Dr. Tara Baillargeon, assistant dean for digital scholarship at Marquette University Libraries, has been named acting dean of university libraries, Provost Kimo Ah Yun announced today. Baillargeon will begin in the role Oct. 22, 2021, upon Janice Welburn’s retirement, announced in July.
Baillargeon joined Marquette in November 2011 as department head of research and instructional services. As assistant dean for digital scholarship since 2017, she has helped plan and deliver digital scholarship services in support of student, faculty, and library needs, and coordinated research services, instruction, e-learning, and a funding information center.
“In her time at Marquette, Dr. Baillargeon has successfully led several important initiatives that have moved our libraries forward,” Provost Ah Yun said. “Her demonstrated leadership makes her an ideal fit for this important position, and I want to thank her for stepping enthusiastically and graciously into the role.”
“It is an honor to serve as acting dean of the library. Dean Welburn has provided strong leadership for the last 15 years and I am looking forward to building upon her accomplishments,” Baillargeon said. “I am excited to work with faculty, administrators, staff and students in this interim role to ensure the library continues to provide the resources and services they need. “
Baillargeon’s accomplishments at Marquette include a multi-year curriculum mapping to identify all Marquette courses that would benefit from information literacy and librarian support; increased the number of classes taught each year by librarians; leading the planning and development of the Library’s Digital Scholarship Lab space, services, programming, and staffing; collaborating with the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Library on a graduate student summer internship program for students from National Taiwan Normal University; and partnering with UWM Libraries to develop an annual Library Instruction Summer Camp for library professionals.
Baillargeon previously worked at Kansas State University Libraries from 2002-2011 where she earned the rank of tenured associate professor and served in progressive roles, including social sciences librarian and department head for faculty and graduate services.
Baillargeon has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and women’s studies from the University of Windsor a master’s in library and information science from the University of Western Ontario, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Kansas State.
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