Avery Boddie Named Music and Media Program Head

Avery Bodie portrait

Jenny Mann/Photo Services

Avery Boddie has been named Music and Media Program Head, the MIT Libraries announced today. In this newly configured role, Boddie will manage the daily operations of the Lewis Music Library while envisioning and implementing digital initiatives related to music, audio, and multimedia.

“Avery’s strong performance background, creative, forward-looking approach, and ability to apply our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion to all aspects of library work set him apart,” said Alexia Hudson Ward, associate director for Research and Learning. “I look forward to seeing him lead future-oriented strategies for the Lewis Music Library and engage with the vibrant and diverse music community at MIT. I extend my thanks to the search committee and its chair, Nina Davis-Millis, for their outstanding work during the entire search process, which led to this successful outcome.”

In his current role as Music and Dance Librarian at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Boddie serves as the UNLV Libraries’ liaison to the Music and Dance department, providing instruction, reference, collection development, and advanced scholarship to these areas. Prior to working at UNLV, Boddie worked at American University in Washington, D.C., focusing on teaching information literacy and research skills to undergraduates across all subject disciplines.

“Working at MIT is a dream job for me. I greatly look forward to working with and engaging the music students, faculty, and patrons here on collaborations and supporting their research and educational needs,” said Boddie. “I would like to thank Interim Music Librarian Nina Davis-Mills for her support and guidance during this transition, and I am eager to get to work and eventually see everyone back in the Lewis Music Library!”

An incoming member of the Music Library Association (MLA) Board of Directors, Boddie is a former Association of Research Libraries (ARL)/MLA Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Fellow, a current ARL/Leadership and Career Development Program Fellow, and an active member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. He holds both a BM and MM in Trumpet Performance and worked as a freelance musician before completing his MLS at the University of Maryland. Boddie begins his new role at MIT Libraries February 1.