»Dean Kevin Ross
Meet the Dean
Dr. Kevin Ross, Dean of the Leatherby Libraries and Librarian at Chapman University, has worked in higher education for over 30 years as a teacher, librarian, and administrator. Kevin’s educational background includes a B.A. in Elementary Education from St. Ambrose University, an M.L.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership with a Human Resources Management Certification from Chapman University, and a Ph.D. in Education from Chapman University.
Kevin has worked at the Leatherby Libraries since 2000, and he has held various positions in the Library, including Distance Education librarian, Coordinator of Bibliographic Instruction, Web Manager, Head of Reference, Chair of Public Services, Associate Dean, Interim Dean, and Dean.
As Dean of the Leatherby Libraries, Kevin provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for the Library’s administrative operations, develops collegial collaborations with academic deans and senior administrators, and enhances the Library’s contributions to our students’ academic success. Kevin oversees the library budget planning process and directs assessment, goal setting, and resource allocation. He leads the Library of the Future initiatives by managing the Library's building facilities and space planning, developing and implementing emergency planning and safety/security protocols, and engaging in advancement activities, including donor relations and fundraising efforts.
Working closely with the Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, the Leatherby Libraries Leadership Council (LLLC), and other library-related committees, the Dean ensures cohesive governance and decision-making, while also serving on university-level committees and performing other duties that contribute to the overall success and advancement of the Leatherby Libraries and Chapman University.
A Message from Dean Kevin Ross:
I wish each of you a warm welcome to another exciting new academic year, where "Anything is Imaginable" and the crossroads of opportunities and challenges meet.
The Leatherby Libraries is dedicated to empowering your educational success and supporting your academic, research, and scholarship endeavors throughout your time at Chapman University. As we continue to move purposefully toward envisioning our "Library of the Future," we are committed to creating a welcoming space that provides an expansive collection of resources and services, provides research and data support, and embeds information, data, and artificial intelligence literacy into our instructional sessions. We are pleased to offer top-level customer service that embraces innovative technologies and welcomes all users to our library.
As we prepare for the many possibilities that this new year will present, know that the Leatherby Libraries team is fully committed to offering our Chapman University community the support needed for successful learning, teaching, and research. Go Panthers!
