Story by Mary Bradley, Editor-in-Chief

Ashley Ireland, director of user and instruction services, has accepted an offer from President Bob Davies to serve as the new dean of University Libraries, pending the Board of Regents’ approval in August.

Ireland will replace Adam Murray, who submitted his resignation in January and accepted a position at James Madison University. His last day as dean is June 30.

Ireland graduated from Murray State in 2005 but returned to the University in an assistant professor role as a reference librarian and library liaison to Hutson School of Agriculture and the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

In 2012, she became the director of user and instruction services, followed by receiving the Outstanding Researcher Award in 2013 for the University Libraries and becoming an associate professor in 2014.

Davies wrote in an email to the University community that he offered the position to Ireland after recommendations from Provost Jay Morgan, interim Provost Tim Todd and the search committee, which was chaired by Bob Pervine, Associate Provost for graduate education and research.

He wrote that he was impressed by Ireland’s dedication to the University through outreach, strengthening partnerships and exploring and adapting to new technology, and she was selected from a deep pool of applicants.

Her role as dean begins July 1.