Leadership at BU Libraries
From Dr. Colin Duckett, Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Earlier this year, a national search was launched to select a permanent University Librarian for Boston University. Following a comprehensive and competitive search process, I am pleased to announce the selection of Kate Donovan as University Librarian, effective December 7, 2026.
Donovan comes to BU with extensive leadership experience in higher education and academic libraries. Currently serving as director and associate university librarian for special collections at The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. Donovan previously held leadership positions at Harvard University’s Houghton Library as well as the distinctive special collection libraries at New York University and Emory University.
As a former curator and university archivist specializing in public access, instruction, and reference, Donovan brings a deep knowledge of libraries to the role. Over the course of her career, she has sought to expand access to special collections and create more welcoming and inclusive library environments for students, faculty, staff, and visitors alike.
Across her leadership positions, Donovan has demonstrated strategic vision and a strong record of fundraising, securing more than $27 million in philanthropic and grant support, including funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In her current role, she oversees significant financial and human resources, managing a major operating budget, endowments, and a large staff.
As University Librarian, Donovan will articulate and implement a future-oriented vision for BU Libraries as an essential academic and research infrastructure supporting student success, faculty scholarship, and global engagement. She arrives at a transformative moment for BU Libraries, as the University continues to fundraise and plan for the eventual renovation and reimagination of Mugar Memorial Library.
Please join me in welcoming Kate and thanking the members of the University Librarian Search Advisory Committee, chaired by School of Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig and Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives & Operational Excellence Sarah Hokanson, for their work on this important search. I would like to thank those of you, particularly the library staff, who engaged with the search advisory committee during this time.
I am especially grateful to Sarah Hokanson for her steady and thoughtful leadership of BU Libraries over the past seven months. During this period of transition, I am appreciative of all she has accomplished and grateful for her willingness to continue serving in this role until Kate joins us later this fall.