myoung@foghornnews.com
For Cody Gregg, the new dean of Learning Resources, libraries are more than just a place to find books.
Originally from West Texas, near Amarillo, Gregg received a Master of Arts in English as a Second Language degree and a Bachelor of Arts for double major in English and History degree from the University of Texas-Pan American, now UT-Rio Grande Valley, as well as a Master in Library and Information Science degree from the University of North Texas.
Gregg has worked in a variety of roles in his more than 20-year career, having served as an English professor, director of audio/visual programs and various aspects of library and technology systems.
Coming from South Texas College in McAllen, along with the other newly hired dean, Kristina Wilson, Gregg worked at the college for more than two decades and served as the dean of library and learning resources.
While he spent a large amount of his career down south, Gregg said he is “ready and excited to be at Del Mar and Corpus Christi.”
Gregg will not only look over the libraries on the East and West Campus, but will be pivotal in the development of the library at the Southside Campus.
President Mark Escamilla said Gregg will be helping “advance learning resources across the entire district.”
“Mr. Gregg will be an important part in helping remodel the White Library,” Escamilla said. ”He will also have a large part in the new library on the Southside Campus.”
Gregg said he wants to update the facilities.
“I want to help make the libraries here more modern and bring them to the 21st century.” Gregg said.
Escamilla said both Gregg and the other new dean, Wilson, were “highly regarded in South Texas College, and matched with their experience in their fields and instruction. I’m excited that they are here.”
Gregg shared his goals for the libraries.
“My passion, I guess you could say, is making libraries a more collaborative and student centered place,” Gregg said. “I want to make a space where students can go for a variety of reasons, but I mostly just want it to be better than when I started.”
Gregg said the libraries are more than just a place for students to go and study or find a book.
“Students have so many resources at a library and I want them to be even better,” Gregg said.
Above all, Gregg said he is excited to be at such an established institution in a new city.
“The college I came from started in 1993,” Gregg said. “Del Mar is a huge part of this community and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
