Chip German Named APTrust Program Director
September 19, 2014
We are pleased to announce the selection of R. F. (Chip) German Jr. as the new Program Director for the Academic Preservation Trust (APTrust). German brings more than three decades of high-level experience in public universities as a leader, planner, vision-setter, change agent, and innovator. His career spans leadership roles in strategic planning, technology management, and collaborative program development. “I am honored to have been offered this position,” said German. “It gives me the opportunity to apply my experience to the preservation mission that is at the heart of the future for higher education and its libraries, and likely their biggest challenge.” German served from 2008-2013 as Vice President for Information Resources at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, and as Vice President for Information Resources and Chief Information Officer at the University of Mary Washington from 2002 to 2008. At both universities, German was responsible for information technology and the university library, and spent much of his time bridging library and technology capabilities to support scholarship and develop multi-institutional partnerships. He returned to the University of Virginia in 2013 to direct the University’s development and implementation of a new financial model. He had previously served U.Va. as Director of Policy and Strategic Planning for IT, Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President, and Director of the University News Office. A frequent writer and presenter for EDUCAUSE, he is a faculty member for the Mid-Atlantic New IT Managers’ Program.
“Chip’s diverse professional experience, both within the University of Virginia and at other institutions, provides an exceptionally rich and balanced knowledge base,” said Martha Sites, deputy university librarian of the U.Va. Library and executive lead for APTrust. “He has a comprehensive grasp of institutional, technological, and library environments, and is quick to recognize their issues and opportunities. I look forward to what he will bring to APTrust.” German will assume his new role on October 1, and attend the October 6, 2014 partner meeting in Washington, D.C.