Susan M. Frey appointed Dean of the Sojourner Truth Library

SUNY New Paltz is pleased to share that Susan M. Frey, Ph.D., who most recently served as university librarian and professor of library services at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has been appointed as the next dean of our Sojourner Truth Library, effective March 2, 2023.

As dean, Frey will provide strategic leadership for the Library, overseeing approximately 25 faculty and staff and collaborating with students, faculty and staff across campus to support and improve student learning and faculty research and scholarship.

They will also be responsible for leading the Library’s ongoing strategic planning and assessment; managing daily operations; managing the Library’s financial resources, including its budget; representing the Library and its faculty and staff to internal and external stakeholders, including campus colleagues, administrative leadership and alumni, donors and other partners; and advancing the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Library.

Frey brings exceptional qualifications and experience to lead the Sojourner Truth Library through these strategic priorities. They have more than 35 years’ experience as a researcher, librarian, educator and institutional leader and a track record of seeking innovative ways to cultivate cross-campus relationships that create learning opportunities for students. They also have a history of institutional service as a mentor to junior librarians, an elected faculty senator and a member of numerous task forces and committees.

Prior to their time at Marywood, Frey served at Indiana State University’s Cunningham Memorial Library from 2005-2021, rising through multiple positions as librarian, faculty fellow to student success services, department chair, acting associate dean, and scholarly communications expert. They have also served at the research libraries of several multinational corporations including Morgan Stanley and Guy Carpenter in New York, and DePuy/Johnson & Johnson and Zimmer in Indiana.

Susan M. Frey holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Indiana State University; a master of liberal studies from Indiana University; a master of science in library science from Long Island University; and a bachelor of arts in art history & criticism from Stony Brook University. Frey’s work has appeared in many peer reviewed journals, and they have presented at conferences in the U.S., Europe, the U.K. and Asia. Their current research interests center on organizational behavior and social justice.

Frey will succeed Interim Dean Kristy Lee, who will return to the role of head of library technology. Please join us in welcoming Susan M. Frey to the SUNY New Paltz community, and in thanking Lee for her valuable service in nearly a year as interim dean.