Newsletter Edition: Fall 2026
Contributed by Gina Flores
If you happen to spot a corgi riding through town in a backpack, chances are you’ve found Jordan Nielsen, the University Library’s new Associate Dean. Whether crocheting on the porch while listening to audiobooks, exploring the city with their beloved corgi, Huckleberry, or championing innovative ways to support students, Jordan brings curiosity, creativity, and a people-first approach to everything they do. After more than 14 years in academic libraries, they are excited to help shape the future of the University Library at California State University, Northridge. We invite you to get to know Jordan!
Who is Jordan Nielsen?
I'm technically a New Jerseyan by birth, but my family moved to Tennessee right after I finished 1st grade, so Tennessee is home to me. After finishing high school in the tiny town of Atwood, TN, I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (with an emphasis in Marketing) and a Master of Business Administration degree. I later earned a Master of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Go Vols!). I have been in academic libraries for more than 14 years, and I love that every day is different and I get to meet so many interesting people.
How did you become interested in pursuing a library career field?
In middle school and high school, I practically lived in the library. I ended up working in the library during my senior year of high school and I loved it. Oddly, it never occurred to me to pursue a career in libraries until after I graduated with my MBA and worked in banking for a few years. While banking was not my ultimate calling, I learned many valuable lessons about customer service, service design, and I also learned that I liked doing research. I began looking for a career that would keep me in customer service while also giving me opportunities to engage in research, and so I decided to go to library school. While there are many paths one can take as a librarian, I was fortunate to find a path that aligned perfectly with my background and interests. Upon graduating from library school, I was hired as an Assistant Professor & Business Librarian at the University of Arkansas, and for the next decade or so I served as a business librarian at multiple institutions, including at San Diego State University and San Francisco State University. Eventually, I transitioned from being a business librarian into Access Services and later library leadership. While my career has involved me working in a variety of areas of librarianship, the common thread for me has been getting to work with users, especially students, to solve problems and help them get the resources they need.
Who was/is your greatest mentor?
One of the best mentors I have ever had was an incredible librarian by the name of Tess Gibson. I met Tess when I was fresh out of library school during my first position at the University of Arkansas. All tenure track librarians were assigned a mentor to help them navigate the tenure track process and to become better acquainted with the University Libraries and the University itself. Tess was the Head of Interlibrary Loan, and she was my official assigned mentor. As the Head of Interlibrary Loan, Tess was laser-focused on customer service. She was constantly looking for ways to reduce turnaround times and to remove barriers so that users got their materials faster, and she was an innovative person who often proposed new services or adapted existing services to meet user needs. I learned a tremendous amount from Tess about what it means to be user centered. Tess also really helped me navigate academic publishing and presenting at conferences, something I found daunting as a tenure track librarian. Tess was direct and had high expectations, but she was also incredibly compassionate and supportive. She was an excellent mentor, and she continues to be an inspiration for me as I step into the Associate Dean role.
What impression of CSUN do you have, so far?
I am thrilled that I get to work at a place like CSUN that genuinely prioritizes student access and success. Everyone has been so welcoming since I arrived in August, and it's been heartening to see so many in the Library and on campus who are sincerely dedicated to making sure our students have the resources and support they need.
In your new role as Associate Dean, what do you aspire to achieve?
As a librarian, I have long been an advocate for removing barriers for students, as well as pushing the library beyond its traditional boundaries to meet students where they are. Now as an Associate Dean, I believe I have opportunities to have a larger impact with respect to removing barriers and changing the way students see and engage with the University Library. My hope is that I can help foster an environment that is safe and supportive of everyone who uses or works in the University Library.
What do you do for fun?
My favorite thing to do is spend time with my corgi, Huckleberry. We spend a lot of time on the porch where he sunbathes while I crochet and listen to audiobooks and podcasts. When we're not doing that, I like to take him out in his backpack to explore the city. Huck is very curious, so he loves to get into all sorts of shenanigans. He keeps me on my toes!