The Hesburgh Libraries welcomed three new faculty members during the fall 2025 semester.

Sarah Dennis, Megan Elsen and Veronica Fu bring expertise to their new roles as licensing librarian, e-access librarian, and East Asian studies and education librarian.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome these talented new colleagues,” said Margaret Meserve, Edward H. Arnold Dean, Hesburgh Libraries. “Veronica Fu was the standout candidate in a very strong pool and brings much-needed expertise in East Asian languages, literature, and culture to the Hesburgh Libraries. In conducting this search, we worked closely with colleagues in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Veronica will play a key role in our ongoing partnerships with those units, and we’re grateful to them for their support.” 

“Sarah Dennis and Megan Elsen are experts in licensing and enabling access to the electronic resources that are so crucial to teaching and research at Notre Dame. They are already strengthening the Libraries’ operations in this evolving area and I know that all of campus will benefit from their experience and judgment. I’m looking forward to working with and learning from them as we grow our collections of electronic resources.” 

Sarah Dennis – Licensing Librarian

In her role as licensing librarian, Dennis provides leadership and expertise in managing all aspects of library electronic resources licensing and serves as the primary contact with the University’s general counsel regarding resource license negotiation and interpretation. 

In addition, she is responsible for advising the head of electronic resources, the head of academic collections and services and other colleagues by reviewing and recommending approval or changes to terms that align with evolving service needs and campus requirements.

Dennis previously served as an electronic resource librarian at Ohio University and Texas A&M. She holds a master of library and information science with a specialization in technical services from Indiana University at Indianapolis.

What drew you to the Hesburgh Libraries and this position?

Three things drew me to this position: the work, the opportunity for growth and the chance to return to an area I love. I truly love my work in library technical services because I am able to facilitate access to library resources that support both patrons' and my own learning and research goals. 

During the interview process, I observed the University's investment in its libraries and people, which I found inspiring. I grew up not far from the University of Notre Dame and know how much this area has to offer. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to return. All of these pieces came together to create an amazing opportunity to do work I love in an exceptional library system at a prestigious institution.

What kind of research will you do as a faculty member here at the Hesburgh Libraries, and how will being at Notre Dame help you further that research?

My research will focus on licensing vendor resources and the complex issues that arise with new technologies and changing situations. At the University of Notre Dame, we are investing in new technologies and emerging resource types. This allows me the opportunity to see how we can meet the various licensing challenges that arise to best support our students and researchers. In each of these challenges, there is a story that can be shared to help librarians at other institutions facing similar challenges.

What do you most look forward to doing now that you are at the Hesburgh Libraries and Notre Dame?

There are numerous large projects on the horizon in the Libraries, and I am pleased to be part of some wonderful teams. Also, being a part of this great community is something I look forward to. Everyone I have met has been incredibly welcoming and has made me feel so happy to be part of the University of Notre Dame. I look forward to the opportunity to welcome others into this great community.

Megan Elsen – E-access Librarian

In her role as e-access librarian, Elsen will oversee and support electronic resource access and discovery, with an emphasis on authentication and authorization in OpenAthens. In addition to managing back-end systems, she will also act as the liaison between the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and the Electronic Resources Department, gather and analyze usage data related to collection development for electronic collections, as well as provide coordination and leadership of e-resource troubleshooting, engaging subject librarians, vendors and staff in the process.

Before moving to a faculty position, Elsen worked as a staff member at the Hesburgh Libraries beginning in 2014, serving as a collections processing assistant and electronic resources associate. She holds a master of library and information science, with a specialization in technical services, from Indiana University at Indianapolis.

You have been a long-time staff member at the Hesburgh Libraries. What drew you to this faculty position?

Since I started at the Libraries in 2014, I’ve had the chance to work in so many different areas. I’ve handled extensive copy cataloging, processed hundreds of bound volumes and transferred thousands of books to the Annex. I also assisted with interlibrary loan during the staff buyout in 2019. I’ve truly enjoyed everything I’ve learned and worked on, but it wasn’t until I joined the Electronic Resources Department in 2020 that I had a real ‘Aha!’ moment. I see huge potential for making the Libraries even better, and I wanted to become a faculty librarian, so I could lead projects that streamline our work and ultimately create a much better and smoother end-user experience for our faculty, staff and students.

What kind of research will you do as a faculty member here at the Hesburgh Libraries, and how will being at Notre Dame help you further that research?

I’m interested in anything related to Library technologies and academic libraries as a whole. In the near future, I hope to collaborate with library colleagues on a research project regarding library vendor platforms and user privacy. It’s highly beneficial to have professional development and contributions to the profession as part of my job description as a faculty member, which will ultimately make it easier to find time to conduct research. Notre Dame is also filled with such knowledgeable and wonderful colleagues; I truly see that as the biggest help when considering my research goals.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role as a faculty member at the Hesburgh Libraries and Notre Dame?

Currently, I’m excited about the migration to FOLIO and implementing OpenAthens. Leading the OpenAthens implementation has been a great experience thus far. I’m really looking forward to managing that system once we go live next summer – I honestly think it’s going to be a game-changer for how easily our users can access all the wonderful resources we purchase and subscribe to. *Fingers crossed*

Veronica Fu – East Asian Studies and Education Librarian

In her role as the East Asian studies and education librarian, Fu will serve as the liaison to East Asian studies faculty and students and also contribute to the development and implementation of teaching and learning offerings from the education and engagement department. 

Fu joins the Hesburgh Libraries after serving as the East Asian collections librarian at the University of Virginia. She holds a master of library and information science from the University of British Columbia and a master of arts in English language and literature from Beijing Normal University. 

What drew you to the Hesburgh Libraries and this position?

I was drawn to the Hesburgh Libraries by the opportunity to serve as a liaison for the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and to collaborate with the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. The position’s interdisciplinary focus and strong engagement with teaching especially resonated with me. I’m excited to return to a role that allows me to support students and faculty through both instruction and research, while also helping to build and promote diverse collections that reflect the richness of East Asian studies.

What kind of research will you do as a faculty member here at the Hesburgh Libraries, and how will being at Notre Dame help you further that research?

My research focuses on early Chinese students who studied in the United States and on U.S.–China transnational connections in librarianship and knowledge exchange. I am also in the process of becoming involved with the Chinese Studies Scholars Oral History Project and hope to connect with Chinese studies scholars at Notre Dame who may contribute their experiences to this ongoing work. The University’s strong interdisciplinary and international networks provide an inspiring environment for this exploration.

What do you most look forward to doing now that you are at the Hesburgh Libraries and Notre Dame?

I look forward to connecting with colleagues and learning about the culture at Hesburgh Libraries. I’m also excited to work with the East Asian Studies community and contribute to teaching and research that foster global and interdisciplinary engagement.