Florida Tech Names Wastawy Dean of Libraries

MELBOURNE, Fla.—Florida Institute of Technology Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer T. Dwayne McCay has announced that Sohair Wastawy, an academic librarian for over 25 years, has been named Dean of Libraries. She will join Florida Tech later this month.

In this position, Wastawy will lead the John H. Evans Library and Learning Commons in its mission of supporting the needs of Florida Tech. This includes providing vision and direction as the library evolves to support research, learning and teaching. She will also advocate for the library within the university and community-at-large.

“We are very pleased that Dr. Wastawy will lead our library and its programs. She brings a depth and breadth of experience and specialized knowledge that will be of tremendous benefit to us here,” said McCay.

Wastawy was most recently assistant to the provost at Illinois State University in Normal. Prior to that post, she was professor and dean of University Libraries for that university.

“I am honored that Florida Institute of Technology has selected me to serve as its next Dean of Libraries. The opportunity to work as a member of Dr. McCay’s team to enhance the university’s well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and service is truly extraordinary,” said Wastawy.

She brings with her extensive experience serving students, faculty, researchers and the public at state and private universities as well as at an international public/research library.

Wastawy earned her doctoral degree in library and information management from Simmons College in Boston, Mass., and a master’s degree in library and information science from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also completed doctoral work in comparative linguistics and earned a master’s degree in African languages and a bachelor’s degree in Semitic languages at Cairo University in Egypt.