Robert McDonald is the dean of the University Libraries and senior vice provost of online and extended education where he leads the CU Boulder campus library system in fulfilling its mission to inspire learning, research and discovery by connecting knowledge, information and people.
As senior vice provost of online education, McDonald serves in an executive role working with all colleges and schools to develop and launch online credential programs designed to extend the University of Colorado's academic excellence through . He joined CU Boulder Libraries in 2018
Throughout his career, McDonald has been an active proponent of diversity initiatives in libraries and is committed to creating library spaces that are welcoming, diverse and inclusive for all library users. In recent years, his research has been centered on digital libraries and large-scale humanities cyberinfrastructure, encompassing large data analysis, storage, and preservation through grant-funded and collaborative projects such as the .
He earned his MS degree at the University of South Carolina and a master of MMus degree from the University of Georgia. Read Robert McDonald’s bio on the University Libraries website.