Charles Townley, dean of New Mexico State University Library, New Mexico State University
Lecturing: Library Science, Higher Education Administration
September 1999-February 2000

Charles Townley with his master's-level Information Management class at Beijing Normal University The Imperial Library in Changsha

The Fulbright Scholar Program sent an expert in information management and higher education administration to China in 1999-2000 to lecture at the Beijing Normal University. Former Dean of the New Mexico State University Library (NMSU) Charles Townley has an extensive background in academic administration, including planning and budgeting; library service; organizational development; and information technology. His experience in these areas, combined with a history of investigating and respecting cultural differences, have made his Fulbright experience an inspiring one.

The scholar has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of information management and academic administration that he willingly shared with Chinese students in multiple disciplines. At Beijing, Townley taught graduate-level courses that focused on comparative aspects of international higher education and information management. The scholar, who is returning to teaching full time after nine years as dean, found his Fulbright assignment valuable not only to his students but also to himself. In preparation for his professorial role at NMSU, he found it useful to probe such issues as teaching styles, information seeking behavior, academic mentoring, service, publication and academic freedom. Townley remarked, "The Fulbright experience is a great way of testing full-time teaching with both feet. New job, new subjects, different culture."

Supported by NMSU's longtime commitment to educational exchange, Townley is working to establish permanent links between his home and host institution in the form of faculty and student exchanges, training and recruitment.

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