[Asis-l] Indiana University Names SLIS Dean

[Debora Shaw]

Indiana University Names SLIS Dean

February 12, 2004

Less than a year after stepping down as dean of the School of Library
and Information Science (SLIS) at Indiana University (IU), Blaise
Cronin, Rudy Professor of Information Science, is set to return.
Cronin served as dean of SLIS from 1991-2003, during which time he was
instrumental in raising the school's research output, enrollments, and
international visibility.  "I'm delighted Blaise has agreed to return
as dean," said Kenneth Gros Louis, IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor
and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.  "Blaise's leadership
is acknowledged across the campus, and his voice carries more weight
with other administrators than the size of his school would suggest." 

For more than a year there have been discussions about the possibility
of a merger of SLIS with the fledgling School of Informatics at IU.
According to Cronin, who spearheaded resistance to the proposed
merger, there was "absolutely no institutional or academic rationale
for merging.  It merely dissipated faculty time and energy, and,
worse, created uncertainty, both internally and externally, about the
school's future.  Following the SLIS faculty's vote not to engage in
merger discussions with the School of Informatics, I felt there was a
need for stability and also a need to reassure our multiple
constituencies that a school which had been around for 50 or so years
was not going away.  My reappointment is a clear signal that the
school will continue as an independent unit in the years ahead; that
it's 'business as usual.'  I know the school and the campus
intimately, and having spoken at length to both Chancellor Kenneth
Gros Louis and President Adam Herbert, I'm more than happy to take the
reins again, and my decision to return as dean is, I'm delighted to
add, one that Interim Dean Debora (Ralf) Shaw supports
wholeheartedly."

Looking ahead, Cronin says he intends "to gradually sharpen the
school's focus; we are a school of librarianship and information
science, responsive to, but by no means restricted to, institutionally
defined markets and traditional media in our teaching and research.
Unlike some schools we have no plans whatsoever to remove the word
"Library" from the title of our school.  We'll stick to the knitting,
but introduce quite a few new patterns along the way. SLIS will
continue to be one of the most intellectually exciting programs in the
nation, and we'll continue to seek research support from the major
national funding bodies, such as the National Science Foundation.  I
also expect to see SLIS develop further links with academic units on
the Bloomington campus (we already have more joint degree programs
than any other LIS program in North America) and we will continue to
provide a research-intensive environment that stimulates both students
and faculty to perform to the very best of their abilities." 

Interim Dean Debora commented, "Like many others, I am pleased that
Blaise is returning as dean.  I share his commitment to SLIS and we
are determined that the school will continue to flourish.  In July I
will take on the position of executive associate dean, where I look
forward to working with SLIS academics matters and alumni."  Javed
Mostafa, who has been serving as associate dean, will become associate
dean for research effective July 1. Cronin noted Mostafa's
effectiveness in securing federal research support and in fostering
collaborative research.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/

________________________________________________________________
Debora Shaw, Professor and Interim Dean
shawd at indiana.edu    | School of Library and Information Science
                     | Indiana University Main Library 011
(812) 855-3261       | 1320 East 10th Street
Fax: (812) 855-6166  | Bloomington, IN 47405-3907