SUBJECT: Welcome Jean Song

It is my great pleasure to welcome Jean Song as the new Director of the Mardigian Library. Jean comes to us after 17 years in the University of Michigan Library System as a health sciences research librarian, bioinformationist, and then Assistant and most recently Associate Director of the Taubman Health Sciences Library. Jean has provided leadership and strategic vision for Taubman’s academic and clinical engagement unit and her primary responsibilities included integration with the clinical enterprise (Michigan Medicine, University Health Services, non-academic clinical providers) as well as curricular integrated instruction and teaching and learning opportunities for students, faculty and staff in the major health sciences schools: School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, School of Dentistry, School of Kinesiology, College of Pharmacy.

Jean is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in the workplace as well as in the work that librarians and library professionals practice. She has been intentional in actively increasing the pipeline of underrepresented groups into health sciences librarianship through active mentorship of students and interns. Her efforts have resulted in the Taubman being one of the most diverse units within the U-M Library System.

Jean joins a strong Mardigian Library and Stamelos Gallery Center with recent advances in digital education, research instruction, information literacy programming, and undergraduate and graduate research support. In addition, Mardigian librarians and staff have engaged in strategic budget decision planning, database usage analysis, building use surveys, and innovations in digital exhibits, live chat, and virtual research support. Our many thanks to Maureen Linker for her leadership of the Mardigian and Stamelos over the past 4 years and we look forward to Maureen transitioning full-time to the Provost’s office and working closely with Jean on implementing her mission and vision for the library.

I would also like to thank the search advisory committee who did an excellent job vetting candidates and selecting highly qualified finalists for the position. Their diligence and professionalism were a great service to our campus. The committee was chaired by Professor Danielle DeFauw (CEHHS) and members included Christopher Spilker, Nadine Anderson, Patrick Armatis, and Sue Flannery (Mardigian), Professor John Chenoweth (CASL), Laurie Sutch (Experience+), Lisa Copeland and Molly McCuthan (HR),Wasey Rehman (Student Government) and the committee was well supported by Terry Bigelow (Office of the Provost).

Jean’s first day as Director starts today so please join me in welcoming her to UM-Dearborn!

Gabriella

Gabriella Scarlatta
Interim Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs