Claire Stewart

Claire Stewart is the Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean and University Librarian at the University of Illinois, holding the title of University Library Professor. She leads the University Library, overseeing strategic initiatives in academic librarianship and research support. Her work focuses on data curation, academic library innovation, and intellectual property law in digital environments. Stewart has pioneered collaborative models for research data management through projects like the Data Curation Network, emphasizing cross-institutional staffing and scalable service frameworks.

Her research explores gaps in data curation services, academic library roles in digital preservation, and policy development for emerging media. Notable outputs include peer-reviewed articles on data repository comparisons and editorial contributions on future library states. Stewart’s leadership extends to national collaborations, such as the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Research Data Alliance, where she addresses challenges in data curation at scale.

Her academic contributions span over two decades, with a focus on digital media infrastructure, project management in collaborative environments, and policy frameworks for intellectual property. She has advised on repository systems like the Avalon Media System and contributed to initiatives like the Fedora framework for sustainable digital services.