Published: February 18, 2015

SJSU iSchool Director Dr. Sandra Hirsh has been travelling around California for the last couple of months, visiting libraries and holding informational sessions to answer questions and discuss the programs and opportunities available at the iSchool. Hirsh visited two public libraries in Los Angeles in January and the Sacramento Public Library in early February.

Upcoming visits are scheduled for the San Francisco Public Library on February 25 and the UC Berkeley Doe Library on March 3. Whether you’re thinking about joining the iSchool or you’re already a student, this is a great chance to get to know our director and learn more about educational programs and career opportunities.

As a student in an exclusively online program, meeting people from the school face-to-face can make you feel a real part of the school. I know I always enjoy the opportunity to have phone interviews (and I do quite a bit of that with this job) or meet iSchool course instructors and school staff and get to know them better not just as information professionals, but as real (and very interesting) people.

If you aren’t able to attend one of Hirsh’s informational sessions in California, you can attend a virtual open house. The iSchool holds them throughout the year, and you can check out the dates as well as recordings from previous events online.

Jessica Rivera, who is applying for the fall 2015 semester, attended an information session in Los Angeles. “It was very informative!,” she says. “Thank you for hosting one in LA where I could attend.”

Says Hirsh of the sessions in Los Angeles, “They were a huge success, with over thirty-five people at each session!”

Attendees at these sessions hear about the iSchool’s MLIS program as well as the MARA, Gateway PhD and Post-Master’s Certificate programs. Many attendees are paraprofessionals interested in pursing a master’s degree to advance their careers, but current students and iSchool alumni are also enjoying the chance to talk with Hirsh and learn about the school’s continuing education programs. A dozen prospective and current students participated in the session earlier this month in Sacramento.

“I was thrilled to hear how marketable our alumni are and how well the education they received in our program is helping them to advance their careers,” says Hirsh. She is excited about having a chance to meet current and prospective students and to get to know alumni better.

The visits have also been an opportunity for Hirsh to connect with other information professionals and library leaders, including State Librarian Greg Lucas, Sacramento Public Library Director Rivkah Sass and Los Angeles County Library Director Margaret Donnellan Todd.

Hirsh has been the director of the iSchool since 2010. Before coming to the school, she worked for global companies, including Microsoft and HP Labs. In addition to travelling for these information sessions, serving on various professional association committees, and leading the school (whew—what a busy lady!), she also serves as the iSchool’s ASIS&T student chapter advisor and is currently president of the international ASIS&T organization.

If you have specific questions about Hirsh’s visits or general questions about the SJSU School of Information’s online programs, contact the iSchool.

Related content:
Highlights from the Latest New Student Orientation
News and Advice from the SJSU iSchool Director

Picture courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library