SUNY Distinguished Librarian Constantia Constantinou Selected as Dean of University Libraries

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Janet Clarke

STONY BROOK, NY, September 17, 2013 – After a competitive national search, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis N. Assanis has announced that Constantia Constantinou has been named the Dean of University Libraries at Stony Brook University, effective October 1, 2013. The SBU Libraries are comprised of a number of branches, including the Melville, Health Sciences, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry, Math/Physics, and Southampton Libraries.

The Dean of University Libraries reports directly to the Provost and works closely with the Senior Vice President of the Health Sciences for matters concerning Health Sciences. Constantinou will be responsible for providing a unified strategic vision and leading the planning and advancement of the SBU Libraries; leading innovation in the Libraries’ collection and technologies; ensuring sound management; representing the SBU Libraries locally and nationally; and leading related philanthropic efforts.

Constantinou has served as the Library Director and Library Department Chair at the SUNY Maritime College Library since 2001. The SUNY Maritime College Library is considered a premier maritime library, a national leader in maritime collections, innovative research services, and rare collections. Under her direction, the Library’s world-renowned rare collections have been enhanced with strong museum partnerships and collaborations with professional organizations. Constantinou has also served in a number of library leadership positions on advisory councils and governing boards, leading library organizations through ambitious strategic processes, partnerships in resource sharing and innovative services.

“The Stony Brook University Libraries are known for a wide-range of print and digital resources and world-renowned special collections,” said Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., President of Stony Brook University. “The University Libraries stand as the largest academic research library on Long Island, serving as a resource in the local community, state-wide, and nationally. I am confident that, under Constantia Constantinou’s leadership, our Libraries will soon stand among the finest of research libraries in the nation.”

Constantinou has published and presented her research on topics ranging from organizational performance, information literacy, information systems, library technology, digital preservation, scholarly communications, academic library centrality, assessment, and accreditation. As an established public speaker, she has been invited to present her research at library conferences and discipline-specific conferences in the US and worldwide, including China, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Turkey, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, Hong Kong, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Canada.

Constantinou’s work in librarianship and higher education has been globally transformative by removing barriers to access and promoting collaborations across libraries. Twice a recipient of CIES Fulbright awards, as a Fulbright Scholar (2010-11) and as a Fulbright Senior Specialist (2004-05), in partnership with the Universities in Cyprus, she designed and implemented comprehensive information literacy programs, developed successful librarian-faculty liaison initiatives, and offered a series of lectures. For her commitment to research and academic excellence at the national and international levels, she has been recognized by the SUNY Board of Trustees as the fifth librarian in the history of SUNY to be promoted to the SUNY Distinguished Librarian Professorship rank. Constantinou is also a member of the Executive Committee of the SUNY Distinguished Academy, and serves on the board of reviewers for the SUNY “Innovative Instruction Technology Grants.”

“I am delighted that Constantia Constantinou, an academic leader in library management, technology, and inter-institutional collaborations, and a distinguished scholar in librarianship and 21st century information centers in support of research and education, has accepted the position as Dean of our University Libraries,” said Dennis N. Assanis, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “With her energy, professionalism and experience, she will be a wonderful addition to the Stony Brook academic community.”

Throughout her career, Constantinou has taught graduate courses at Library and Information Science schools. She has developed new courses for the graduate library curriculum, maximized the teaching and learning experience through the use of innovative technology, and introduced new pedagogical approaches that emphasize students as active learners. She continues to be a mentor, aspiring librarians through the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Leadership Institute, and the American Library Association (ALA) Mentors Program.

“There has never been a time when research libraries face greater challenges and opportunities than today,” said Constantinou. “I am thrilled to work with my colleagues at the Stony Brook University Libraries, the faculty and students, and the University’s administration to provide a range of knowledge-focused services to the academic and Stony Brook communities. Through data management, policy development and metadata services, the SBU Libraries can support and enable Stony Brook’s teaching mission, research enterprise, service engagement, and partnerships with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Through leadership in the network of National Libraries of Medicine, in SUNY, and in the Association of Research Libraries, the SBU Libraries can engage in deep organizational collaborations necessary to create a robust 21st century information environment that supports research and teaching.”

Constantinou grew up in the City of Famagusta, Cyprus and holds Master’s Degrees in Library Science, as well as in Music Theory, from Queens College, CUNY. From a young age, she entered into music conservatories where she studied classical guitar and music theory. She enjoys being out on the trails and hiking in the Finger Lakes region that she considers “home away from home.”