August 13, 2025

Dear URI Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Wang, Ed.D, as interim dean of university libraries, effective Aug. 18, 2025. Ray brings more than 30 years of experience as a librarian and academic leader to this important role at URI.

Most recently, Ray served as interim dean of university libraries at Adelphi University, stepping in to provide leadership and stability during a critical period. At Adelphi, he enhanced understanding and use of AI by establishing an AI taskforce and fostered greater engagement with and collaboration between the library and other academic departments at the university.

Prior to Adelphi, Ray was chief information officer and dean of library and information services at the University of New Orleans for five years. He also served as library dean at Cal Poly Pomona for eight years; held numerous roles at Humboldt State University over 13 years, including dean of the university library and dean of Humboldt College; was head of the government document department at Binghamton University; and was a documents librarian at Northwestern University.

Through his work at six different academic libraries, Ray has deep experience in successfully navigating critical transitions, accreditation reviews, and post-disaster recovery. He has led strategic planning initiatives, modernized services, and strengthened community engagement.

Libraries are a vital part of any research university, serving as a central resource for academic inquiry and intellectual growth. As we continue to innovate and meet the evolving needs of our academic community, the University Libraries will remain a core component of our commitment to advancing research, fostering student success, and promoting academic excellence.

I want to thank Peter Larsen, who, as interim dean, has provided leadership for all aspects of library operations at URI for nearly three years. Peter has been part of the URI community for more than two decades, and I am grateful that he will continue to serve the University as a member of the faculty in the public services department.

Please join me in welcoming Ray to this important role and to our URI community, and in offering your support as he leads the University Libraries during this interim period.

Sincerely,

Barbara Wolfe
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs