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(PASADENA, Calif.) April 4, 2014 — Art Center College of Design has named Mario Ascencio—a dedicated, nationally recognized leader among library professionals—as the college librarian and managing director of the library, it was announced today by Art Center Provost Fred Fehlau. Following an international search and with broad support of the entire academic community, Ascencio returns to his hometown of Los Angeles to begin his tenure at Art Center’s James Lemont Fogg Memorial Library on May 12, 2014.
Previously, during his visionary leadership as library director at the Corcoran Gallery of Art / Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C., Ascencio revolutionized library operations. The addition of new educational technologies, social media and digital repository systems created new efficiencies that dramatically improved the user experience for the Corcoran’s wide variety of patrons.
As a leader, Ascencio is keenly aware of the important big-picture issues faced by institutions and how vital libraries are in supporting overall goals and objectives. As co-chair of the Corcoran’s Self-Study Steering Committee, he was key in preparing the institution for its upcoming reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In 2008, Library Journal named him a Mover & Shaker in recognition of his commitment to improving and promoting library services at the national and international level.
"I’m excited to return to my native city of Los Angeles,” he said, adding that, throughout the years, when asked by friends if he would ever come home to the Southland, he always responded positively—with the stipulation that it would happen only if the ideal position was offered by the ideal organization.
“After almost 15 years living in D.C., I’m thrilled to join Art Center because of its mission, ‘Learn to Create, Influence Change,’” he said. “It’s at the core of my personal beliefs that the library and the staff have the power to help students explore and discover themselves as artists and designers, and to ultimately create a positive impact on their learning.”
Looking ahead as the College continues its South Campus expansion close to downtown Pasadena, Ascencio envisions engaging with his new colleagues to discover new opportunities to better serve the Art Center community.
Innovation has long been part of his portfolio. In 2006, he was elected president of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. In this role, he led the organization’s 40 board members, more than 800 association members, and 26 chapters throughout the U.S.
Previously, he worked as the visual arts liaison librarian at George Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax, Virginia, and as a librarian for Latino research at the Smithsonian Libraries, National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. He has also held positions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the UCLA Arts Library, the Getty Research Institute Research Library, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Watson Library in New York. In 2008 he served as a member of the honorary committee for the UCLA Department of Information Studies 50th Anniversary Celebration.
He received his masters of library and information science from UCLA, and his BA in art history with a minor in Italian from California State University, Northridge.
Ascencio’s appointment follows the retirement of Elizabeth Galloway who stepped down in July 2013 after 35 years of devoted service and commitment to the Art Center community.
The James Lemont Fogg Memorial Library at Art Center offers a comprehensive collection of resources in art and design for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the public. The Library’s resources include more than 100,000 volumes of books and periodicals; subscriptions for more than 400 magazines; 13,000 DVDs of feature films, animation, documentaries and more; expanding collections of zines and video games; plus subscriptions to dozens of online databases. A reference librarian is available for research assistance and online resource instruction. Photographs, papers, digital records and ephemera documenting the history of Art Center are housed in the College Archives.
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, Calif., Art Center College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. Art Center offers 11 undergraduate and six graduate degrees in a wide variety of art and design disciplines, as well as public programs for all ages and levels of experience. Renowned for its ties to industry, Art Center is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status, providing opportunities for students to create design-based solutions for humanitarian and nonprofit agencies around the world. During the College’s 84-year history, Art Center’s alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.
Contact for more information and images:
Teri Bond
Director of Media Relations
626.396.2385 - office
310.738.2077 - mobile
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