Kara Whatley

Vice Provost for Libraries and University Librarian

• M.S. Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
• M.L.I.S. School of Library and Information Studies, University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
• B.A. Biology, Hendrix College (Conway, AR)

About Me

Kara Whatley is Vice Provost for Libraries & University Librarian at the University of Missouri. She was previously the University Librarian at the California Institute of Technology from 2019 to 2024 and Head of Science and Engineering for the NYU Division of Libraries from 2014 to 2019. Kara holds a master’s degree in biological sciences from Texas Tech University, master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Hendrix College. She is an active member of the American Library Association, where she currently serves as a member of ALA Council and the Association of College and Research Libraries Executive Board. She is currently the ACRL liaison to IFLA’s Science & Technology Libraries Section. Her professional and research interests include mentoring opportunities for new library professionals, user behavior in virtual reference environments, and psychological safety in academic libraries.