Patrick José Dawson was appointed Dean of Libraries at Northern Illinois University in July 2008. He serves as the chief administrative officer of the University Libraries, which includes Founders Memorial Library, three specialized libraries on campus, and libraries at NIU outreach centers in Naperville, Rockford, and Hoffman Estates. Formerly, Dawson was the Associate University Librarian for Information and Research Services at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where his his responsibilities included developing library budgets, strategic plan implementation and supervision of operations, staffing and planning for a number of library departments. He has over 25 years experience in academic libraries, in activities ranging from acquisitions and cataloging to reference and administration. Dawson also is an alumnus of ARL’s 1997-98 inaugural Leadership and Career Development Program.