NC State University
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has named Micah Vandegrift as a visiting program officer in the Scholars & Scholarship program for July 2021–July 2022. Vandegrift is the open knowledge librarian at NC State University Libraries.
As visiting program officer, Vandegrift will design and deliver a pilot experience for a cohort of nine ARL member libraries that are advancing open research practices at their institutions. The pilot Accelerating the Social Impact of Research (ASIR) program will help participants develop a strategic approach for advancing the social impact of science, aimed at building and reinforcing institutional points of influence for open research practices. This initiative is in coordination with the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Roundtable on Aligning Incentives for Open Science and with the NASEM Board on Research Data and Information (BRDI).
As the inaugural open knowledge librarian at NC State University Libraries, Vandegrift has drawn on his experience in scholarly communication and digital scholarship to develop programs in the context of NC State University’s strategic priorities. For example, he has run several iterations of the Open Program Engagement Network (OPEN) Incubator, a research development program that explores open principles and practices while advancing projects from an idea to a proof of concept.
“Micah’s commitment to increasing the global connectivity and impact of research and scholarship is evident in his professional activities, and NC State University Libraries is invested in supporting his work to develop a network of ARL institutions committed to socially engaged research impact,” said Greg Raschke, senior vice provost and director of libraries at NC State University.
Vandegrift has a BA in humanities, an MA in American and Florida studies, and an MLIS—all from Florida State University. In 2018–2019, he was a Fulbright-Schuman Research Scholar at Maastricht University Libraries in the Netherlands.
The ARL Visiting Program Officer program provides opportunities for outstanding staff in ARL member libraries and archives to contribute to special projects and programs, either in whole or in part, in order to advance the agenda of the Association. Visit the ARL website for more information about the Visiting Program Officer program.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 125 research libraries in Canada and the US whose mission is to advance research, learning, and scholarly communication. The Association fosters the open exchange of ideas and expertise; advances diversity, equity, and inclusion; and pursues advocacy and public policy efforts that reflect the values of the library, scholarly, and higher education communities. ARL forges partnerships and catalyzes the collective efforts of research libraries to enable knowledge creation and to achieve enduring and barrier-free access to information. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
