Faye A. Chadwell Named Dean of University Libraries at Penn State

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Penn State has announced that Faye A. Chadwell, professor and Donald and Delpha Campbell University Librarian at Oregon State University, has been named dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, effective March 1, 2021.

Chadwell will succeed Dean Barbara Dewey, who has extended her retirement to the end of December. Diane Zabel, Benzak Business Librarian and head of the Schreyer Business Library, has been named interim dean by Nick Jones, executive vice president and provost of the University.

“I’m thrilled that Faye A. Chadwell will be Penn State’s next dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications,” said Jones. “A longtime leader and expert in her field, Faye brings to the University decades of invaluable experience and a passion for supporting students and faculty through exemplary service. She will ensure that Penn State's information resources enterprise continues to thrive and that the University Libraries remain ranked among the best at public research institutions nationwide.”

With more than 500 full-time faculty and staff, the University Libraries comprise 13 libraries at University Park, including the Pattee and Paterno Library; and libraries at 22 Commonwealth Campuses. Its collections include more than 8.6 million volumes, 7.2 million titles, and 2.2 million electronic books, as well as extensive holdings of maps, microforms, government publications, archives and audiovisual materials. The University Libraries also includes oversight of Penn State Press, Media Technology Support Services, and the University Records Management Program.

Chadwell received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and her master of library science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The full text of this press release may be found here.