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K-State Today

February 6, 2019

Four key leadership roles filled at K-State Libraries

Submitted by Sarah McGreer Hoyt

Sheila Yeh

This winter and spring, K-State Libraries welcomes a new associate dean and three new department heads.

Sheila Yeh, associate dean for collections, discovery and information technology services. Yeh will join the Libraries in March. She comes to K-State from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she was assistant dean of library and information technology.

In her new role, she will provide strategic direction and support for staff members who acquire materials, as well as those who make research and teaching resources accessible in all formats. Yeh will have administrative oversight of three departments: metadata, preservation and acquisitions; content development; and information technology services.

"Dr. Yeh brings a level of technological expertise to K-State Libraries that will be invaluable as we navigate the future of online resources and face down the crisis in inflationary subscription costs," said Lori Goetsch, dean of Libraries. "We look forward to her joining us later this spring."

Previously, Yeh worked in multiple librarianship roles at the University of Denver, including library digital infrastructure and technology coordinator.

Yeh received her doctorate in computer science and information systems from the University of Colorado at Denver, a master's in industrial and human factors engineering from Wright State University and a master's in library and information science from University of Maryland College Park.

Jason Bengtson, head of information technology services. Bengtson, who served as K-State Libraries' assistant director for library IT services from 2016 through fall 2018, will provide overall direction, supervision and departmental vision for the Libraries' IT unit. In addition, he will oversee the development of innovative applications.

Bengtson previously served as innovation architect for the Texas Medical Center Library and head of library computing and information systems at the University of Oklahoma's Robert M. Bird Library.

He received a master's in English from the University of New Mexico and a master's in library and information science from the University of Iowa.

Cliff Hight, head of the Richard L.D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections. Hight has been K-State's university archivist since February 2011.

In his new role, Hight will oversee the collection's return from offsite storage to an improved space on Hale Library's fifth floor. He will play a key role in planning a refurbished special collections area that will allow for improved collection visibility and outreach efforts. Hight also will foster donor relationships.

Hight continues to serve in his capacity as university archivist, providing critical maintenance and preservation of photos, documents, correspondence, electronic records and much more.

He received master's degrees in history and in archives and records administration from the University at Albany, SUNY.

Joelle Pitts, head of content development and acquisitions. Pitts served as K-State Libraries' instructional design librarian since January 2011.

She will lead the Libraries in a strategic review of its 3.2 million item collection. Pitts also is co-leading the team that will determine logistics of moving collections materials from storage to a renovated Hale Library. In the face of shrinking financial resources, she also will be key in creating both internal cost-savings and external resource-sharing partnerships with other institutions.

Previously, as instructional design librarian, Pitts was a driving force behind the New Literacies Alliance, a consortia of university libraries that constructs online learning environments.

She received her bachelor's from Colorado State University and a master's in library science from Emporia State University.