As I announced earlier this month, Dr. Dale Askey will be leaving the University of Alberta for the role of university librarian at University of British Columbia. I am pleased to announce Weiwei Shi's appointment as interim vice-provost (Library and Museums) and chief librarian for a one-year term beginning July 16, 2026.
Weiwei has been an associate University Librarian with the U of A since March 2020. She has more than 20 years of experience in academic libraries and currently leads a broad portfolio spanning information services and user engagement, user experience, access services, technology and digital scholarship. Throughout her time at the U of A, Weiwei has played a central role in shaping the Library’s evolution through major service and system transformations.
In her interim role, Weiwei will continue to advance the portfolio's mission as a core academic partner and support the Library, Museums, University Press, and of our university as a whole. She will work closely with colleges and faculties to support teaching, learning, and research priorities, and collaborate with fellow vice-provosts to align Library and Museums strategies with institutional goals. Weiwei will maintain key partnerships in space and facilities planning, ensuring that Library and Museums spaces evolve to meet changing pedagogical, research, and community needs.
Weiwei is committed to working across campus and with external partners. She focuses on empowering staff to deliver strong, user-centered experiences, using technology and data-informed decision-making to build a responsive Library that supports student success and research excellence.
I very much look forward to continuing to work with Weiwei in this role.
Kathryn Todd
Deputy provost (Academic)