Associate Professor, Library Director, Academic Assistant to the Provost
Bio
Dr. Rick Severson has been an academic librarian for 20 years. He has a broad educational background in both the sciences and the humanities, and has taught philosophy, religion, and ethics courses at several colleges. He is the author of three books, including The Principles of Information Ethics (M.E. Sharpe, 1997), which is still frequently used as a textbook in library science programs.
At NCNM, Rick wears two distinct hats: He is the library director, and also an academic development assistant to the Provost. The latter role entails leadership responsibilities in the areas of program and curriculum development, and faculty development.
Currently, Rick is seeking to fund a library remodel/building project on the south campus property that was acquired in 2009. There is a small warehouse that is just the right size for a library….
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
MLS, Library and Information Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1992
PhD, Theology and Ethics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1990
BS, Biology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
1978
WORK EXPERIENCE
Library Director, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR
2001 to present
• Manage all budgets and functions of the library, including circulation, cataloging, collection development, systems, interlibrary loan, and bibliographic instruction.
• Supervise, train, evaluate, and motivate a staff of 3.8 FTE.
• Teach research skills and provide reference help in a variety of venues.
• Serve on college administrative committees.
• Collaborate with OHSU librarians to manage a shared Innovative Interfaces catalog.
Academic Assistant to the Provost, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR
2009-present
• Lead new program development team.
• Implement strategies for faculty development.
Acting Dean of Academic Affairs, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR
2007-2009
• Lead new program development team.
• Implement strategies for faculty development.
• Arbitrate student disciplinary appeals.
Electronic Resources Librarian, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, OR
1995-2001
• Design, create, and maintain library Web pages.
• Provide reference services to students, faculty, and community patrons.
• Teach research skills in bibliographic instruction program.
• Supervise circulation coordinator and student workers.
• Chair collection development committee.
• Manage computer facilities and supervise student monitors.
Adjunct Reference Librarian, Linfield College, McMinnville, OR
1993-1994
• Provide reference services on evening and weekend shifts.
• Process interlibrary loan requests using OCLC.
• Conduct online searches using Dialog, Lexis-Nexis, STN, and OCLC.
• Supervise student workers at the circulation desk.
Reference Librarian, George Fox University, Newberg, OR
1992-1993
• Provide reference services to students and faculty.
• Coordinate bibliographic instruction program.
• Select books and other materials for collection development in the areas of chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, religion and philosophy.
• Update and maintain four CD-ROM workstations.
Library Building Supervisor, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
1991-1992
• Provide reference services on evening and weekend shifts.
• Perform retroconversion cataloging using OCLC.
• Supervise student workers at the circulation desk.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Instructor, Marylhurst University
1995-2001
Business Ethics, Information Studies (ethics and copyright section only, both on site and online)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Northern Iowa
1990-1991
Humanities I & II, Introduction to Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics
Teaching Assistant, University of Iowa
1986-1990
Religion and Society, Judeo-Christian Tradition
PUBLICATIONS
• “Moral Leadership: A Response to the Littleton Tragedy.”American Libraries (August 1999): 43.
• The Principles of Information Ethics.Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1997.
• Research Involving Human Subjects: A Policy Handbook (co-editor).
Marylhurst, OR: Marylhurst College, 1997.
• Saint Augustine’s Confessions: An Annotated Bibliography of Modern Criticism, 1888-1995.
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996.
• “Back to Principles.”American Libraries (October 1995): 892.
• “The Recovery of Ethics in Librarianship.”Journal of Information Ethics 4 (Spring 1995): 11-16.
• Time, Death, and Eternity: Reflecting on Augustine’s Confessions in Light of Heidegger’s Being and Time.
Metuchen,NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1995.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
“Exploring Complexity Workshop," Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2011
“Peer evaluation training,” Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Seattle, WA
2007
“Curriculum Development Workshop,” White Water Institute, Deschutes River, Maupin, OR
2007
“Management Development Series,” Willamette Valley Higher Education Human Resources Consortium
2001-2002
“Java Programming I,” Portland Community College
2001
“Technology Planning in a Time of Rapid Change,” OCLC Institute
1999
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Peer evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
2007 to present
Ethics and religion book reviewer for Choice (36 reviews published)
1993 to present
Patient care hospice volunteer at Hopewell House, Portland, OR
