The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has appointed Deborah R. Grayson as senior director, Leadership and Organizational Development, effective August 10, 2020.
Deborah R. Grayson has more than 15 years of experience leading a variety of leadership, learning, and organizational development initiatives in the United States and internationally. Her most recent role was vice provost of Learning Design and Experience at University of Maryland Global Campus. She and her team, which included the University of Maryland Global Campus Library, provided a mix of services that included leadership development and coaching, the design and development of online courses, creation of open educational resources, design and implementation of global learning systems, development and implementation of blended learning solutions, and program development and management.
Dr. Grayson’s current research interests focus on the intersection of learning design, diversity, and open educational research. She earned her PhD and MA in American studies from Michigan State University and her BA in English literature from the University of Maryland, College Park.
At ARL, Grayson will create a vision and then design, develop, and implement a strategy for leadership and organizational development at a time when research library leaders are making significant shifts given changes in research, teaching, and learning. The forthcoming leadership portfolio will build on ARL’s strong reputation, taking the Association forward in a digital-first strategy and advancing ARL’s commitment to structural equity and anti-racism in partnership with the senior director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
“We are thrilled that Deborah Grayson is joining us. Her expertise in leadership and organizational development, combined with her proven successes working virtually and in person with a diverse community of executives and professionals in higher education, will be indispensable to leaders in our field during this time of significant disruption and opportunity, and in moving forward as a learning community,” said Mary Lee Kennedy, ARL executive director.