The University is pleased to announce that Gabrielle Prefontaine has been reappointed for an additional five-year term as Dean of the Library. Prefontaine will begin her new five-year term on July 1, 2026, following a one-year academic leave. While Prefontaine is on leave, Associate Dean of the Library, Emma Hill Kepron, will take on the role of Acting Dean of the Library. During this time, the role of Acting Associate Dean of the Library will be filled by Sam Popowich, Digital Infrastructure Librarian.
Gabrielle Prefontaine (she/her) has served as Dean of the Library at the UWinnipeg since 2014. Prior to that, she was an Archivist and FIPPA Coordinator at UWinnipeg and a Senior Archivist at the Archives of Ontario. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Toronto and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Manitoba. She is known for her student-focused leadership and commitment to enhancing the Library’s role in student success. Prefontaine contributes actively to campus life through service on numerous university committees and has held various national leadership roles, including with the Coalition of Canadian Digital Heritage, the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries, and the Canadian Council on Archives.
A committed collaborator, Prefontaine has worked closely with academic and administrative partners to enhance the Library’s impact on teaching and research. Under her leadership, the Library team has increased educational resources for students, advanced accessibility, and created more opportunities for community engagement.
Emma Hill Kepron (top) and Sam Popowich.
Emma Hill Kepron (she/her) has served as Associate Dean of the Library since 2021. Prior to that, she was Digital Infrastructure Librarian at University of Winnipeg and Systems Librarian at University of Manitoba. She holds a Master of Library and Information Services from Western University and a Bachelor of Arts from University of Manitoba. Since joining UWininpeg, Hill Kepron has brought a strong focus on digital scholarship and information literacy to her role. She also recently made local headlines when she represented Winnipeg as a Jeopardy! champion in April 2023.
Dr. Sam Popowich (he/him) is responsible for digital infrastructure related to organization, access, publishing, and dissemination of library resources. He has previously worked at the University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, and University of Alberta. In addition to a library degree, Sam holds an MA in music and cultural theory and PhD in political science. He is the author of two books, Confronting the Democratic Discourse of Librarianship: A Marxist Approach (2019) and Solving Names: Metaphysics and Worldliness in Librarianship (2024).
