Brent Etzel
Dean of Library and Archives
Words: Joshua Little ’12
Photos: Tony Hughes
Brent Etzel
Dean of Library and Archives
For Brent Etzel, Wheaton College’s Dean of Library and Archives, his love of research and learning was evident at a young age. In college, he would nearly forget to go to class because, “I was in the library working on research projects I was interested in, not for assignments,” Etzel said.
Etzel’s career as an academic librarian has been devoted to making libraries accessible to scholars and empowering students for success. With his experience as a library administrator, he’s uniquely equipped to cast a vision for Wheaton’s libraries as an inviting hub for leveraging accessible resources and modern technology.
There’s much that Etzel is excited about—not just the world’s largest evangelical archive library in Billy Graham Hall, but also “some of the highest circulation figures for our print resources among liberal arts colleges.” Etzel also values Wheaton’s commitments to Christian truth and preparing students for their vocations with enriching resources.
“We’re preparing future business people, educators, and health professionals to discern and find trustworthy sources,” he said. “So much of what is necessary for success comes from learning library resources and research skills.”
Etzel’s dreams for an ideal campus library span everything from technology—like the possibility of integrating multimedia labs, production centers, and accessibility resources—to the physical space. “Students want to study in a place that’s beautiful,” he said, where they can fully enjoy the beauty of the campus and have flexible space for collaborative projects. “Pedagogy for the 21st century involves a lot of group study and hands-on activities. We need places where people can gather—to share ideas and create together.”
Not only is Etzel an advocate for this vision, but he also models scholarship and service. When he’s not working on his Ph.D., he enjoys studying foreign languages, researching Eastern Europe, and volunteering at the library of an evangelical seminary in Croatia.
He also loves walking by the Wheaton College Library’s lunch area to engage with students. “I’ll hear conversations about the nature of God and beauty and truth,” he said. “To know some of these students will be impactful leaders—it’s a blessing to nurture great scholars in this place of ideas.”
