The Agenda - Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Tag: appointment

  • Erika Gorder Appointed University Archivist

    Erika Gorder

    We are delighted to announce that Erika Gorder has been appointed University Archivist.

    Erika began working at Rutgers University Libraries in 1992 as an assistant archivist and, after time at several other repositories, returned in 1997 as an archivist at the Institute of Jazz Studies. She has worked in University Archives, serving as Interim, Associate, and Acting University Archivist since 1998.

    Erika earned a master’s degree in history and archival studies from New York University, a master of library and information science degree from Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College.

    Please join us in congratulating Erika on a well-deserved appointment.

  • Laura Costello Appointed Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment

    Laura Costello was appointed Rutgers University Libraries’ new Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment, effective October 10. Laura came to RUL from Stony Brook University Libraries in 2018 as our Virtual Reference Services Librarian. In 2021, she was promoted to Research and Instruction Services Coordinator. Laura brings to this leadership position a set of skills informed and honed by her responsibilities here at Rutgers and by her previous roles as Head of Research and Emerging Technologies at Stony Brook University and Head of Library Materials and Acquisitions at Teachers College, Columbia University.

    Laura Costello

    Laura has been an integral part of the implementation, administration, and training activities for several of our current data collection platforms, including Alma analytics and Springshare’s LibAnswers and LibInsight. She was also instrumental in the implementation of Leganto. This past year, she stepped in and took on the responsibility for compiling and submitting RUL’s statistical data for the ACRL, ARL, and IPEDS surveys in the absence of a full-time assessment person.

    Her interest in assessment is evidenced by her body of scholarship. She has written and presented on library topics such as reference, space programming, and collections with a focus on assessment. A productive scholar, Laura has authored or co-authored three books, seven book chapters, and over 20 peer-reviewed articles and other publications. Laura is currently the managing editor for the Virtual Reference Bibliography and serves as a peer reviewer for Evidence Based Library and Information Practices. Her interest in assessment methods has led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Communication, Information, and Media at Rutgers with a focus on Library and Information Science. She expects to complete her degree in 2024.

    Her record of service to the Libraries, the University, and the profession is extensive; the following are some highlights. On the national level, her activities include being a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Virtual Reference Peer Group since 2020 and the LITA Assessment & Research Committee since 2016, for which she has served as Vice-Chair and Chair. Laura has been actively engaged in the governance structure and informing Libraries operations as Vice Chair of the Faculty Planning Committee and a member of the RUL Scholarly and Professional Activities Committee.

  • Dr. Consuella Askew Named Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian

    Dr. Consuella Askew Named Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian

    Consuella Askew

    President Jonathan Holloway and Executive Vice President Prabhas Moghe make historic appointment for new leader of Rutgers University Libraries

    Rutgers University has selected Dr. Consuella Askew as its new Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian. On July 18, 2022, she became Rutgers’ 15th University Librarian and the first person of color in the institution’s 256-year history to hold the position.

    “President Holloway and I believe that under Dr. Askew’s leadership, Rutgers is well suited to chart a strategic direction for Rutgers University Libraries, especially with a view to closely aligning the libraries to enhance the goals of academic units,” Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe said. “A part of this work will involve centering the Libraries at the heart of our community and our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; optimizing the Libraries’ collections, personnel, and services to enrich the teaching, learning, and research that occur across the University; establishing organizational coherence across the Libraries; and developing a strategic plan—all values that President Holloway has articulated.”

    Rutgers University Libraries is a core component of the University’s academic mission. The Libraries’ faculty and staff provide access to vast and unique resources, archives, and expertise to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, advance faculty and student teaching and research, and empower student success. Rutgers University Libraries rank among the nation’s top research libraries with more than five million volumes, over one million digital resources, and 26 integrated libraries, centers, and reading rooms throughout Rutgers campuses and chancellor-led units.

    Leading the Way to Library Excellence

    Askew brings to Rutgers a rich set of experiences and a library career that spans nearly 30 years. She is a forward-looking academician who has served as Interim Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian since May 2021. In her previous role as the Associate University Librarian for Rutgers–Newark, Askew led Dana Library through a strategic planning process, a multimillion-dollar renovation, and an organizational restructuring to encourage innovation, community engagement, and operational excellence.

    A Commitment to Higher Education

    Prior to Rutgers, Askew worked in various educational settings, such as public schools, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), community colleges, and private and public institutions. Askew served as the Associate Dean for Public Services at Florida International University Libraries and held leadership positions at the City University of New York (CUNY), where she was appointed the inaugural Chief Librarian for the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. She was also a member of the research and development team that created LibQUAL+ for the Association of Research Libraries. This industry-standard tool is used to assess user perceptions of library service quality and has been adopted by over 1,300 libraries worldwide, including Rutgers. An active contributor to the academic libraries profession, Askew serves on the executive board of the HBCU Libraries Alliance and the editorial board for the award-winning journal portal: Libraries and the Academy. Askew has published and presented widely on cultivating library leadership, developing a culture of library assessment, and adapting library services to meet evolving user needs.

    Askew holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College and a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of North Carolina. She earned her doctoral degree in higher education from Florida International University. She is also an alumna of multiple prestigious library leadership programs, including UCLA’s Library Senior Fellows Program, the longest-standing formal leadership development program for librarians in the country.