Marquette University names Dr. Tara Baillargeon permanent dean of university libraries

MILWAUKEE — Dr. Tara Baillargeon has been named permanent dean of Marquette University’s Raynor Memorial Libraries. Baillargeon, who has served as acting dean since October 2021 following Janice Welburn’s retirement, was previously assistant dean for digital scholarship in the libraries.

“Throughout her time as acting dean and the search process, Dr. Baillargeon demonstrated a keen understanding of and deep appreciation for the libraries’ leading role in faculty research and scholarship and student success, and I’m delighted to name her the permanent dean,” Provost Kimo Ah Yun says. “I would like to thank chairperson Dr. Deirdre Dempsey and all the members of the search committee for their diligence in bringing forth an excellent slate of candidates.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the dean of libraries and continue to work with my incredible colleagues in the library and across campus,” Baillargeon says. “This is an exciting time for the library with the announcement of the new Marcus Lemonis Student Success Center. The library will have a key role in bridging campus research and the success of our students.”

Baillargeon joined Marquette in November 2011 as department head of research and instructional services. As assistant dean for digital scholarship since 2017, she has helped plan and deliver digital scholarship services in support of student, faculty, and library needs, and coordinated research services, instruction, e-learning, and a funding information center.

Baillargeon’s accomplishments at Marquette include a multi-year curriculum mapping to identify all Marquette courses that would benefit from information literacy and librarian support; increased the number of classes taught each year by librarians; leading the planning and development of the Library’s Digital Scholarship Lab space, services, programming, and staffing; collaborating with the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Library on a graduate student summer internship program for students from National Taiwan Normal University; and partnering with UWM Libraries to develop an annual Library Instruction Summer Camp for library professionals.

Baillargeon previously worked at Kansas State University Libraries from 2002-2011 where she earned the rank of tenured associate professor and served in progressive roles, including social sciences librarian and department head for faculty and graduate services.

Baillargeon has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and women’s studies from the University of Windsor, a master’s in library and information science from the University of Western Ontario, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Kansas State.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.