Jordan Nielsen, Associate Dean of the University Library
Provide executive leadership and administrative oversight for library access and public services, including circulation, shelving operations, interlibrary loan, and course reserves and curricular resources.
Oversee operations of Guest Services, Teacher Curriculum Center/Music & Media services, the Map Collection, and related user-centered service areas.
Serve as the chief administrative deputy to the Dean of the University Library, providing leadership continuity and operational oversight during periods of delegated authority.
Foster cross-departmental collaboration to advance library services, resource access, and student success outcomes.
Collaborate with library faculty and staff to support the research, teaching, and learning needs of students, faculty, and staff across the university.
Develop, implement, and oversee library policies, procedures, and service standards.
Coordinate the curriculum review and approval process for courses offered by the University Library.
Guide assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts to support institutional effectiveness and strategic objectives.
Serve on the library, campus, and university-wide committees, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and institutional initiatives.
Represent the University Library in campus, system-wide, and external meetings on behalf of the Dean, as needed.
Librarianship
Professor & Head of Access Services, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, June 2022 - August 2026
Librarian for Business, Walker Management Library, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, February 2021 - June 2022
Head of User Services and Engagement, J. Paul Leonard Library, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, September 2018 - February 2021
Business & Entrepreneurship Librarian, University Libraries, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, May 2017 - September 2018
Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Business Data Librarian, University Library, San Diego State University, August 2014 - May 2017
Assistant Professor & Business Librarian, University Libraries, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, August 2012 - August 2014
Teaching
Lecturer in Management, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Course taught: MGT 6599 (Advanced Business Research), 2021-2022
Provost Lecturer, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Course taught: UNIV 1001 (University Perspectives), 2013-2014
Book
Houk, K., Nielsen, J., and Wong-Welch, J. (Eds.). (2024). Toward inclusive academic librarian hiring practices. Association of College & Research Libraries.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Houk, K. & Nielsen, J. (2023). Inclusive hiring in academic libraries: A qualitative analysis of reflections and attitudes of search committee members. College & Research Libraries, 84(4), 568-588.
Rusk, F., Maxwell, J., Nielsen, J., Borges, L., Guidara, A., and Lamberti, J. (2023). Pursuing student success in libraries: A case study in peer mentor program transition, training, and engagement. Reference Services Review, 51(2), 91-104.
Kranich, N., Lotts, M., Nielsen, J., and Ward, J. (2020). Moving from collecting to connecting: Articulating, assessing, and communicating the work of liaison librarians. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 20(2), 285-304.
Jeffery, K., Houk, K., Nielsen, J., and Wong-Welch, J. (2017). Digging in the mines: Mining course syllabi in search of the library. Evidence Based Library & Information Practice, 12(1), 72-84.
Rogers, J. & Nielsen, J. (2017). Assessing a promotional strategy for marketing electronic resources in the academic library environment. The Serials Librarian, 73(1), 18-26.
Nielsen, J. (2014). Going the distance in academic libraries: Identifying trends and innovation in distance learning resources and services. Journal of Library and Information Services in Distance Learning, 8(1-2), 5-16.
Nielsen, J. & Lennertz Jetton, L. (2014). Assessing the effectiveness of collaborative subject-specific library instruction. Qualitative & Quantitative Methods in Libraries Journal, 3(1), 343-350.
Nielsen, J. (2013). The blended business librarian: Technology skills in academic business librarian job advertisements. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 18(2), 119-128.
Book Chapters
Nielsen, J. (2021). Entrepreneurship unbound: Liaison librarians supporting entrepreneurship in the university environment. In C. Crichton & R. Canuel (Eds.), Approaches to liaison librarianship: Innovations in organization and engagement (pp. 283-295). Chicago, IL: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Nielsen, J. (2018). From entrepreneurs to executives: Supporting graduate business students in the library. In C. Renfro & C. Stiles (Eds.), Transforming libraries to serve graduate students (pp. 77-83). Chicago, IL: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Nielsen, J. & Jeffery, K. (2017). Using proximity beacons and the Physical Web to promote library research and instructional services. In C. Crichton & R. Canuel (Eds.), Mobile technology and academic libraries: Innovative services for research and teaching (pp. 197-205). Chicago, IL: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Presentations
Bethany, J., Garmer, N., Hughes, J., Nielsen, J., & Paolillo, C. (2025). Promoting student success in access services. Panel presentation at the 2025 Access Services Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Wong-Welch, J., Cota, M., & Nielsen, J. (2025). Democratizing power: Exploring the radical potential of mid-career librarians. Panel presentation at the 2025 Association of College & Research Libraries Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Houk, K. & Nielsen, J. (2023). Exploring academic librarian candidates' experiences on the job market. Presentation at the meeting of the 2023 Association of College & Research Libraries Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
Wong-Welch, J. & Nielsen, J. (2023). Readers' advisory as information literacy programming: Why academic librarians should be recommending too. Presentation at the meeting of the American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Nielsen, J. (2022). Teaching with intention: Developing a teaching and learning strategic plan for the library. Presentation at the meeting of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' World Library and Information Congress, Dublin, Ireland.
Nielsen, J. & Houk, K. (2021). The library is open (and hiring): Toward conscientious academic librarian hiring practices. Presentation at the meeting of the 2021 Association of College & Research Libraries Conference.
Nielsen, J. (2019). New venture librarianship: Practical implications from the entrepreneurship librarian job market. Presentation at the International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
Nielsen, J. (2018). The business librarian and the career center: Promoting student engagement and business information literacy. Presentation at the Business Librarian Online Conference.
Nielsen, J. & Jefferey, K. (2017). Sensors in the stacks: The Internet of Things and libraries. Presentation at the meeting of the Library Information Technology Association Forum, Denver, CO.
Nielsen, J. & Jeffery, K. (2017). Location, location, location: Creating location-based services with proximity beacons and the Physical Web. Presentation at the meeting of the Association of College & Research Libraries, Baltimore, MD.
Nielsen, J. (2016). Gamifying business information literacy: Using digital badges to incentivize the acquisition of business information skills. Presentation at the 8th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries Conference, London, England.
Lamont, L. & Nielsen, J. (2016). Evaluating a digital library through social return on investment. Paper presented at the 11th Northumbria Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Master of Science, Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2012
Master of Business Administration, University of Tennessee at Martin, 2007
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration (Emphasis: Marketing), University of Tennessee at Martin, 2006