Regis names Dan Lawrence as new library dean

Dan H. Lawrence, the director of library services for the Community College of Aurora, has been named Regis’ new library dean, effective July 10, 2023. He succeeds Erin McAffrey, who stepped down last year and Kimberly Kemp, who has been serving as interim dean for the Dayton Memorial Library.

Lawrence, who has led the CCA’s library since 2016, also served as a member of the college’s Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force and co-chaired its Open Education Resource Task Force. He spearheaded initiatives to improve campus diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as chair of the assessment committee for the college’s Inclusive Excellence Council. Students of color represent 65% percent of the college’s enrollment.

“I’m thrilled to join an institution where I share values for justice, community, and service, “ Lawrence said “ As the incoming library dean, I am genuinely excited for the opportunity to work alongside the incredible staff of the Library, Student Disability Services and University Testing, and Learning Commons to see the Dayton Memorial Library serve as a vibrant hub for learning and research, student success, community engagement, connectedness, and belonging.”

Incoming Provost Jake Bucher said “I am excited to have Dan join the Academic Affairs leadership team. His understanding of, and effectiveness in delivering, the role of the library for both the academic enterprise and the larger community will have an impact on academic quality and support and will help us increase belongingness and especially our work in evolving as an HSI.”

Lawrence has held several library roles over the past 15 years including director of networking and resource sharing at the Colorado State Library, and director of the Health and Learning Resource Center at RMC Health, a nonprofit that promotes healthy schools in Colorado. He also operated a small business for historic home construction projects.

Lawrence earned his Ed.D. in Leadership for Educational Equity in Higher Education from the University of Colorado-Denver this spring after authoring a dissertation on “Latine/Hispanic Alum Identity and Perceptions of Institutional Structures and Experiences for Success in a Community College HSI.” He also has a master’s in educational technology from the University of Northern Colorado, a master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s in English literature with a minor in Celtic studies from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mark Reinking, dean of the School of Physical Therapy, was chair of the search committee, which comprised Paul Betty,  Ali Gomez, Chad Weber, Robin Koenigsberg and Luka Powanga.