Montoya Leaving

Robert D. Montoya

Rob Montoya has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor with the UCLA Department of Information Studies with a focus in Library Studies. ILS wishes to thank Dr. Montoya for his dedication to the department and the students he mentored. Dr. Montoya’s last day was July 1, 2020.

It was with great sadness that I learned from Rob Montoya that he would be leaving us. When he told me that he was applying for a job at his old department at UCLA my response was “well, they have a right to be as proud of you as we are. But you know that I’ll cry when you leave.” (I knew before he even interviewed that he would be hired. Simply, they couldn’t hire a better person for the job.) There’s no doubt in my mind that Rob will one day be one of the great figures of Library and Information Science, continuing but extending the traditions of Patrick Wilson and Michael Buckland in investigating the importance of libraries in knowledge and society with further and more contemporary extensions into issues of social justice and natural science.

When Rob came here to interview for the job, our former School Dean, Raj Acharya, after interviewing him told me, “if you find another Rob Montoya, I will hire him right away.” Rob must have had quite an interview with him. It’s no secret that I will miss Rob’s presence in the department very much and I will miss his wise counsel. I will miss both him and his husband, Steve Barnthouse’s, presence in Bloomington. And, of course, I will miss seeing them on another episode of HGTV’s show, House Hunters (if they give up their day jobs, I’m sure they have a good future in television). Two nicer and well-balanced people can’t be found. I wish Rob and Steve all the best in their return to their friends and families in LA and Rob to his alma mater department at UCLA.

Ron Day

Rob, Thank you for all the support and goodwill you have shown to me. You’ve been so dependable, supportive, and encouraging. It will be difficult to fill the void created by your absence. I am really going to miss you. Thank you for your help and kindness. I wish you the best of luck and continued success.

Michelle Dunbar-Sims

When Rob came, he quickly reached out to many people on campus, forming partnerships with the paleontology people on campus and many others across a range of disciplines. He also started The Comparative Library and Representation Lab. And after a year I appointed him to be the Director of the Ph.D. program—an unusual appointment for an untenured faculty member—because I knew that with his past administrative experience, his knowledge of the field, his always patient and personable demeanor, and his careful eye to detail he would do an excellent job as the doctoral director. And he did. Adding to all this, and to an unbelievable production of publications and grant applications each year (‘is this the work of one, two, or three faculty members?’ I asked myself each spring review), was Rob’s work with the State Department and beyond in setting up a library science curriculum in Kosovo. Even in the midst of the beginnings of the COVID-19 infections outside of China in spring 2020, Rob wanted to go to Kosovo to do more work on this, and only IU’s ban on travel prevented him. (I am very glad that he didn’t go.)

Dear Rob, I will absolutely be a better librarian because of you! I learned more than I ever expected to about information systems, librarianship, and equitable access to information from your courses. You believed in my vision to expand the Creating Access for Violence Survivors program. Having a professor understand the importance of using the challenges of my past to create information access for domestic violence survivors was a turning point in my education and an opportunity for me to let go of the shame I had carried as a survivor myself. I wish you all the best as you begin this new phase of your career!

Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

As a recently graduated Ph.D., Rob helped me a lot in terms of the graduation checklist. He kindly helped me to go through all the course requirements as well as graduation procedures to ensure I get everything done correctly and in time. He is a very responsible and reliable director for all Ph.D students in our department. Best wishes for his next adventure!

Zheng Gao

I am so very sad about Rob’s leaving the department; although, I wish the very best to him and Steve as they return to their native waters in CA. From the moment he started as an ILS Faculty member, he consistently demonstrated competence, kindness, and warmth towards staff as well as students. He will definitely be remembered and missed for his positive, energetic efforts for the well-being of the department. Rob, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making ILS better by your presence and many contributions!

Katie Novak

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This year’s External Scholarship Awardees will be featured in a separate publication, which is forthcoming. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed funds in support of our students!

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