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Two students walking on Regent University's campus during the summer in Virginia Beach, VA.
Dorothy Hargett, Ph.D.Assistant LibrarianHead of Public Services

Dorothy Hargett, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Dorothy Hargett is the Assistant Librarian and Head of Public Services at Regent University Library, where she has faithfully served since 2000. She earned her doctorate in May 2025, with her dissertation focusing on Christian marriage and the growing phenomenon of gray divorce. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Hargett and her husband ministered as pastors for more than 20 years, often presenting together on marriage and family. They also dedicated 15 years to serving the community in Norfolk, Virginia, teaching reading skills to kindergarten through second-grade students in local inner-city schools.

A recognized authority in library customer service, Dr. Hargett has shared her expertise through presentations at both local and national conferences. She currently serves as Secretary of the Regent University Faculty Senate. Dr. Hargett and her family are active members of Riverbend Church in Suffolk, Virginia, where they worship alongside their children and grandchildren.

Credentials

Doctorate of Psychological and Counseling Services
Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA
May 2025

Master of Library Information
Science University of Tennessee, Knoxville
May 2014

Master of Arts, Human Services Counseling
Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA
May 2004

Bachelor of Science, Business
Administration, Mississippi Valley State
University, Itta Bena, MS
May 1981

Publications

Hargett, D. (2025). Christian Marital Longevity and the Gray Divorce Phenomenon (Doctoral dissertation, Regent University).

Patterson, Kathleen; Brauch, Jeffrey; Finn, Don; Wallace, David; Anderson, Jeffrey; and Hargett, Dorothy (2025) "The Wisdom-ing of Academia: A Servant-Leadership  Perspective," International Journal of Servant-Leadership: Vol. 19, Article 22.

Awards

  • Regent University Dean’s Award, Faculty Showcase (2025)
  • Regent University Library, Refresh Meeting, Dean’s Award (2024)
  • 20 Year Employee Distinguished Services Award – Regent University (2021)
  • Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Travel Grant (2018)
  • Crystal Award, Innovative Users Group, Fifteen Years of Participation (2017)
  • Service Award for Fifteen Years of Service (2016)
  • Employee of the Month, Regent University (2014)
  • Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation Scholarship (2012, 2015, 2017)
  • Recipient of Spectrum Scholarship (2010)
  • Star Award for Servant, Second-Miler, Team Player, Adapter, Resourceful, and Reliable (2010)
  • Employee of the Month for Excellence in Customer Service and Supervisory Skills (2002)
  • Presidential Award for innovation and integrity in the workplace (2002)

Committees

  • 2025 – Present, Association of Christian Librarians
  • 2025 – Faculty Senate Nominating Committee for Spring 2025 Faculty Awards of Excellence and Chancellor’s Award
  • 2023 – 2024, American Library Association, member
  • 2022 – 2024, F.A.I.T.H. Committee, Regent University, 2000 – Present, Member, Virginia Tidewater Consortium, VA (Hampton Roads)
  • 2021 – Present Virginia Library Association Librarians of Color Forum
  • 2021 – Present Virginia Library Association (VLA)
  • 2020 – Present, Regent University Faculty Senate, Secretary
  • 2020 – Present, Member Association of Christian Librarians
  • 2019 – Present, Fellowship of Christian Librarians and Information Specialists (FOCLIS).
  • 2014 – 2024, Member, Tidewater Area Reference Librarians (TARL), Virginia Beach, VA

