Simon Fraser University Library is excited to welcome Gohar Ashoughian, as she starts a five-year term as Dean of Libraries and University Librarian, beginning November 15, 2024.

 

With more than two decades of experience in senior leadership at universities within BC and across Canada, Gohar brings a depth of expertise and record of achievement in people-first leadership, building and sustaining partnerships, and advancing strategic vision and planning. In her most recent role as University Librarian and Archivist at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU), which she held for 2012 to 2023, Gohar’s vision and leadership positioned Laurier Library as a hub for learning, research, and cultural engagement.

One of her most significant achievements at WLU was the integration of the WLU Press (WLUP) and the Robert Langen Art Gallery (RLAG) into the Laurier Library's organizational structure. This strategic and visionary move not only ensured the survival of these cultural institutions but also transformed the library into a dynamic intellectual and cultural hub, fostering new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and public recognition.

The integration also allowed for a more strategic alignment of Laurier's resources, ensuring the financial sustainability of both the press and the gallery while driving innovation in publishing and art curation. This forward-thinking approach demonstrated a clear vision of how a modern library can serve as a multifaceted space – blending research, culture, and learning to enhance the university's identity and reach – and underscored Laurier Library’s deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, reflected in the rich, diverse programming of RLAG and the continued scholarly contributions of WLUP.

Another proud achievement is Laurier Library Indigenous Mural Project, completed in 2023 in collaboration with the Laurier Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the RLAG. The "One Heart. One Mind. One Vision" mural stands as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and Indigenous placemaking, a testament to a decade-long advocacy for recognizing and celebrating Indigenous art and culture.

Looking forward to joining SFU Library

As she joins SFU Library, Gohar shared how pleased she is with the alignment between the institution’s values and her own. “The primary drive to join Simon Fraser University is deeply rooted in SFU's strategic vision of advancing inclusivity, sustainability, research excellence, excellence in teaching, learning, and student experience,” she shared, “all of which align with my own professional ideals and values.”

Her experiences leading through change at WLU, including an organizational restructuring and leading during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrate her value-centered, people-first leadership approach, built on relationships, collaboration, equity, inclusivity, integrity, and transparency.

Through her professional and leadership experience, Gohar is familiar with the key role academic libraries play on campus to enable the university’s teaching, learning, and research – and to celebrate culture and creativity. “I strongly believe in the integrative power of the library, which brings academic, research, and cultural excellences into a cohesive intellectual system,” she shared. “This synergy presents an exciting opportunity for a modern academic library to be a vibrant hub of intellectual, cultural, and community engagement.”

And she has an SFU connection – Gohar was the managing director of the Information Resources and Digital Library (IRDL-Portal) at TechBC until its closure in 2002. At that time, select TechBC programs and students transferred to become part of the foundation of SFU’s Surrey campus.

Beyond her university roles, Gohar serves as Vice President/President-Elect of the Ontario Library Association, and is a member of the HathiTrust Board of Governors. She has also held leadership roles on the Ontario Council of University Libraries Executive Committee.

Gohar is looking forward to meeting and working with new colleagues and peers across SFU’s three campuses, and is particularly enthusiastic about contributing to the development of comprehensive library services for SFU’s new medical school.

Welcome, Gohar!