner.
• An ability to create collaborative relationships across diverse academic disciplines and among the deans of the academic colleges.
• Willingness to build relationships with individual and corporate donors (including alumni and parents) to further library priorities and initiatives.
• A recognition that the Albertsons Library serves not only the university community, but also the Boise metropolitan area and the State of Idaho.

About Boise State University - Facts and Figures

Boise State University is nationally recognized for its trailblazing innovation. Often described as “Blue Turf Thinking” after our iconic football field, this mindset shapes the scrappy, creative and boundary-breaking style of our academic enterprise. The university fosters a culture of innovation by inviting and rewarding the engagement of the whole community in our evolution and by building structures that incentivize creativity and bold new ideas.

Boise State provides an innovative, transformative, and equitable educational environment that prepares students for success and advances Idaho and the world.

The university has experienced sustained growth for decades and has a keen focus on student success. A top choice for students from Idaho and across the West, Boise State has more than doubled its graduate programming in the past 15 years and has set records for the number of graduates for 10 straight years.

Nationally recognized in the Top 50 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report and described by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a university that is “demonstrably on the move,” Boise State was also one of five universities in the nation recognized in 2017 by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities for innovative approaches to improving retention and graduation rates.

Boise State makes a huge positive impact on our state. Home to Idaho’s largest graduate school, we also enroll more than one-third of all students in Idaho’s public higher education system, and confer nearly half of all bachelor’s degrees awarded by the state’s public universities.

Boise State has risen on a stunning trajectory from a community college to a doctoral research university. It now embodies the best of both of these worlds—a strong focus on students and their wellbeing, alongside the transformative potential of research and its impacts on both student outcomes and on the world around us through discovery. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church as Boise Junior College, it transitioned to an independent junior college in 1934. Later, it evolved to Boise College, then, Boise State College and, since 1974, as Boise State University. It began awarding baccalaureate degrees in 1965 and master’s degrees in 1972. Doctoral degrees have been awarded by the university since 1997. Only seven presidents have led Boise State University during its 88-year history; Dr. Marlene Tromp is the current president.

Boise State has earned a Carnegie Classification of a High Research Activity Doctoral Universities with over 58% growth in research awards over the last five years and many of Boise State’s academic programs have achieved accreditation or approval by specialized professional organizations and agencies.

Boise State’s Mission

Boise State provides an innovative, transformative, and equitable educational environment that prepares students for success and advances Idaho and the world.

Boise State’s Vision

To be a premier student-success driven research university innovating for statewide and global impact. The trailblazing, innovative character that has always defined Boise State will help us foster student success, advance Idaho and Idahoans, and strengthen our culture of innovation and impact.

About the Albertsons Library

Information about Albertsons Library, its policies and initiatives can be found at this link.

Albertsons Library – Connect. Create. Cultivate.

The Albertsons Library provides high quality, relevant information resources and services to Boise State students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Conveniently located in the center of campus, Albertsons Library serves as the vibrant, nurturing hub of Boise State where people and diverse ideas flourish. The library offers a variety of services and resources, including online databases, journals, eBooks, books, public computers, printers, scanners, 3D printers, audio/ video equipment, green screens, electronics, prototyping kits, vinyl cutters, archival materials, and quiet and collaborative study spaces.

Whether online, over the phone, or in-person, knowledgeable and friendly librarians and staff are here to assist you in accessing Albertsons Library’s collections, tools, and resources. Helpful librarians are available to provide instruction and research assistance in one-on-one, classroom, and other group settings. Albertsons Library supports teaching, learning, and research at Boise State by facilitating use of information resources and services.

Living in the Area

Year after year, the city of Boise earns accolades from across the country as a wonderful place to work, play, raise a family, grow a business, and enjoy life. With a population of more than 225,000 within a surrounding metropolitan area of nearly 750,000, the capital city and its high-tech economy are driving the development of the fastest-growing state in the nation.

Boise is one of the most geographically isolated cities in the nation and prides itself on its homegrown culture, businesses, education and outdoor amenities. The entrepreneurial spirit that has launched and housed companies like Albertsons, the J.R. Simplot Co., Morrison-Knudsen and Micron Technology pervades today among the next generation of business pioneers.

The Boise Greenbelt runs more than 25 miles along the Boise River past downtown and the Boise State campus. From Bogus Basin Mountain Resort to a brand-new Whitewater Park, the city’s network of parks, trails and open space help ensure access to Idaho’s great outdoors will remain a key element of the Boise lifestyle.

The city is home to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the Treefort Music Fest, the Boise Philharmonic, the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, and much more. It is one of the few cities in the nation to have a full municipal department dedicated to arts and history.

Boise State has been recognized as one of the top three universities in the country for Outdoor Adventure and fly fishing – you can hook a trout in the shadow of Bronco Stadium. A walk or ride down the Greenbelt takes you across the city and through a variety of beautiful terrains.

Boise hosts two farmers’ markets downtown, and a fabulous menu of local and national restaurant options from food trucks and steak houses to unique international cuisine. We’re supportive of local business and commerce while growing a healthy mix of economic development and industry.

Families enjoy Boise’s excellent public schools – and many find comfortable homes among our diverse religious communities. Our many cultures love to share with each other: from the Jewish Deli Days to the Greek and Russian food festivals to the huge gathering of Basques from around the world every five years in Boise, the city loves to come together for special events.

To Apply 

For best consideration, please apply by March 16, 2022

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. 

Please do not email applications. 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment. 

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are treated confidentially. 

Inquiries and questions: Please send to boisestatedeanalbertsons@acesrch.com
Nominations and referrals: Please send to nominations@acesrch.com 

Equal Employment Opportunity 
Boise State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Boise State University is building a culturally diverse faculty and staff and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans. As a federal contractor, the University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. View Boise State's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harrassment Policy 1060. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please contact Human Resources at 208-426-1616.