Dr. Starr Hoffman

Hi, I'm Dr. Starr Hoffman! Librarian by trade, geek by choice, artist by nature.

I’m a Texas-bred librarian (recently relocated to NYC) who spent 2012 in Kharkov, Ukraine finishing my PhD in Higher Education. I blog about academia, books, expat life, geekery, and travel. I’ve been a librarian, department head, muralist, computer lab tutor, and disillusioned fine art student. When not researching (ha!), I’m traveling, writing, photographing, scuba diving, cooking, reading, knitting, painting, and discovering new hobbies with my husband. My dissertation studied the relationship between the training, educational attainment, and leadership traits of academic library deans.

Head of Government Documents Department at University of North Texas Libraries

June 2010 - October 2011

Managed department with one fulltime librarian, five fulltime staff members, and 5-8 student assistants and graduate assistants. Coordinated federal & state documents depository. Coordinated outreach efforts to campus and local community. Maintained archive of government websites, archived born-digital documents, and trained graduate assistants in digital collections.

Librarian for Digital Collections at University of North Texas Libraries

June 2006 - June 2010

My position concentrated primarily on the Government Document Department's digital initiatives, including the Congressional Research Service Reports Archive and the CyberCemetery. I worked closely with the Digital Projects Unit and also participated in departmental reference activities.

Graduate Library Assistant at University of North Texas Libraries

September 2005 - May 2006

I worked as a GLA in the Reference Department, primarily working at the reference desk answering general questions. I presented bibliographic instruction sessions for students, answered online reference questions, and created and updated various library web pages.

Graduate Research Assistant at UNT Center for Distributed Learning

August 2004 - January 2006

I helped develop the website content for the Blended Learning Project, which studied five large-enrollment undergraduate seminars that held class meetings online and in person. This involved research into current distance learning practices and regular meetings with instructors participating in the project. I also researched the development of a Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, which has since been launched at UNT. During my last year at CDL, I updated and maintained a database of online courses and interacted with instructors to keep this information current.

Teaching Assistant at UNT School of Visual Art, Division of Art History

January 2000 - May 2001

PhD, Higher Education (minor, Library Science) at University of North Texas

January 2008

I successfully defended my dissertation in October, "The Preparation of Academic Library Administrators." For more about my study on library leadership, please see: http://geekyartistlibrarian.wordpress.com/education/dissertation/

University of North Texas

2008 – 2012

Ph.D.

Concentration: Higher Education

TLA TALL Texans Leadership Institute

2011 – 2011

University of North Texas

2005 – 2006

M.S.

Concentration: Library Science

University of North Texas

1999 – 2004

M.A.

Concentration: Art History

Hardin-Simmons University

1995 – 1999

B.A.

Concentration: English Literature, Fine Art (Studio)

Bracken Christian School

1990 – 1995

High school diploma

Concentration: (valedictorian)

academic librarianship, higher education, government documents, professional development, academic library administration, scuba diving, academic writing, academic research, creative writing