Rate My Professor Frank Edwards

Frank Edwards serves as Associate University Librarian – Māori and Strategic Development at Te Pātaka Mātauraka o Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago Library. Operating from the University Librarian's Office in the Information Services Building at 65 Albany Street, Dunedin, he spearheads strategic initiatives that embed Māori knowledge and perspectives into library operations and services. As a proud descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, and Kāi Tahu, Frank Edwards ensures alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and the university's Te Aka Matua 2030 framework, promoting inclusive practices that honor indigenous legacies and foster cultural responsiveness within academic support structures.

Frank Edwards' career at the University of Otago includes his earlier role as Kaitakawaenga Māori, or Māori Community Liaison Officer, at the Māori Centre. There, he organized whānau hui for senior Māori students and their families, facilitated connections through national and regional iwi events, and co-contributed to key resources such as the Whānau Guide alongside Grace Latimer. He represented the Māori community in interdisciplinary efforts like the BEATS Research Programme, which examined adolescents' travel to school patterns in urban, semi-urban, and rural settings. Transitioning to library leadership, Frank has managed reviews of impactful proposals, including Koloa mei Moana to commemorate Pacific contributions, and led wānanga at Puketeraki Marae to unite library whānau through tikanga Māori practices. These gatherings challenged staff preconceptions about knowledge sources and built stronger communal bonds. His efforts extend to student welfare during crises, such as providing guidance amid COVID-19, and celebrating milestones like Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori since 2012. Frank Edwards continues to advance Māori engagement, student success, and strategic development across the university.