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Dr. Butler Becomes 20th Individual to Earn a PhD through International Partnership

Walter ButlerDr. Walter Butler is one of the few remaining individuals to have his doctorate conferred by Queensland University of Technology, the founding partner university of the Gateway PhD program. The partnership between the San José State University School of Information and the Queensland University of Technology lasted from 2008 to 2021. In March 2022, he became the 20th individual to graduate from the Gateway PhD program.

News

Graduation Speakers Announced for iSchool’s Virtual Convocation
ALA President Patty Wong and Air Force Chief Data Officer Eileen M. Vidrine to Deliver Speeches

Patty WongThe 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.”

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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.

News

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.  

News

Dr. Anthony Chow Appointed to the Little Free Library National Board

Reading Nation tribal Partner Little Free Libraries

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.”

News

iSchool Student Selected as BSLISE International Scholar

Sabrina Gunn

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.

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iSchool Assistant Professor Michele Villagran Honored with REFORMA Award

Dr. Michele Villagran

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.”

News

iSchool Director Anthony Chow Elected to CLA Board of Directors

Dr. Anthony ChowCalifornia 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.

News

ALASC Wins Grant to Develop Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Programming
Book Event was a ‘Great Success’

Screenshot of book circle participants

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.

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‘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.

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iSchool Alumna Wins 2021 Gail Schlachter Memorial Research Grant
Award's Connections to iSchool Make It 'Especially Meaningful'

Dr. Rachel Ivy Clarke

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.”

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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!).

News

Virtual Conference Draws Record-Setting Attendance with Participants from 121 Countries
Global Participation Made for 'Fascinating Discussions'

Tweet from Library 2.0 Conference

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.