University Libraries appoints Thomas Padilla Associate Dean for Research and Learning
Thomas Padilla, an internationally sought-after voice on responsible uses of technology that advance research and learning, has been appointed as the University Libraries’ new associate dean for research and learning, effective January 5. He will lead a division of three units within the Libraries, including Research Partnerships, Teaching Partnerships, and Information Services and Learning Spaces (ISLeS), and he will also hold an appointment as a tenured faculty member in the University Libraries.
Padilla brings a unique mix of experience drawn from R1 universities, the Internet Archive, the Library of Congress, and Authors Alliance. Padilla has led numerous grants from funders, including the Mellon Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Humanities, and others.
In 2020, Library Journal named him a Mover & Shaker (Digital Developer) for his work cultivating an international community of research libraries focused on responsibly developing, providing access to, and supporting computational use of collections as data.
“Thomas Padilla brings a passion for purpose that aligns strongly with where the University Libraries is headed. He joins a talented, enterprising faculty and staff dedicated to supporting our communities. In this role, Thomas will lead and partner with colleagues across the Libraries and campus to advance the Nebraska Model for public research libraries, inspiring and equipping information experts and their partners to pursue learning and research that imagines better futures,” explained Liz Lorang, dean of Libraries.
Padilla says he has “long admired the University of Nebraska–Lincoln” and is very excited to join the Libraries leadership team.
“I am deeply impressed by colleagues within the library and across the university. We have a strong track record of collectively solving challenges at local, national, and international scales. I look forward to amplifying our ability to leverage our imaginations and expertise to cultivate a better world,” stated Padilla.
Public service is a priority for him, as Padilla currently serves on several national boards, including as an advisory board member of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, a board member of the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Program, and a national advisory board member of the Opioid Industry Documents Archive.
Moving forward, Padilla expects his own research agenda to include further exploring the effects of technologies like artificial intelligence on information-seeking behavior and research processes and output.
“It is clear that technologies like AI are both generating and intermediating the production of information at scale, and this is consequential for the development of research libraries and research universities as a whole,” stated Padilla.