Nancy S. Kirkpatrick

Nancy S. Kirkpatrick (she/her/hers) is the Dean of Libraries at Smith College. She leads the Libraries’ work in support of teaching, learning, research, and academic excellence. Her priorities include inclusive access, organizational effectiveness, emerging technologies, and the evolving needs of students and faculty. Her leadership emphasizes collaboration, thoughtful change, and the Libraries’ role as an essential partner in advancing the College’s mission and strategic priorities.

Before joining Smith, Nancy served as Dean of University Libraries at Florida International University and as Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet, a nonprofit library consortium. She has a background in law and information science and extensive experience leading complex organizations, guiding institutional change, building partnerships, and strengthening governance and decision-making.

Committees

Library Leadership Team, Website Content Team, Committee on the Library, AI Steering Committee, Five College Librarians Council

Boston Library Consortium Board of Directors, Brooklyn Public Library Pathways to Leadership Advisory Council, EBSCO Deans Advisory Board, EBSCO User Group Board of Directors, EveryLibrary Institute Board of Directors, Oberlin Group of Library Directors, Open Library Foundation Board of Directors

Research Interests

Nancy’s research interests include leadership and organizational change, appreciative inquiry, workplace culture, information access, artificial intelligence, and governance. She is particularly interested in how emerging technologies, institutional systems, and professional norms shape equity, belonging, trust, and people’s experiences within organizations and communities.

Professional Affiliations

American Library Association (lifetime member), Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Minnesota State Bar Association (retired member in good standing)

Publications & Presentations

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S. “Villain Era Leadership: Burnout, Boundaries, and Becoming Yourself.” BLC BLASS Grant (IMLS funded). Workshop presented in Chicago, May 2026.

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S., and Jasmine C. Jennings. “Sites of Community, Fights for Community: Equity Work in Contested Times.” Oberlin Group ODAC. Keynote presented virtually, April 28, 2026.

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S. “What We Build Together: Hope, Libraries, and the Power of Collaboration.” Colorado Resource Sharing Conference. Keynote presented virtually, April 24, 2026.

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S. “Hope Is a Strategy.” NISO Annual Meeting. Keynote presented virtually, September 17, 2025.

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S. “Hope, Hacking, & Harmonizing: Navigating Libraries & Life in Uncertain Times.” SCELCapalooza Colloquium. Keynote presented at Loyola Marymount University, March 6, 2025.

Kirkpatrick, Nancy S. “An Indirect Route to Librarianship.” Katina Magazine | Annual Reviews, December 6, 2024. https://katinamagazine.org/content/article/future-of-work/2024/an-indirect-route-to-librarianship.