People of SU

New Dean of Lemieux Library Named

April 3, 2017

Library Dean Sarah Watstein

Image credit: Yosef Kalinko

Sarah Barbara Watstein, university librarian and university accreditation coordinator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been named the new dean of the Lemieux Library.

Sarah Barbara Watstein, university librarian and university accreditation coordinator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been named the new dean of the Lemieux Library.

Library Dean Sarah Barbara Watstein

“Sarah is a highly accomplished and experienced scholar and librarian,” wrote Interim Provost Bob Dullea in an announcement to the campus community. “Through the search process, it became very clear to the search committee and to other key stakeholders that Sarah has both the depth of experience and breadth of vision to lead the Lemieux Library into the future, and that she is the clear right choice for Seattle University at this time. I am delighted that she has chosen to join our university community.” 

Watstein brings to her new role nearly four decades of experience in highly regarded public and private institutions on both coasts, including the University of California at Los Angeles, Virginia Commonwealth University, Hunter College and California State University, Long Beach. In her current role at UNC Wilmington, Watstein leads 24 librarians and 25 library staff and oversees the management of one million volumes, 25,000 print and online journals and more than 200 database titles. She currently serves as co-editor of Reference Services Review, a quarterly, refereed, international journal dedicated to the enrichment of reference knowledge and the advancement of reference and library user services in the digital age. 

As university accreditation coordinator, Watstein ensures that compliance with general and specialized accreditation requirements is incorporated into the planning and assessment processes of UNC Wilmington. 

Watstein has more than 50 publications, including refereed journal articles, monographs, reports and books. Her primary areas of scholarship include AIDS and infectious diseases, information technology and reference services and sources. 

“A trained crisis counselor, long-time social activist, avid dog person, quasi cat person, and Save the Manatee Club member,” Dullea’s announcement continued, “Sarah is also a public radio fan, and currently serves on the Board of her local public radio station. She is an enthusiastic hiker and looks forward to broadening her trails’ horizon in the Pacific Northwest.” 

Watstein plans to join Seattle University on Aug. 1. She succeeds John Popko, who retired after 20 years as university librarian. Jan Hartley, director of resource acquisition and management, has been serving as interim librarian since July.