WashULaw has appointed Peter Hook as director and associate dean of the Law Library, beginning July 1. Hook joins us from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he served as associate director for faculty services, instruction, and outreach. He succeeds Joyce McCray Pearson, who retired in the spring of 2022 after having served in the role for seven years.
“I am excited to assume the helm of an already great law library, and will work tirelessly towards making it an even better one,” says Hook. “Great libraries are made by great people—people with the expertise, service ethic, drive, and ability to not only be excellent stewards of content, but to actively connect students and faculty with the best informational resources possible. Teaching is also a passion of mine, and I welcome the opportunity to teach WashU’s smart, diverse students.”
Hook will oversee the Law Library, its expert librarians, and library staff. His plans include enhancing print and digital collections, developing programming to support research, teaching and learning, and continuing to position WashULaw as a leading research hub for legal professionals. A St. Louis native, Hook earned his BA and JD from the University of Kansas, an MS degree from the University of Illinois, and a PhD in Information Visualization from Indiana University–Bloomington. He was selected by a six-member search committee chaired by Scott Baker, vice dean for research and faculty development, and the William F. & Jessica L. Kirsch Professor of Law.
“I am very pleased to welcome Peter as our new director and associate dean of the Law Library,” says Russell Osgood, dean of WashULaw. “A robust, high-functioning law library is central to the success of any law school. I look forward to working with Peter to ensure that the library helps our faculty and students achieve their goals.”
“We are excited to welcome Peter Hook to our community,” says Mimi Calter, vice provost and university librarian. “His experience as a leader, a researcher, and a teacher will be of great value as we build our services across all of the university libraries, and we look forward to continuing the central partnership between the University Libraries and the Law Library in support of teaching, learning, and research.”