Brad Warren to become dean of VCU Libraries and university librarian

By Office of the Provost

Brad Warren has been selected as dean of VCU Libraries and university librarian after a national search. He will join Virginia Commonwealth University after serving as the inaugural dean of libraries at Augusta University in Georgia.

Warren is slated to begin his appointment on Sept. 14 after ratification at the next quarterly meeting of the VCU Board of Visitors. Until then, Teresa L. Knott, associate dean of VCU Libraries and director of the Health Sciences Library, will serve as interim dean of VCU Libraries and university librarian.

"VCU Libraries sit at the intersection of research, discovery and community - an increasingly vital role in the modern university," said Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost at VCU. "We are delighted to welcome Brad, who brings both a deep appreciation for the evolving role of academic libraries and a compelling vision to guide one of VCU's most impactful academic resources into its next chapter."

Warren arrives at VCU Libraries at a time of transformational change. The Health Sciences Library is scheduled to move to a temporary location in 2026-27, and the James Branch Cabell Library is finalizing plans for a renovation to expand Special Collections and Archives. Similar to VCU, Augusta's library system has two main libraries on two campuses, one of which is a health sciences library.

"I am excited to be joining a truly outstanding university and award-winning academic library whose mission is so vital and important to the success of students, faculty, researchers and clinicians," Warren said. "VCU Libraries' commitment to excellence, innovation and creative approaches to supporting the VCU and Richmond communities demonstrates its central role in ensuring VCU's importance as a change-maker for the commonwealth and beyond."

Warren brings extensive experience in academic librarianship and leadership, research, professional duties and national service. He began his career as a staff member while studying at Indiana University, where he earned a master's degree in library science as well as a bachelor's degree in comparative literature and history. He began his professional career at the North Carolina State University Libraries in Raleigh in its first class of Library Fellows.

At Augusta, Warren led the renovation of its health sciences library that included academic support, the writing center, extended service hours, security and an all-hours cafe.

"We really transformed the space into the place of choice on the health sciences campus for students to meet, study, work, receive assistance from academic support services, and to just get things done," he said.

At VCU, "I am looking forward to working with the health sciences librarians, deans, faculty and students to ensure high-quality services and spaces during the transition and construction," Warren said. "I am also excited to be working with the VCU health sciences community in programming and reimagining the future library to be a vibrant and highly engaged space."

Throughout his career, Warren has moved into increasingly complex roles that have given him a strong foundation to lead VCU Libraries. Notable accomplishments include:

• At Yale University Library, serving as director of the Access Services unit (2009-18), he redesigned service programs and led Access Services' involvement in the $20 million restoration of the Sterling Memorial Library Nave, which reopened in 2014.
• At the University of Cincinnati Libraries, serving as associate dean of library services (2018-20), he developed innovative programs, services and collections while having direct oversight of the central Langsam Library and departmental libraries for music; engineering and applied science; education; criminal justice and human services; architecture; and art and the classics.
• At UC, serving as senior associate dean of library services (2020-22), he strengthened UC Libraries' vision of public services, collections and facilities. He provided leadership and oversight of day-to-day operations for all 10 locations, including coordinating library operations during the initial years of the COVID pandemic.
• At Augusta University, serving as the inaugural dean of libraries (2022-25), he led the design, creation and execution of a new strategic plan and advances in organizational development. Other highlights include leading the $5 million renovation of Greenblatt Library/Health Sciences Library that resulted in 30% increase in building use; securing a more than 120% increase in permanent funding for library collections and employees; and leading a partnership with the Office of Research and Faculty Senate in support of open access publishing.

On the national level, Warren has been active in librarianship. This spring, he completed his term as president of the Association of College and Research Libraries. Widely published, he has served on the editorial boards of two respected journals: College and Research Libraries and The Journal of Access Services.