Alegre receives inaugural scholarship

Koval Scholarship is a life changer for MS student

Thanks to the generosity of Edward Koval and his family, MS/LIS student Claudia Farris can stop worrying about finances and simply focus on their studies. Farris is a recipient of the iSchool’s Anna Mae Koval Scholarship, a need-based scholarship for students interested in youth services and literature.

“Receiving this scholarship has made an enormous impact on my education,” said Farris. “Because of COVID, I was laid off, and I honestly didn’t know if I was going to be able to afford to finish my degree. I’m a better student if I’m not worried about how I’m going to make rent and pay my tuition bill. I am not exaggerating when I say this scholarship changed my life.”

Farris decided to pursue an MS/LIS degree because of the “huge impact” libraries have played in their life. For Farris, libraries have always been safe, welcoming spaces.

“I specifically want to go into youth services, but I’m also passionate about community outreach,” said Farris, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Portland State University. “I think libraries can be a great site for giving marginalized populations a variety of services.”

“I’m a better student if I’m not worried about how I’m going to make rent and pay my tuition bill.” Alegre receives inaugural CNH Industrial Information Sciences Scholarship

Thanks to a new scholarship at the iSchool, David Alegre has been relieved of some of the stress in financing his education. Alegre, a junior from Chicago, is the inaugural recipient of the CNH Industrial Information Sciences Scholarship, which supports continuing BS in information sciences (BS/IS) students who have financial need. He chose the iSchool for his undergraduate study because of his interest in becoming a data analyst.

“No other major in this field provides anywhere near as much in-depth material about the ethics behind technology,” he said. “I am leaning toward the data and society pathway [one of the four pathways offered in the BS/IS degree]. My favorite class at the iSchool has been Community Innovation (IS 266) with Anita Chan. I loved this class because it helped me find something that I was passionate about in my research.”

Alegre has secured a summer internship with PepsiCo, where he hopes to “learn more about what I want out of my career.” With the variety of professional paths available to him once he graduates, he is still weighing his options and doing his research. Outside of class, Alegre works as a wellness support associate— specially trained employees who help manage the University’s COVID-19 building access—and enjoys spending time with friends.

“I would like to express how thankful I am to have received this support,” he said.

iSchool graduates express gratitude

The following May 2021 graduates shared statements of gratitude for the scholarship they received as iSchool students.

“I am honored to be the recipient of theTung-Li and Hui-Hsi Yuan Award.Without thisgenerous financial support towards my higher education,I would not be able to achieve theacademic goalsnecessary to fulfill my professional ambition.I would like to thank Tung-Li and Hui-Hsi Yuan for their support and investment in my future.” —Siyao Cheng (MS/LIS) will continue her education in the iSchool’s PhD program.

“Through the Lucille Huntington Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship, I was equipped to focus less on the cost of attendance and more on the wonderful educational and experiential opportunities the iSchool has to offer, including serving as the ALA Student Chapter Treasurer this past year. Education is one of the most valuable assets in life, and as a first-generation college student, I truly have been blessed by the moral and financial support that have guided me through this experience.” —Livia Lee Garza (MS/LIS) is searching for a full-time position in digital archiving or digital asset management.

“I feel very grateful tohave received the G. Edward Evans Minority Students Scholarship. I recognize that it is a privilege to receive a scholarship in any form, and I hope that scholarships like this allow more BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color] students to relieve some of the financial burden of pursuing their degrees.” —Jessie Maimone (MS/LIS) will continue her education in the iSchool’s PhD program.

“I was ecstatic when I learned that I would be a recipient of the Hearsey Scholarship. Last year was difficult for me financially, due to the global pandemic limiting the number of available job and internship opportunities. This scholarship made it easier for me to manage my living expenses during that tough period. I want to thank the donors of my scholarship, Herbert R. Hearsey and Laura Beth Hearsey, for their generosity.” —Niken Shah (MS/IM) would like to pursue a career in data analytics and business intelligence.

97.5%

Achieved toward $20 million campaign goal

Campaignupdate

The iSchool has reached 97.5% of its $20 million campaign goal. Gifts toward the campaign will continue until June 30, 2022. The School’s priorities for this campaign are accessible education, enhanced student experience, and faculty support.

Thank you to the iSchool Campaign Committee and the many alumni and friends who have contributed to the campaign. Your generosity supports the excellence of the School’s academic programs, which is reflected in the ongoing number one ranking of the MS/LIS degree program. For more information about supporting the iSchool during the campaign, including bequest language for estate gifts, please contact Diana Stroud at dstroud@illinois.edu or (217) 244-9577.

