Board of Governors

Purpose

As codified in the HathiTrust Bylaws, the Board of Governors has strategic and fiduciary responsibility for the development, programs, and sustainability of the organization. The Board positions the organization to advance the goals and interests of member institutions and the cultural heritage and higher learning sectors.  Through the appointed Executive Director of HathiTrust, the Board is accountable for effective operations and membership engagement in the directions of the Trust.

The Board is responsible for the management of the property, affairs, business, and activities of HathiTrust, consistent with the rules and policies of the University of Michigan as interpreted by its General Counsel.

The Board of Governors bears final responsibility for the activities, functions, and operations for HathiTrust, as well as for the long-term integrity and accessibility of deposited materials. This responsibility includes:

Leadership

1. Defining HathiTrust’s mission, goals, and objectives and helping guide their fulfillment.
2. Ensuring the alignment of HathiTrust’s mission, goals, and objectives with those of its member institutions.
3. Maintaining written Bylaws.
4. Communicating about HathiTrust—including its value, activities, plans, and strategic initiatives—to members, potential members, and other relevant communities.
5. Demonstrating leadership among member institutions and in the cultural heritage and higher learning sectors in community-wide efforts to ensure the long-term preservation and availability of the scholarly record. 

Governance

6. Electing four officers of a five-member Executive Committee, empowered to act on behalf of the Board.
7. Reviewing the formulae for determining appointed seats and weighted voting. 

Operations

8. Overseeing HathiTrust operations through the selection of a Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director).
9. Working with the Executive Director to set the strategic directions for HathiTrust and oversee operations.
10. Framing and overseeing the management of HathiTrust’s budget and finances.
11. Approving for distribution to the Membership the budget developed by the Executive Director. While the Board of Governors shall not alter the total amount of the dues, fees, or other charges to be levied against the Members without their approval, it is empowered to adjust the detail of the budget approved by the Members.
12. Evaluating the performance of the Executive Director.
13. In coordination with the Executive Director, creating committees and working groups to carry out HathiTrust’s work and to develop strategies and priorities.
14. Reviewing recommendations of the Program Steering Committee and making final decisions regarding policy, repository development, and planning initiatives.
15. Overseeing the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the HathiTrust Research Center and other officially affiliated projects.

Full details about the Board's duties, powers, and processes can be found in the Bylaws, available at http://www.hathitrust.org/bylaws.

Composition

The Board of Governors is composed of 12 members. Six of these seats are filled by the Founding Members: The University of California System (2 seats); Indiana University (1 seat); University of Michigan (1 seat); and the remaining founding institutions of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University and University of Wisconsin-Madison) (2 seats); Indiana University (1 seat). Six seats are to be filled through elections of the voting members of HathiTrust. Individuals from Founding Member institutions may not be on the ballot for rotating seats. In addition to the 12 elected and appointed members, the Chief Executive Officer and the Program Steering Committee Chair serve as non-voting members of the Board of Governors.

Lengths of Terms

Candidates are elected for three-year terms. Should a Board member leave his or her administrative post (e.g., retire as a university librarian), the Board of Governors will appoint a replacement to serve until the next annual election when a successor for the unexpired term shall be nominated and elected by the Members. An elected member appointed to serve as an officer on the Executive Committee will continue to serve as a member of the Board until the expiration of the officer's term despite the fact the individual's normal, three-year term as member of the Board of Governors may have expired. Each election cycle outlines current processes and criteria.

Current Membership

Prior Members

• Indiana University: Brad Wheeler (Apr 2012-May 2014), Brenda Johnson (May-Dec 2014), Carolyn Walters (Jan 2015-June 2021)
• University of Maryland: Pat Steele (Apr 2012-Dec 2014)
• University of Michigan: Paul Courant (Executive Committee Past Chair, Apr 2012-Dec 2013), James Hilton (Jan 2014- Jun 2022), Donna Hayward (July 2022-May 2023)
• California Digital Library: Laine Farley (Apr 2012-February 2015)
• Ohio State University: Carol Diedrichs (Jan 2015-Dec 2015)
• New York University: Carol Mandel (Jan 2013-Dec 2015)
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Sarah Michalak (Executive Committee Past Chair, Jan 2013-Dec 2015)
• Columbia University: Robert Wolven (PSC Chair, 2013-2016)
• University of New Mexico: Richard Clement (Executive Committee Past Chair, Jan 2014-Dec 2016)
• Cornell University: Anne Kenney (Jan 2015-Mar 2017), Elaine Westbrooks, (Jan 2020- Dec 2022)
• University of California, San Diego: Brian Schottlaender (Executive Committee Past Chair, Jan 2012-June 2017)
• Joe Lucia, Temple University (Jan 2017-Dec 2017)
• Betsy Wilson, University of Washington (Executive Committee Past Chair, Jan 2013-Dec 2017)
• University of Minnesota: John Butler (Program Steering Committee Chair, 2013-2018): Wendy Lougee (2013-2019, Executive Committee: 2016-2018)
• Iowa State University: Beth McNeil (Jan 2016-Dec 2016; March 2017-Dec 2018)
• Johns Hopkins University: Winston Tabb (Jan 2016-Dec 2018)
• Harvard University: Sarah Thomas (Jan 2017-Dec 2018)
• University of Kansas: Kevin Smith (Jan 2017-Dec 2019)
• University of Iowa: John Culshaw (Jan 2017-Dec 2020)
• Emory University: Yolanda Cooper (Jan 2018- Jun 2021; Executive Committee: Jan 2020-Jun 2021)
• Montana State University: Kenning Arlitsch (Jan 2018- December 2021; Executive Committee: Jan 2019-Dec 2020)
• Washington University in St. Louis: Mimi Calter (Jan 2019- Dec 2021)
• University of Colorado, Boulder: Robert McDonald (Jan 2019-Dec 2021)
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: John Wilkin (Jan 2020-Dec 2022)