Hosoi to take higher education knowledge, leadership to the next level

As associate dean for collections, research and scholarly communications for Penn State University Libraries, Mihoko Hosoi has provided leadership, strategic direction and support for a wide variety of library operations. As a participant in The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Academic Leadership Program (ALP) in 2020-21, as well as an incoming doctoral candidate in the College of Education, Hosoi hopes to enhance her knowledge of higher education practices and become an effective university administrator.

The BTAA is the academic consortium of the Big Ten universities and the United States’ pre-eminent model for effective collaboration among research universities.

The ALP focuses on addressing the challenges of academic administration at major research universities. Through the program, participants who have demonstrated exceptional ability and administrative promise can further develop their leadership and managerial skills. Fellows are appointed to one-year terms, and funding is provided by the participating institutions.

Hosoi came to Penn State in September 2019 from the California Digital Library, University of California, where she served as assistant director for Systemwide Licensing and Collection Services. Previously, she was head of Collection Development and Strategy at the Graduate School of Business Library, Stanford University; head of Instruction and Research Services at the Nestlé Library, Cornell University; and assistant librarian/library fellow at the Davidson Library, University of California at Santa Barbara, among other positions in universities and the private sector.

As a key member of the University Libraries’ administrative team, Hosoi oversees collections, acquisitions, scholarly communication, and the subject libraries encompassing the arts and humanities, business, earth and mineral sciences, engineering, life sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, social sciences and special collections.

Hosoi said she would like to use her background in library and information sciences to advance a more equitable system for granting access to academic literature.

“I have empathy toward people from underprivileged backgrounds, and would like to make things better for all,” she said. “I’m also passionate about promoting open access to scholarly publications so that interested people all over the world, regardless of their economic circumstances, can benefit from the openly available scholarly literature.”

Her enrollment in the College of Education’s higher education doctoral program, she said, will help her reach those underserved populations by expanding her professional network and access to educational resources.

“Penn State’s higher education program is well-regarded, and I’m excited to be able to learn from such an esteemed group of faculty members.”

According to Hosoi, her participation in the Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program was an unexpected yet fitting complement to her graduate program. In addition to helping her take her knowledge of higher education operations to the next level, the program will facilitate valuable connections with colleagues with similar interests.

 “As I’m relatively new at Penn State, I wanted to build relationships and fully immerse myself to learning, through the ALP program and my doctoral education, to become an effective higher education administrator,” she said.

“I didn’t mean to do everything at the same time. Sometimes opportunities come up unexpectedly, and I felt like welcoming them and challenging myself. I feel fortunate and intend to do my best.”