DECADE: 2020s

Christine Case (MS ’20) has started a new position as a library media specialist at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois. Ashleigh Cofer (MS ’20) has accepted an offer for an instructional librarian position at Columbus Technical College in Columbus, Georgia. Mitchell Haas (MS ’20) has been appointed assistant professor and online learning librarian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In February, Allison Kilberg (MS ’20) started a new position as the archivist and genealogy librarian at the Floyd County Library and Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana. Archana Kulkarni (MS ’20) credits the iSchool’s classes with preparing her for her job as a project manager at B2BMD. Diana Liao (MS ’20) was selected as a recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) Ethnic and Folk Arts Master/Apprentice Program Awards (MAP) for 2021. She is studying the art form of Japanese tea ceremony with Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji as part of the preservation of Illinois’ rich cultural heritage. Mansi Tripathi (MS ’20) has accepted a fulltime offer as a senior data scientist at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

DECADE: 2010s

Tarida Anantachai (MS ’11) was a corecipient of the Syracuse University Libraries’ 2020 Distinguished Service Award. The award is a 30-year tradition recognizing staff members who have made significant contributions to the libraries and university community. Heather Campbell (MS ’19) started a new position as the metadata management librarian at Iowa State University. Ben Chiewphasa (MS ’19) joined the Hesburgh Library at the University of Notre Dame as the economics and data librarian in December 2020. Jarrett Dapier (MS ’15) is the author of a new children’s book, Jazz for Lunch, which was recently published by Simon & Schuster. Carla Dinnocenzo (MS ’15) recently joined the Palos Heights (IL) Public Library as the youth and teen services librarian. Henry Gabb (PhD ’19), senior principal engineer at Intel Corporation, joined the Board of Directors of the Linked Data Benchmark Council (LDBC). LDBC develops industry benchmarks for social network analysis, graph analytics, and Resource Description Framework (RDF). Elaine R. Hicks (MS ’10) and her Librarian Reserve Corps volunteers, Stacy Brody and Sara Loree, were named Library Journal’s 2021 Librarians of the Year. Brittany (Craig) Labinger (MS ’17) has been appointed director of the Elgin (TX) Public Library. Urszula Lechtenberg (MS ’14) recently started a new position as learning design coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh University Library System. Shuyi Liu (MS ’19) accepted a position as international outreach services librarian at the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library at the University of Illinois. Patty McGowan (MS ’16) started her new position as reference librarian at National Defense University Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, in December 2020. Colleen Melone (MS ’16) began a new position as the head of information services for the Lincolnwood (IL) Public Library District. Melinda Miller (MS ’11) became an owner of Pixo, a custom software consultancy in Urbana. She is the general manager at Pixo and co-owns the company with her business partner, Jason Berg. Alice Mitchell (MS ’15) has begun a new position as youth services manager at Fondulac District Library in East Peoria, Illinois. Emily Moran (MS ’16) recently joined the University of Wisconsin-Superior as an instructional design librarian. Araceli Moreno (MS ’18) presented, “Mathical: Books for Kids from Tots to Teens,” at the School Library Journal Virtual Summit 2020, which was held on October 24. Teresa Helena Moreno (MS ’19) was featured in the March 2021 issue of Information Today for her research focusing on problems in coding, classifying, and organizing information related to diasporic groups. Christina Nhek (MS ’14) recently accepted a promotion to become a senior librarian at Long Beach (CA) Public Library. UCLA’s Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2), codirected by Safiya Noble (MS ’09, PhD ’12) and Sarah T. Roberts (PhD ’14), recently received a gift from the Archewell Foundation to support “research, programs, and convenings focused on the harms vulnerable communities face from internet technologies.” Thomas Padilla (MS ’14) has been named director of information systems and technology strategy at the Center for Research Libraries. Ruth Slagle (MS ’17) started her position as instruction librarian at Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tennessee, in March 2020. She recently published the article, “Remembering who is important: keeping the right focus in a national emergency,” in the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship. Stacey A. Smith (MS ’15) earned a promotion to digital asset strategist at Groupon. In her new role, she is now responsible for the strategic roadmap of Groupon’s content. Christinna Swearingen (MS ’19) was appointed as library director for Schreiner Memorial Library in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Kim Tipton (MS ’18) and Cherie Watson (MS ’14) coauthored the article, “Starting a Professional Reflection Practice,” in the March 2021 issue of the ILA Reporter. Anna Trammell (MS ’15) joined the Tacoma Public Library as the Northwest Room local history librarian. In this role, she will manage the library’s archives and special collections. Kameron Wells (MS ’18) has started a new job as baseball systems data engineer with the Boston Red Sox.

