The University of New Mexico

06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 09:09

Dean Leo Lo accepts leadership role at the University of Virginia

Leo S. Lo, dean of The University of New Mexico's College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences (CULLS) since 2021, will be depart the university to assume a new leadership role at the University of Virginia (UVA). His last day at UNM will mark the culmination of a transformative chapter in library innovation, educational equity, and academic excellence.

On Sept. 15, 2025, Lo will serve as dean of Libraries and University Librarian at UVA. He will also hold appointments as advisor to the provost for AI literacy and courtesy professor of education in the School of Education and Human Development.

Since joining UNM in 2021, Lo has led a $20 million enterprise comprising the University Libraries, UNM Press and the Organization, Information & Learning Sciences academic programs. His visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the campus and the wider academic community.

One of his hallmark achievements includes securing a $2.125 million federal grant to establish the New Mexico Open Educational Resources (OER) Consortium, which now saves students over $400,000 annually. Lo also propelled philanthropic engagement to new heights: private giving surged from 109% of the goal in his first year to a projected 817% in his fourth year. Among the landmark gifts are the college's first endowed librarian position and a $1 million endowment for staff and student development.

Lo championed inclusive, future-forward spaces and programs, such as the Jim and Mary Lois Friday Hulsman Graduate Commons, the Adobe Creative Commons, and a comprehensive campus-wide AI Literacy Initiative. This initiative combines practical workshops, professional development opportunities, and an online hub for AI learning, helping to position UNM as a leader in AI readiness in higher education.

"Leo Lo has been a wonderful dean for the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences," said UNM Provost James Holloway. "He brought a renewed focus on the patron experience to the library and drove our work on open educational resources. More recently, he has been a champion of exploring how AI tools can strengthen our work of learning and discovery. I will miss working with him, but look forward to seeing his contributions at the University of Virginia."

Beyond UNM, Lo is a nationally recognized thought leader. He is currently serving as the 2024-25 president of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), where he launched a Task Force on AI Competencies for Library Workers and secured external funding to expand AI-literacy training at under-resourced institutions.

He serves on numerous national and international boards and task forces, including the ARL/CNI Joint Task Force on AI & Machine Learning Futures, the Clarivate AI in Academia Advisory Council, and the board of directors for KNME (New Mexico PBS). His voice and scholarship have been featured in prominent outlets, including The Guardian, Inside Higher Ed, The Conversation and Times Higher Education. His upcoming book, AI and the Future Workforce: A Reskilling Guide for Academic Libraries (ACRL Press, 2025), reflects his commitment to preparing academic institutions for an AI-driven future.

Lo has delivered over 50 keynote and invited talks across five continents in the past 12 months alone, further demonstrating his global impact.

"Serving the University of New Mexico has been a profound privilege. Together, we reimagined library spaces, expanded open-education access, and championed AI literacy, all in service of our extraordinary students and faculty," Lo said. "I am deeply grateful to my CULLS colleagues, campus partners, and generous supporters whose dedication made these accomplishments possible. The spirit of collaboration and innovation I experienced at UNM will continue to inspire my work for years to come."

Lo's academic journey includes an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a postgraduate diploma in AI from the University of Oxford, alongside graduate degrees from the University of Connecticut, Florida State University, and Hollins University.

Prior to joining UNM, he held senior roles at Penn State University Libraries, Old Dominion University, the University of Alabama, and Kansas State University. Throughout his career, Lo has consistently expanded open education, fostered data-driven library services, and elevated libraries as key partners in teaching, research, and workforce development.

UNM extends its deepest gratitude to Lo for his exceptional service and visionary leadership and wishes him continued success as he embarks on this exciting new chapter at the University of Virginia.

In order to minimize the number of interim appointments in leadership, Holloway said a brief, competitive internal search for dean will be conducted, with the selected candidate serving as dean for approximately an 18-month term.

Nominations are now open until June 24 at 5 p.m.

Based on the feedback received, the provost will announce the new dean by July 1.

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