Gonzalez, Ohler Join Libraries as Associate Deans

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Adriana Gonzalez, left, and Angie Ohler.

Two new associate deans are joining the University Libraries this semester. Adriana Gonzalez began her duties as associate dean for research and learning Aug. 1, and L. Angie Ohler will begin serving as associate dean for content and digital initiatives Oct. 1.

Before coming to Fayetteville, Gonzalez worked as an associate professor and head of Academic Services at Kansas State University. Prior to that, she served as coordinator for Research Services at Texas A&M University. She earned a Master of Science in Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Spanish from the University of New Mexico. Gonzalez hails from Roswell, New Mexico, where some of her family still lives.

In her new role, Gonzalez will develop programming and services around research and teaching endeavors on campus.

"The greater role we fill is to be a place that inspires creativity and encourages lifelong learning," said Gonzalez, "Reaching beyond academic careers and into lives."

Gonzalez and her partner, Mike, have a rescue Boxer named Roxie. In her spare time, Gonzalez enjoys running, kickboxing and hiking. She loves to discover new foods and is willing to try anything.

Ohler previously worked with the University of Maryland Libraries, beginning as head of Acquisitions and later becoming director of Collection Services. Prior to that, she was the Serial and Electronic Resources Acquisition librarian for the University of Oklahoma Libraries. She earned a Master of Library Science degree at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Arts in anthropology from American University.

In her new role, Ohler looks forward to going beyond the traditional library as a repository of collections.

"The academic universe is becoming increasingly tailored to the individual researcher, learner, scholar," said Ohler. "We have to shift how we envision the library — it's no longer a 'one size fits all, they come to us' model. We have to meet them in the moment, on demand, where they are."

A first-generation college graduate, herself, Ohler is pleased to work for a land-grant institution dedicated to public higher education.

Originally from Oklahoma, Ohler said she is enjoying the transition that puts her closer to family and in a less populated area than Washington, D.C., where she lived for most of the past 25 years. She said she is very excited to be moving from a high-rise apartment into a home with a backyard, to feel grass under her feet again, and that her husband looks forward to having a grill and a dog. She and her husband love to hike and be outdoors and are looking forward to exploring the Northwest Arkansas trails.

"We were extremely pleased with the candidate pool during this unusual time for recruitment," said Dennis Clark, dean of Libraries. "I look forward to seeing what Adriana and Angie contribute to the Libraries, our services and our patrons."