Emilie Songolo joined the MIT Libraries in July as head of the Department of Distinctive Collections (DDC). In this role, Songolo will work across the Libraries to transform the use of MIT’s archival and unique collections and share them with the world. 

Prior to joining MIT, Songolo was the Senior Librarian for African, Global and Francophone Studies and the Head of International and Area Studies for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the UW-Madison Librarian of the Year, the UW-Madison Outstanding Woman of Color, the Dr. Brenda Pfaehler Award of Excellence, and the UW-Madison Academic Staff Assembly Commendation for Outstanding Service in the Community. Songolo is a graduate of the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, Mount Holyoke College, and UCLA, where she earned her master’s of Library and Information Science.

“I feel honored and thrilled to join the MIT Libraries community in the role of head of Distinctive Collections,” says Songolo. “I look forward to leveraging the collective expertise of my colleagues to bolster DDC as the shining star that it is. Together, we will strengthen relationships with faculty, researchers, students, external stakeholders, and campus partners, as well as with all library units.”