Emily J. Hurst, deputy director and head of Research and Education, will serve as the interim associate dean and director of the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences. Her appointment is effective July 1, 2020.

Hurst will lead the Tompkins-McCaw Library while Teresa L. Knott serves as interim dean of libraries and university librarian. Faculty and staff in the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library will also continue to report to Hurst. 

“We are fortunate to have someone so well qualified to take on this responsibility. In her time at VCU, Emily has demonstrated strong abilities as a manager and leader for the VCU Libraries, VCU, and within professional organizations,” Knott said. “ In addition, her recent experience as a fellow in the National Library of Medicine/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries Leadership Fellows Program has enhanced Emily’s preparation to lead an academic health sciences library.”

To facilitate Hurst’s move into this leadership role, liaison librarians Roy Brown and John Cyrus will jointly share leadership responsibilities for the Research and Education Department. “With a combined 17 years of experience at the VCU Libraries, Roy and John have deep subject expertise and have progressively enhanced their leadership and management capabilities,” Hurst said. “This interim arrangement provides the opportunity for Roy and John to more broadly share these abilities with colleagues.” 

“As an organization, we will face challenging times in the year ahead and I believe that with these interim arrangements, the Tompkins-McCaw Library is in very capable hands. I am deeply grateful to Emily, Roy, and John for their willingness to take on these responsibilities.” Knott said. 

These interim appointments are due to the July 3 retirement of the longtime library leader John E. Ulmschneider, dean of libraries and university librarian.