A number of new officers are joining the board of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Special Interest Group for International Information Issues (SIG-III), and among them is Dr. Chris Hagar, an assistant professor at the San José State University (SJSU) School of Information. The interest group was founded in 1982, and Hagar’s new position as infoshare officer helps the group introduce ASIS&T to information professionals around the world.

According to ASIS&T SIG-III, the Infoshare Program sponsors memberships in the international organization for individuals who live in developing countries with no ASIS&T chapter. Since 2001, the program has been able to offer memberships to more than 100 information professionals around the world.

Hagar is no stranger to working to increase access to information and technology to information professionals in developing countries. Previously, she served as head of library development for the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), a non-governmental organization devoted to improving access to information research in developing countries.

Hagar’s primary research area is in crisis informatics, in particular how information is created, organized, and disseminated during disasters, and how information professionals can contribute to these processes. She is the editor of the 2012 book Crisis Information Management: Communication and Technologies, as well as being an associate of the Disaster & Development Centre, University of Northumbria, UK. Hagar is looking forward to working with the other infoshare officer, Selenay Aytac of Long Island University, to expand the global reach of ASIS&T.