DECADE: 2000s

After taking a nearly six-year break from libraries to work with a nonprofit organization focused on bicycle travel and advocacy, Laurie Chipps (MS ’07) has found her way back as the technical services librarian at the Montana Historical Society’s Research Center.

Janice Del Negro (PhD ’07) has been selected as a 2020 Illinois Library Luminary Honoree. She is a professor at the School of Information Studies at Dominican University. Julie Derden (MS ’06) retired in June 2020 from Illinois State University’s Milner Library where she served for 14 years as the teaching materials librarian and subject liaison to the College of Education’s School of Teaching and Learning. Eric Edwards (MS ’06) recently finished serving as past president of the Illinois Association of College & Research Libraries (IACRL) and as chair of the Illinois Library Association’s ILA Reporter Advisory Committee. He is currently the secretary for the ACRL Chapters Council and a member of the ILA Conference Program Committee. Nancy Falciani-White (MS ’07) is the author of Creativity: A Toolkit for Academic Libraries, which was recently published by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL). Kelly (Kloster) Fisher (MS ’03) has been promoted to full professor rank at Eureka College, where she has served as a librarian since 2004. Originally hired as the public services librarian, she now serves as the public & access services librarian and the campus learning management system administrator. Jon Gorman (MS ’04) received an Outstanding Academic Professional Award from the University Library. He works as an application support specialist within Library IT. Alison (Bolla) Greenlee (MS ’09) recently earned promotion and employment security status. She has been the special collections metadata librarian at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, since 2017. Matthew Harrington (MS ’09) passed away on March 17, 2021. Merinda Kaye Hensley (MS ’06) was named senior fellow of information literacy for Project Information Literacy. She will focus on their Provocation Series, a new publishing initiative for 2021 that will delve into pressing information literacy and higher education issues, while exploring new ways of thinking and directions for future research. Mary Z. Rose (MS ’01) was recently appointed as the archival library research manager at the Madison County Archival Library in Edwardsville, Illinois. Bryan Voell (MS ’07) recently started his eighth year as the local arts librarian with Johnson County (KS) Library.

DECADE: 1990s

Scott Drone-Silvers (MS ’92) retired on January 1 after serving as director of library services at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, for 29 years. Carol Simmons (MS ’95) just finished an Encore Fellowship with Community Tech Network (CTN), a 1,000 hour per year commitment. Encore matches skilled, seasoned professionals who have 20+ years of experience with nonprofit organizations in flexible, high impact (with a stipend) assignments. She is still working with CTN part time and continuing her library consultant work. Mark Spasser (PhD ’98) retired as the online nursing librarian at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a distinguished member of Academy of Health Information Professionals.

DECADE: 1980s

Faye Chadwell (MS ’88), the Donald and Delpha Campbell University Librarian at Oregon State University Libraries and Press, has been selected to serve as the dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications at Pennsylvania State University. Choy Fatt Cheong (MS ’87) has received the 2019 Lifetime Contribution Award from the Library Association of Singapore. Kathy Durley Freiheit (MS ’80), former director of library services for the City of Rowlett, Texas, is now retired. Her post-graduate career path included library administrative services and building projects in public, academic, school and special libraries in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Texas.

DECADE: 1970s

Diane Carothers (MS ’75) passed away on March 1, 2021. She retired in 1995 as head librarian of the University of Illinois Communications Library. Nelly Gonzalez (MS ’73) passed away on November 29, 2020. She served as the head of Latin American Library Services at the University of Illinois before her retirement in 2008. Kathryn Harris (MS ’71) has received the 2020 State Journal-Register First Citizen Award. The award recognizes residents in the Springfield, Illinois, area who give selflessly of their time and resources in service to others.

DECADE: 1960s

Carol Doty (MS ’63) retired last year from the Morrison-Shearer Foundation, where she had served as trustee and chair. She is currently serving on Committee 2021 for the new Sybil Shearer Dance Studio at Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois. She worked at The Morton Arboretum from 1963 until her retirement in 1998. Rosemary Young Singh (MS ’69) passed away on January 20, 2021. She worked at the Mathematics Library, Illinois Historical Survey, and Main Library circulation desk at the University of Illinois and at the Manitowoc (WI) Public Library.

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New space for iSchool expansion

This architectural rendering of Hub Champaign Daniel at 614 E. Daniel Street illustrates the view from the corner of 6th and Daniel Streets. The building, which is nearing completion, will provide additional space for the iSchool on the 4th and 5th floors. The School will retain its current location at 501 E. Daniel.