Home: News & Events
Graduation Speakers Announced for iSchool’s Virtual Convocation
ALA President Patty Wong and Air Force Chief Data Officer Eileen M. Vidrine to Deliver Speeches
The San José State University School
of Information will be celebrating its graduating students at two
ceremonies in May. One will be virtual while the other will be
held in person. Dr. Anthony Chow, director of the School on
Information, commented on the ceremonies as a “wonderful time to
celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and we are
extremely proud of all of them.”
Five New Tenure-track Faculty Members to Join the SJSU School of Information in Fall 2022
New faces will be on the San José State University School of Information’s full-time faculty roster in fall 2022 with the hiring of five assistant professors. Dr. José Aguiñaga, Dr. Jessica Bushey, Dr. Ulia Gosart, Dr. James Hodges and Dr. Norman Mooradian have all demonstrated “evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service,” a requirement listed in the job posting. Their official start date is July 20.
Dr. Okumoto Completes PhD through Gateway Program
Last fall, Dr. Richard Okumoto’s dissertation was conferred by Queensland University of Technology, the former partner of the San José State University School of Information’s Gateway PhD program. Okumoto is the 19th doctoral student to complete the program through the QUT partnership, which spanned 2008 through 2021.
Dr. Anthony Chow Appointed to the Little Free Library National Board
Dr. Anthony Chow has been elected to serve on the national board of the Little Free Library. His appointment began February 2, 2022.
Chow, who is the director of the San José State University School of Information, has helped the LFL in securing a 1.4 million dollar grant that he hopes will “address barriers to literacy and libraries for Native American children and families in five tribal communities nationally.”
iSchool Student Selected as BSLISE International Scholar
Graduate student Sabrina Gunn has been selected as the first Building Strong Library and Information Science Education International Scholar, a newly created position through a partnership with the San José State University School of Information.
YALSA Appoints Associate Professor Joni Bodart as Chair of the Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee
Dr. Bodart’s Experience in Young Adult Literature Made Her a Top Choice
Dr. Joni Bodart, associate professor at the San José State University School of Information, has been selected to serve as virtual chair of the Margaret A. Edwards 2023 Award Committee. The appointment is set to last one year, starting on February 1, 2022, and ending January 31, 2023.
Student Research Journal Publishes 22nd Issue: Articles Focus on Improving User Experiences
The 22nd issue of the fully student-run Student Research Journal is now available online. The issue features an invited contribution from an instructor at the San José State University School of Information and two highly relevant book reviews by graduate students enrolled in the iSchool’s Master of Library and Information Science program.
iSchool Assistant Professor Michele Villagran Honored with REFORMA Award
One of two recipients of the 2021 Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of the Year Award, bestowed annually by REFORMA, is Dr. Michele Villagran, an assistant professor at the San José State University School of Information.
“The iSchool is so proud of and impressed with Dr. Villigran’s REFORMA’s Librarian of the Year Award,” commented iSchool Director Anthony Chow. “She is a true asset to the field and the iSchool, and we are so delighted that she continues to lead and flourish.”
iSchool Director Anthony Chow Elected to CLA Board of Directors
California Library Association
members elected Dr.
Anthony Chow, director of the School of Information at San
José State University, to the CLA Board of Directors on November
10, 2021.
Chow, who will serve a three-year term as a member-at-large, was first proposed for the position in September as part of the CLA nominating committee’s slate of candidates. Seven candidates vied for the three open member-at-large positions.
iSchool’s Hispanic Heritage Month Programming Provides Long-term EDI Resources
The School of Information at San José State University celebrated Hispanic Heritage month in October by gathering a stellar mix of iSchool students, professors and notable guests for a series of enthusiastic discussions across two online events, both exploring how libraries can better serve their Hispanic/Latinx communities.
ALASC Wins Grant to Develop Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Programming
Book Event was a ‘Great Success’
A lot of unseen work goes into every student-created event at the San José State University School of Information; the recent book giveaway and virtual book circle organized by the American Library Association Student Chapter is a case in point. From a fortuitous discovery at the American Library Association’s summer 2020 conference to a post-event reflection video, the ALASC’s executive board brainstormed, applied for funding, and juggled the logistics needed to implement their vision.
International Doctoral Program Graduates its 18th Student
Congratulations Dr. Cherry-Ann Smart!
This June, Cherry-Ann Smart became the
18th doctoral candidate to earn her PhD through the
Gateway
PhD program, an international doctoral program at San José
State University School of Information, conferred by Queensland
University of Technology in Australia.
‘Transformational Learning Space’ Project Wins Grant Funding
New Digital Humanities Center in King Library Set to Open in 2026
Two alumnae of the School of Information at San José State University, who are also current faculty members, helped win the university a major grant to fund a Digital Humanities Center at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. Ann Agee, interim dean for the King Library, and Christina Mune, associate dean of innovation and resource management for the King Library, are co-directors of the project with Shannon Miller, dean of the College of Humanities.
iSchool Faculty Members Win Three ALISE Awards
The Association for Library and Information Science Education honored two San José State University School of Information faculty members with three of the organization’s 2021 slate of awards.
iSchool Alumna Wins 2021 Gail Schlachter Memorial Research Grant
Award's Connections to iSchool Make It 'Especially Meaningful'
Dr. Rachel Ivy Clarke, an alumna of the Master of Library and Information Science program at the San José State University School of Information, was recently awarded the Gail Schlachter Memorial Research Grant for her project “The Role of Repertoire in Library Reference Interactions.” The $5,000 grant provides support to “an individual or collaborative group conducting research into reference or user services whose research projects aim to better understand or answer key questions related to connecting people to resources, information services, and collections.”
iSchool Instructor Nancy Friedland Lauded for Theatre Arts Librarianship
The Theatre Library Association
honored Nancy Friedland, an instructor at the San José State
University School of Information, with the Louis
Rachow Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding
commitment to performing arts librarianship. Friedland’s
achievement was celebrated on December 17, 2020, at the TLA’s
virtual membership meeting and awards event.
Student Research Journal’s 20th Issue Demonstrates Dedication to Excellence
Volume 10, Issue 2
The 20th issue of the fully student-run Student Research Journal is now available online. Featuring an invited contribution from a faculty member, an article written by a current student, and book reviews by recent graduates from the San José State University School of Information, the content of this issue offers a wide variety of topics to read during the remainder of winter break (and after!).
Virtual Conference Draws Record-Setting Attendance with Participants from 121 Countries
Global Participation Made for 'Fascinating Discussions'
The San José State University School of Information organized three Library 2.0 web conferences during 2020, the 10th year of the Library 2.0 Worldwide Virtual Conference series. Each of the mini-conferences focused on a specific topic addressed by experts in the information professions. The format included an opening keynote panel, concurrent crowd-sourced sessions, and a closing address. Held entirely online at no cost to participants, the 2020 conference series spanned 121 total countries with more than 5,000 registrants for each conference.
iSchool Alumni Score Coveted Seats on CLA Board of Directors
2020 CLA Election Results
Four alumni of the San José State University School of Information were elected to seats on the California Library Association Board of Directors in the 2020 CLA election, held on November 2, 2020. Mark Fink, Dolly Goyal, Yolande Wilburn, and Beatriz Preciado will take office this month, and will be honored at the annual CLA membership meeting being held virtually on November 16, 2020.
REFORMA Noche de Cuentos Mini-Grant Recipients Celebrate Storytelling and Latino Culture
The art of storytelling is on full display with support from the Noche de Cuentos Mini-Grants awarded by REFORMA. The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking recently announced that two of the seven grant recipients for 2020 are from the San José State University School of Information.