Mario A. Ascencio is a first-generation library user whose lifelong passion for libraries has shaped his career as a leader in academic librarianship. He currently serves as the College Librarian and Managing Director at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA, where he champions inclusive learning spaces and innovative library services.
Mario’s journey working in libraries began as a teenager discovering the transformative power of libraries—an experience that shaped his commitment to expanding access to knowledge and fostering diverse, equitable learning environments. He has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as President of REFORMA (2007-08) and co-founding the REFORMA Academic Librarians Advancing Service (ALAS) Committee in 2023 to strengthen academic library services for Latinx students. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC), where he has played a key role in advocating for greater engagement among library deans and directors.
A nationally recognized advocate for libraries, Mario has delivered keynote addresses, workshops, and lectures in Latin American and the Caribbean for the U.S. Department of State. His contributions have been widely recognized—he was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2008 and is an alumnus of the 2016 UCLA Library Senior Fellows program and part of the 2007 ALA Emerging Leaders program.
A lifelong champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Mario is a life member of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), the Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA), and REFORMA. He is also a member of the ACRL, ALA, ARLIS, and the American Indian Library Association.
Mario holds a B.A. in Art History with a minor in Italian from CSUN and an MLIS from UCLA. Through his leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to access, Mario is shaping the future of academic libraries and empowering the next generation of scholars and library professionals.