A Blended Passion: Alexia Hudson, Penn State Great Valley

Although initially interested in librarianship, Alexia Hudson says she took “a different career path—largely for money.” After working as a marketing manager, entertainment journalist, PR freelancer, and radio promotions director, she pursued her dormant passion when a “sixth sense” warned her of the downsizing that occurred one month before she started grad school.

Now, she “helps students reenvision libraries as a place for continuous professional development with emerging technologies.” Hudson focuses on graduate student orientation, training, and developing the virtual campus in the Second Life Penn State Virtual Worlds project. Her involvement in immersive environments helps libraries “maintain relevance in a highly technical global landscape” and demonstrates her “originality and inventiveness…to promote library services in both the real and virtual world,” says Susan Ware, reference librarian at Penn State Brandywine.

Not only does Hudson “effectively blend her experience in corporate marketing, librarianship, and emerging technologies…to inspire others and share her vision,” says Ware, she is also active in a variety of professional and service organizations and emphasizes the importance of service. “I'm often teased as an 'organization girl,'” Hudson says, “but I can't think of any better way to expand your network.” The common thread: “service to the community that can have global implications.”