We are thrilled to announce that Bethany Nowviskie will join us on April 16 as new Director of the Digital Library Federation.
Nowviskie is widely known as a pioneer and leading force in digital humanities. She has been director of digital research & scholarship at the University of Virginia Library since 2007, where she directs the internationally recognized Scholars’ Lab. In 2013, she was appointed special advisor to the provost for digital humanities scholarship and strategy at the University of Virginia. Nowviskie is also a CLIR Distinguished Presidential Fellow and immediate past president of the Association for Computers and the Humanities. In 2013, The Chronicle of Higher Education named her one of Ten Tech Innovators. Nowviskie was also founder of the Praxis Network, chair of the Modern Language Association’s Committee on Information Technology, and a keynote speaker at the 2014 DLF Forum in Atlanta.
“When Bethany was appointed a CLIR presidential fellow, I cited her exemplary contributions to higher education, which included illuminating issues pertaining to alternative academic career opportunities, providing leadership in many areas of scholarly endeavor, and her deep intellectual engagement with many key aspects of CLIR’s mission,” said CLIR President Chuck Henry. “I am excited that those qualities will now be integral to evolving DLF strategically as a unique, essential program nationally and globally.”
CLIR Board member and DLF Advisory Committee Chair David Rumsey noted that Nowviskie’s ability to engage many communities of practice in the digital library world will serve DLF’s membership well. “Bethany Nowviskie will make an outstanding director of DLF,” he said. “She has long been a visionary leader in digital libraries and scholarship. She will build on the achievements of the last several years and lead DLF into exciting new areas of endeavor. I and my colleagues on the Board welcome Bethany and look forward to working with her.”
Nowviskie earned her Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of Virginia, where she will retain an ongoing faculty affiliation as a research associate professor of digital humanities. She also holds a master’s degree in English Education from Wake Forest University and a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology and English Literature from the University of Virginia.
“I’m honored to be joining CLIR to lead the Digital Library Federation—especially at a moment in which the pragmatism, vision, skills, and ethos of the vibrant DLF community are so crucially needed in higher education and the wider world,” said Nowviskie. “DLF’s recent, tremendous growth positions us not only to bring greater value to our members, but to help the national and international library community better serve its collaborative mission for the common good.”
