Lisa German

Lisa German, associate dean for Collections, Information and Access Services at the Penn State University Libraries, has been named dean of Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair for the University Libraries at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas. In her new position, German will oversee operations of the main M.D. Anderson Library and three branch libraries.

German’s tenure at Penn State began in 2005, when she was named assistant dean for Technical and Collections Services. She was appointed associate dean in 2011. During her time at Penn State, German has represented the University Libraries in a wide range of consortia and partnerships at the state, regional and national levels. Most recently, she was elected to the Knowledge Management Section Standing Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. At the University Libraries, she has provided support and guidance to librarians and staff beyond the units under her immediate leadership, a role that has been recognized by Barbara Dewey, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications. “Lisa has mentored many librarians from all sectors of the University Libraries. I deeply appreciate her hard work and dedication to Penn State,” says Dewey.

In addition to her work in the Libraries, German has also held numerous leadership roles at Penn State. She has been an active member of the Commission for Women for a number of years, serving as chair from 2013-14. She is also on Penn State’s University Research Council, and was a member of the Academic Council on Undergraduate Education.

German began her academic library career in 1993, as assistant head of acquisitions at Wright State University Library, Dayton, Ohio. In 1996, she joined the University of Illinois Library, Urbana, Illinois. Prior to her appointment at Penn State, she was head of acquisitions and associate professor of library administration at the University of Illinois Library. She is active in many professional bodies, including the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium (PALCI) and numerous divisions within the American Library Association, and has published widely in her field.

German, who will be leaving Penn State in July, says, “I am very grateful to all of the people I have worked with at Penn State. This is a world-class institution and I feel fortunate to have worked here. I will take a bit of Penn State with me to Texas as I move from Lion Country to Cougar Country.”