This community-driven digital repository documents the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri after the murder of Michael Brown at the hands of police.

Dawes has been an adjunct professor at Drexel University College of Computing and Informatics since 2006.

Dawes has served as executive board member at large of the New Jersey Library Association (2009-2013) and president of the ACRL-NJ/NJLA-CUS (2009-2010).

Dawes was elected to a three-year term as a member of the ALA Executive Board in January, 2017.

Dawes was named president of the Association of College and Research Libraries in July, 2013 and served for one year.

He also focused on increasing financial literacy and worked to expand discussions around how libraries add value to their institutions.