Sara Bushong‘s new position as the dean of Bowling Green State University Libraries is the next step in a line of jobs that began with an interest in music and education.

Bushong began her history with BGSU as a student, earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree and performing as a choir teacher, a school librarian, and was originally going to become a band director.

She finds her transition from music to libraries fitting in the overall pursuit of teaching.

“I just like the variety,” Bushong said. “I felt I could continue working as a teacher as well but be able to work with all kinds of subject areas instead of just one or two.”

Bushong previously served as the associate dean of the libraries as well as two terms as interim dean and is excited about her new job.

“I’m kind of the person that whatever is thrown at me, I’m going to go ahead and take it on, full speed ahead,” she said. “I think I’m finally realizing that there isn’t another dean coming in, so we’re going to just start making plans for the future.”

Officially acting as dean since May 9, Bushong’s transition into the position has been described as “seamless” by Libraries budget manager Heidi Popovitch, citing her previous experience as associate and interim dean as a big help.

“She already knew what duties and responsibilities the dean needed to be prioritizing and working on,” Popovitch said. “One thing about Sara is that she is focused and driven, so she never missed a beat.”

By taking the job of dean BGSU Libraries, Bushong is bringing stability to the library administration.

Bushong has worked in the libraries since 2000 and her colleagues lobbied hard for her to get the position.

Provost Ken Borland said that a national search for a dean was the usual course of action, but the search could have continued into December of this year.

He also heard from a number of library faculty and staff members, as well as members from the Friends of the Library and BGSU Libraries Advocates Board, about the large amount of leadership turnover in recent history.

“A number of people from those two groups and the faculty had approached me earlier and said, ‘We could benefit from some stability in leadership,'” Borland said. “People [who] have been here for a while and know the library would make a great contribution to leading it into the future instead of a new person from outside coming in.”

Borland said the faculty conducted a confidential online survey to help Borland know whether a national search was needed. He found overwhelming support for appointing a current member of the staff and for Bushong to be the choice.

“When 95 percent of the faculty and staff [approve of her], who know her very well in her leadership roles both as interim dean and associate dean over the past couple of years … her good work was confirmed by what they had to say to me,” Borland said.

Borland said that it is helpful that Bushong has knowledge about unique facets about the library such as OhioLink, which is the ability to connect to other libraries and exchange resources.

“She does have some particular knowledge a dean coming from outside BGSU would have to master in a hurry,” he said.

Before returning to BGSU in 2000 as the head librarian for the Curriculum Resource Center, Bushong received her Master of Education in Library and Educational Media from BGSU, and she also has a Master of Library Science degree from Kent State. The latter degree is accredited to the American Library Association and is required to become an academic librarian.

Bushong said that her two favorite things about her job are working with students on their research interests and working with her staff to speak for the libraries’ needs.

“I have always been more of a collaborative person,” she said. “I ask a lot of questions and I try to be really open and honest and to listen. I think those are really important qualities of a leader.”

While she has the final say in making decisions, she said that collaboration is the most effective method.

“I try to talk with people as much as possible and make them understand how important they are to the process, because it doesn’t really matter to me if it’s a student who’s just working part-time to somebody that is a dean,” she said.

“Everybody’s contribution is just as important,” she added. “I think if people feel that you feel what they’re doing is important, they also want to be involved in whatever we’re doing to move ahead.”

Her approach to working with others has earned her praise among her colleagues.

Colleen Boff, chair of the Department of Library Teaching and Learning, enjoys Bushong’s collaborative leadership and said that she is passionate with everything that she does.

“As an administrator, I find her to be very fair-minded and inclusive,” Boff said. “She tries to get everybody involved.”

Borland also had high praise.

“She’s a person with great integrity, she’s a delightful individual to work with, a very hard-worker and I think the University should be very proud to have Sara Bushong serve as dean of libraries,” he said.