The University of San Diego (USD) seeks a dynamic and forward-looking Dean of the Copley Library to lead with vision, collaboration, and a strong commitment to student success. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean oversees all operations for the Helen K. and James S. Copley Library and serves as a member of the USD faculty, guiding Copley Library in advancing USD’s strategic plan, Lighting the Way to 2030.
The University of San Diego is a Catholic university, grounded in the liberal arts and anchored along an international border, advancing academic excellence to create a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world. USD comprises the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business, Engineering, Nursing, Leadership and Education, Peace Studies, and Law, plus distinctive academic centers and institutes. Its proximity to Latin America and commitment to the Catholic intellectual traditions offer students a unique educational experience. A USD education is characterized by academic rigor in its undergraduate and graduate programs, offering transformative opportunities through student/faculty research, global experiences, community-engaged scholarships, and internships that develop the knowledge, values, and skills needed to serve the global, civic, and faith communities. With more than 10,000 students from dozens of countries and 50 states, USD was the first campus on the West Coast to be designated as a Changemaker campus and is now one of only 42 Changemaker campuses in the world. USD is ranked as one of the best Catholic universities in America and is consistently among the top five in the nation for study abroad participation.
The Helen K. and James S. Copley Library serves as a vibrant intellectual and cultural hub, anchoring the university’s commitment to academic excellence. With a full renovation completed in 2021, the library hosts over 280,000 visitors annually and blends expansive collections with cutting-edge digital access and personalized research support. Beyond its collections, Copley Library offers dynamic study spaces, meeting facilities, and co-curricular programming that foster collaboration and community. As an active participant in regional and national consortia—including the San Diego Library Circuit Consortium, the Catholic Research Resource Alliance, and the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium— Copley extends its impact well beyond campus. Its global engagement is further reflected in its Sister Library partnership with the Universidad de Monterrey, underscoring a shared commitment to Catholic higher education and cross-cultural collaboration.
The next Dean of Copley Library will shape and advance a bold, forward-looking vision and strategic plan—building on the library’s strengths as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and student success. A tenured academic leader with strong operational and financial acumen with a collaborative, shared governance approach to leadership, the Dean will foster a culture of trust, transparency, and collaboration while ensuring organizational effectiveness by assessing and refining structures, processes, and policies. Building on the library’s embedded librarian model, the Dean will deepen partnerships across academic programs and expand support for teaching, learning, and research, while leading innovation in digital scholarship, artificial intelligence, and research infrastructure aligned with USD’s growth as an R2 institution. The Dean will also strengthen strategic partnerships locally, nationally, and globally to enhance USD’s visibility and impact, and will elevate the library’s profile through effective advocacy and fundraising.
The successful candidate will hold a Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MLS) (or equivalent degree) from an ALA-accredited institution and a scholarly record appropriate for the appointment of tenure in the Copley Library. The next dean will have a proven record of inclusive leadership, guiding organizational change, exceptional communication skills, and enhancing knowledge creation and dissemination across the university and beyond. A deep commitment to the mission and values of contemporary Catholic higher education is essential.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV/resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. For fullest consideration, all materials should be received by August 28, 2026.
Please direct all nominations and inquiries to the WittKieffer consultants assisting the University of San Diego with this recruitment, Jessica Herrington at [email protected] and Cathryn Davis at [email protected].
Please direct applications to Jessica Herrington and Cathryn Davis through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by clicking here.
The compensation range for this position is $200,000 – $250,000.
University of San Diego employment policy: The University of San Diego (USD) is dedicated to advancing academic excellence and creating a diverse and inclusive community. As an institution with a Catholic identity, the university is committed to creating and maintaining a work and educational environment that recognizes the dignity of each university community member.
USD is an equal opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions, including but not limited to decisions relating to recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, benefits and any other terms and conditions of employment, will be made without regard to the employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, covered veteran status, genetic information or other characteristic protected by federal or state law, unless a particular characteristic is a bona fide requirement of the position. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship for the university.
USD may take affirmative steps in a manner consistent with applicable law to advance its mission and to promote equal opportunities for its students, faculty, staff, and applicants. The university does not by this equal opportunity statement disclaim any right it might otherwise lawfully have to maintain its commitment to its Catholic identity or the teachings of the Catholic Church.