As Time Goes By

Wow! Ten years since I last posted here. It is almost more surprising that Blogger is still around.

Ten years ago I was seeing my last graduation season at Clark University, and probably didn't even know it yet, at least not with any certainty. My interview at Dartmouth was still several weeks away and I was about to make a leap into management. I was also about to set aside the MBA that I had been working towards for several years while employed at Clark. While I don't regret the decisions I made, it still makes me a little sad that that degree will sit forever uncompleted on my resumé. Nonetheless, I am still very grateful for the classes I was able to take and that they introduced me to topics that were far more about management than about business.

By the end of August 2008 I was beginning my new position at Dartmouth, as Head of the Arts & Humanities Research Center, leading a staff of three, a staff that was very close to one another. While they welcomed me, I always felt like a newly commissioned lieutenant. I had unknowingly entered a post-war battlefield, still early into an armistice between central IT and the Center, and the wounds were still fresh. I was charged with rebuilding relationships with IT, while constantly struggling to feel comfortable and "leader-ly" with my own team. I persevered, even as the world began to unravel due to the financial crisis of 2008. "Hope" was all most of us held onto as President Barack Obama came to office. Repercussions from the financial collapse put a lot of the College's investment accounts underwater. Cuts were coming. But there were plenty of meetings and committees and task forces ahead of the axes. 2009 was a year of growth and experience. At the end of the year, however, it was also about impending loss and the knowing that, despite my efforts to fight for the AHRC's continued independence, the crisis would have its pound of flesh, in the loss of one my staff, and would also claim the Center, which was to be absorbed into central IT in early 2010.

The silver lining was the possibility of a leap over to the Library. Early retirement enticements had culled two managers and they were looking for someone to lead their divisions. I applied, thinking it was almost a fait accompli, and learned later that others had different thoughts. As disappointed as I was to find out the it would not be a simple appointment process, I am grateful in hindsight that I had to fight for the position, that I competed with candidates in a national search. Though I submitted my application in July, it would be months before I got my first a call back, four months until my round two presentation, and six months before I had actually secured an offer.

The library position, Head of Digital Media and Library Technologies, saved me professionally and has allowed me to grow even more professionally. It has been a good seven years, with plenty of challenges and opportunities along the way.

Ten years ago, as I contemplated the blossoms of spring and Commencement ceremonies at Clark University, I would never have imagined wearing the title of Librarian, proudly, and being where I am today. At the same time, I don't know if I can imagine still being here for another ten years. Regardless, I still hope to wear the Librarian title for as long as I remain in higher education.