Rod Vliet to Retire

Dr. Rodney Vliet, Dean of the Library and Media Services, will retire at the end of the Fall 2011 semester after 20 years of dedicated service to the university.

Under Dr. Vliet’s leadership, the library has undergone several significant advances including: the addition of numerous electronic resources (over 196,000 ebooks, 42,000 ejournals, and 150 databases); a significant growth of the print collections; a gated library entrance system, which greatly enhanced library security; and the recent development of a learning commons on the middle level of the library. Rod’s service at Biola is also highlighted by the vital role he assumed in the design of the new, three-story Biola University library building, which opened in the fall of 2001. Furthermore, during Dr. Vliet’s tenure, the library has grown to include nine full-time library faculty, 12 full-time staff members, and no less than 62 student employees.

In addition to his leadership of the library, Rod has served on a number of important committees over the years including the Council of Instructional Deans, the Council for Academic and Student Administration, the Advisors to the President’s Administrative Council, the Undergraduate Chairs and Coordinators Council, the Graduate Studies Committee, and the General Education Council, in addition to his service as Corporate Secretary of the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC).

Dr. Vliet earned his Ph.D. at Michigan State University, an M.L.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, an M.A. from Fort Hays State University, and a B.S. from Minnesota Bible College.

Dr. Vliet met his wife Melanie at Biola, and upon his retirement he is looking forward to spending time with family, writing, serving on the executive board of the SCELC, and doing whatever else God has planned for him. Rod will truly be missed.

By Athalia Bufano — Nov 16, 2011