Biography

Katherine Terpis brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including seven years in Student Affairs focused on residence life, summer conference operations, crisis management, and student staff supervision, followed by twenty-two years in academic librarianship. Her areas of expertise include library administration, facilities and operations, emergency management, assessment, and donor relations.

Prior to joining New Mexico State University (NMSU), Katherine served as Assistant Dean of Libraries for Assessment and Development at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During her tenure, she achieved a significant professional milestone by earning certification as an Alma Certified Systems Administrator, demonstrating her commitment to advancing technology and operational excellence within academic libraries.

At NMSU Library, Katherine has provided leadership across multiple areas of library operations, serving in several interim roles, including Department Head for Systems, Reference and Research Services, and Access Services. She also served as Interim Dean of Libraries from January 2020 through mid-March 2022, guiding the library through a period of significant change and institutional transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katherine has shared her expertise through professional presentations and conferences. Most recently, she was an invited speaker at the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) 2024 Pacific Conference, held at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she presented on planning the academic library of the future through the lens of architectural space planning at NMSU Library. She also co-presented at OCLC Americas in Chicago on library assessment and data-informed decision-making. Her research interests range from assessment and academic library research paradigms to the role of artificial intelligence in reimagining the academic library experience.

Throughout her career, Katherine's greatest professional fulfillment has come from leading transformative projects that enhance library spaces and create more meaningful and engaging environments for students, faculty, staff, and community members. Major projects in recent years include:

• First Floor Furniture Renovation, Branson and Zuhl Libraries
• Second and Third Floor Furniture Renovation, Zuhl Library
• Third Floor Carpet Renovation, Zuhl Library
• Branson Library Staff Lounge Renovation, including new furnishings, carpeting, and kitchen retiling
• Archives Recarpeting Project, Branson Library
• Zuhl Library Stairwell Retiling Project
• TalkBox Study Pods Installation

Katherine attributes the success of these initiatives to the strong partnerships and collaboration between library personnel and facilities professionals. She believes meaningful transformation is achieved through teamwork, a shared vision, and a commitment to improving the library experience for all users. As she often reflects, when colleagues work together, they can make the dream work.