Perkins Promoted to Lead ‘Library of the Future’

Missouri Valley College President Joe Parisi has announced the promotion of Samantha Perkins to Assistant Dean of Library and Academic Support Services.

Parisi said that Perkins is orchestrating a transformational change at Murrell Library and “her leadership is absolutely critical to our evolution. We are developing the library of the future.”

The ultimate vision, Parisi said, is creation of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Perkins already has assembled many of the components, creating what she calls a “one-stop shop for our students’ academic service needs now that we are all under the same umbrella.”

Perkins said “combining all academic services into one building” was step one, bringing together academic coaching, testing services, ADA services and proctoring as well as library services.”

A second phase, Perkins said, will include construction on the second floor to create office, testing, and conference spaces, as well as a private study room. In addition, there will be new furniture and new technology, including a flipped classroom with mirrored glass and an observation deck to establish a gallery and viewing area.

There will also be a new Makerspace in the old computer lab, featuring a GlowForge, 3-D printers, Cricut machines, and PCs and iMacs with Adobe software.