After almost 10 years, Mary Ann Mavrinac has served her last day as vice provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of the University of Rochester Libraries. She has officially begun her retirement and taken up her status as emeritus dean. Her successor, Kevin Garewal, associate director of collections at Harvard Law School Library, will begin his tenure on February 14. Until that time, the libraries will be led by Lauren Di Monte, associate dean of learning, research, and digital strategies at the River Campus Libraries (RCL).
Di Monte’s term as interim vice provost and dean began on January 8 and will conclude on February 13. Interim Provost Sarah Peyre expressed confidence in the associate dean’s ability to guide the libraries through the transition.
“I am truly grateful to Lauren for assuming this interim position,” Peyre says. “She is a trusted and reliable leader who is committed to our library system and everyone it serves.”
In her current role, Di Monte provides strategic leadership for the RCL user-facing services, including research, learning, digital scholarship, service design, innovation, and digital initiatives. Previously, Di Monte served as RCL’s assistant dean for Digital and Research Strategies, where she was focused on strengthening research impact, supporting knowledge mobilization, and stewarding digital and research infrastructure.
For Di Monte, this is about keeping the libraries on a successful path and navigating around any “weird bumps” along the way.
“It’s my job to make sure that this is as seamless a transition as possible,” says Di Monte, “and that we continue to keep doing the great work we’ve been doing. It’s flattering to be asked to take on a responsibility like this, and it’s easy to say “Yes” when you work with the kind of people that I do.”
Di Monte’s appointment also creates a valuable linchpin in the libraries’ involvement in the University’s strategic planning, as she is currently on the committees for “Reimagining Education” and “Leading through Research and Scholarship.”
“Even after Kevin steps in, I can provide some continuity,” says Di Monte. “It’s just another way we’re making sure Kevin has everything he needs for a strong start.” ∎
For more information on the interim dean, contact Matt Cook, senior communications officer for the libraries and collections, at m.cook@rochester.edu.
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