Leo S. Lo has been appointed the University of Virginia’s next University librarian and dean of libraries.
Lo has spent the past 15 years in leadership roles at university libraries, championing open education, expanding data-driven library services, and positioning libraries as crucial partners in teaching and research. He is active in professional organizations and serves as president of the Association of College and Research Libraries, where he established the Task Force on AI Competencies for Library Workers.
“Joining UVA as University librarian and dean of libraries is about embracing possibilities and honoring Thomas Jefferson’s vision of the library as the intellectual heart of the University,” Lo said. “It’s also about preserving history while actively engaging with new technologies. I’m eager to partner with UVA’s extraordinary students, faculty and staff to ensure the libraries continue to inspire, empower and connect our community through innovative and meaningful experiences.”
Lo earned his doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania and a postgraduate diploma in AI from the University of Oxford. He also earned graduate degrees in survey research, library and information studies, and screenwriting from the University of Connecticut, Florida State University and Hollins University, respectively. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.
His scholarship has been featured in The Guardian, Inside Higher Ed, The Conversation, Times Higher Education and the EdSurge Podcast. His forthcoming book, “AI and the Future Workforce: A Reskilling Guide for Academic Libraries,” reflects his commitment to preparing academic institutions for the future of AI.
Before arriving at the University of New Mexico, Lo was associate dean at Pennsylvania State University Libraries, where he oversaw more than 350 faculty and staff across 20 campuses and helped establish the Center for Black Digital Research. Earlier in his career, he served as associate university librarian at Old Dominion University, department head at the University of Alabama and faculty librarian at Kansas State University.
As University librarian and dean of libraries, Lo will oversee more than 220 staff members and 190 student employees and be responsible for supporting the University’s goals of excellence in teaching, scholarship and the advancement of knowledge. He will also serve as an AI adviser to the provost and will hold a faculty appointment in the Education School.