Presentations

  • Research Conversations, June 26, 2025, Shepherding Scholarship
  • Developed and presented a 10-week small-group curriculum and fellowship series. Grace and Grit: A Proverbs Journey for Women, October–December 2025.
  • Riverbend Women’s Ministry, Women Equipped Coffee and Convos: Kindness vs Niceness, 2 Peter 1:5. August 9, 2025.
  • Hargett, E., Library Staff Advance, Regent University Library, August 14, 2024
  • Library Services: We Love Our Library (WLOL), New Student Orientation, Regent University (August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, and August 2024)
  • It’s Never Too Late: Activating the gifts within, Riverbend Women’s Conference, (November 2021)
  • Making a Difference with Library Internal Customer Service, Innovative Users Group, Orlando Florida. April 2018).
  • Training Day: Stuck in the Middle@the Library, Innovative Users Group, Orlando Florida. (April 2018).
  • New Student Orientation. Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. (August 2018).
  • PsyD New Student Orientation, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. (August, 2018)
  • “The Awakening: Managing Library Student Workers.” Invited Presenter, Innovative Users Group, Baltimore, MD (April, 2017)
  • “Managing change and Transition@the Library.” Invited Presenter, Innovative Users Group, Baltimore, MD (April, 2017)
  • “Leadership Renewal@ the Library.” Invited Presenter, Innovative Users Group, Baltimore, MD (April, 2017)
  • “Stand Up and Lead or Sit Down.” Invited Presenter. Back In Circulation Again, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI ( 2016, October 10)
  • “Managing Library Student Workers.” Invited Presenter, Innovative Users Group, San Francisco, CA (2016, March).
  • “Trading Spaces: Who Moved My Desk?” Invited Presenter, Innovative Users Group, San Francisco, CA (2016, March).
  • “Stand Up and Lead or Sit Down: Just Do It.” Presenter. National Conference of African American Librarians. (Black Caucus American Library Association). St. Louis, MO. (2015, August).
  • “Stand Up and Lead or Sit Down.” Presenter. State University of New York Librarian Association Conference. Purchase, NY. (2015, June).
  • “And the Two Shall Become One: The Merge of Circulation and Interlibrary Loan.” Invited presenter. Innovative Users Group Conference. Minneapolis, MN. (2015, April)
  • “Customer Service Matters@Libraries.” Invited presenter to Public Libraries Group. Innovative Users Group Conference. Minneapolis, MN. (2015, April)
  • “United We Stand: The Merge of Interlibrary Loan and Circulation.” Presenter. ILLiad International Conference. Virginia Beach, VA. (2015, March)
  • “S.O.S. – Save Our Student Workers.” Invited Presenter. Innovative Users Group Conference. Detroit, Michigan. (2014, May).
  • “Elephant In the Room: Let’s Talk About It (Managing Staff During Change). Innovative Users Group Conference. Detroit, Michigan. (2014, May).
  • “All Things Circulation Forum.” Facilitator. Innovative Users Group Conference. Detroit, Michigan. (2014, May).
  • “Customer Service Still Matters in Libraries. Hampton University Staff Development Meeting. Hampton, VA (2013, August)
  • “Millennium Circulation and LibGuides.” Invited Presenter. Innovative Users Group Conference. Anaheim, CA. (2013, April).
  • “Notices: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Really Good.” Innovative Users Group Conference. Anaheim, CA. (2013, April)
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service: New and Improved.” Invited Presenter. Mid-Atlantic Innovative User Group Meeting. Salisbury, MD. (2010, October).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service: New and Improved.” Invited Presenter. Innovative User Group Meeting. Anaheim, CA. (2010, April).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service: New and Improved.” Invited Presenter. Southeastern Innovative User Group Meeting. Charlotte, NC. (2010, October).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service: New and Improved.” Invited Presenter. Innovative User Group Meeting. Anaheim, CA. (2009, May).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service.” Invited Presenter. Mid-Atlantic Innovative User Group Meeting. Salem, VA. (2008, October).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service.” Invited Presenter. Innovative User Group Conference. San Fransciso, CA. (2005, April).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service.” Invited Presenter. Innovative User Group Conference. Boston, MA. (2004, April).
  • “Circulation and the Truth About Customer Service.” Invited Presenter. Innovative User Group Conference. Salem, VA. (2004, April).

Professional Activities & Memberships

  • Faculty Advisor, Regent University Throne Of Grace, 2018
  • Innovative Users Group, Functional Expert, 2015 - 2014
  • Life Enrichment Center of Norfolk, Tutor/Mentor, 2015 - present
  • Regent University Task Force, 2012 - 2017
  • Black Caucus of the American Library Association, 2015 - present
  • African American Library Association, Black Caucus of ALA, 2015 – present
  • Access Services Conference Program Committee, 2015
  • Tidewater Area Reference Librarians (TARL), July 2014 – present
  • Virginia Library Association, 2013- Present
  • Mid-Atlantic Innovative Users Group (MAIUG), Secretary, 2010-2012
  • Innovative Users Group Conference Millennium/Sierra Circulation Functional Expert, 2011 – present
  • Virginia Tidewater Consortium, Member, 2000 - present