New College Salutes Outgoing Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Former Dean of the Library Joan Pelland

At an intimate celebration yesterday in the College Hall music room, New College of Florida officials and friends gathered to salute the College’s outgoing Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and former Dean of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library Joan Pelland.  Noted for her quiet grace and gentle, unassuming leadership style, Pelland announced earlier this year that she would retire effective June 30, 2009, following 20 years of service to New College.

Pelland arrived at New College, then under the administration of the University of South Florida, in 1989 as the library’s director of technical services. Following a brief two-year stint in that position, she was promoted to acting and then full-time director of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library in 1991-1992, following the retirement of former library head Althea Jenkins.

After New College gained independence from USF in 2001, President Mike Michalson elevated the leadership of the library to a dean’s level position and named Pelland the College’s first dean of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library in 2002.  Pelland held that position until she assumed the title of associate vice president of academic affairs within the Office of the Provost in July 2008.

“We are grateful to Joan for the leadership she has provided to the Jane Bancroft Cook Library over the years,” said President Michalson in acknowledging Pelland’s service during the celebration. “The library plays an essential role in the residential liberal arts experience, and under Joan’s guidance the New College library has continuously expanded and evolved to serve the growing needs of our campus community.”

Under Pelland’s leadership, the Jane Bancroft Cook Library dramatically increased its collection and developed a wide range of traditional and electronic resources designed to meet the needs of New College students and faculty.  Pelland also masterfully handled the often complex relationship between New College and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, both of which continued to operate the library as a shared service even following USF’s relocation to a new campus in 2006.

“It’s been a helluva ride,” Pelland said in recounting the challenges she faced in developing the library into a top-notch liberal arts facility, “but I loved every minute of it. I can’t even begin to thank all of the wonderful staff and administrators with whom I’ve worked over the years.”

In honor of Pelland’s longtime service to New College, President Mike Michalson and New College Library Association Executive Director Margaret Boyd presented Pelland with a crystal vase engraved with her years of service to the College.  Michalson also announced that Pelland will be named the College’s first ever Dean Emerita of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library upon her formal retirement at the end of June.

For more information, please contact the New College Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4150 or email [email protected].