Marika Peterson is the new dean of libraries and university librarian at Virginia State University. In this role, she will lead library services supporting student success, advancing faculty research and scholarship, and expanding innovative resources for the campus community.
Peterson comes to her new position with nearly three decades of higher education experience, including over 18 years with Southside Virginia Community College, where she most recently served as the college-wide librarian. During her tenure at the community college, she aligned library operations with institutional priorities, oversaw budgets and collections, strengthened vendor partnerships, expanded access to digital resources, and modernized library services and electronic resource management.
Peterson is a two-time alumna of Virginia State, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and mass communications and her master’s degree in educational technology. She holds a master of library science degree from North Carolina Central University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in instructional design and technology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
