News: Faculty
CIRCLE Project from SJSU Chosen as Mozilla Award Winner
Dr. Darra Hofman, Dr. Michele Villagran and Dr. Souvich Ghosh from the San José State University School of Information, as well as Dr. Nada Attar and Dr. Saugher Nojan, are among the 15 winners selected for Mozilla’s Responsible Computing Challenge.
Dr. Michele Villagran Honored for Leadership in Social Justice and Equality
Assistant Professor Michele Villagran is the recipient of the 2023 Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice and Equality presented by The Social Responsibilities Round Table. The award recognizes individuals who are leaders and advocates for social justice and equality within the library profession. “Everything I do is for diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice,” says Villagran.
iSchool Announces Program Coordinator for Bachelor’s Degree Hybrid Program
Dr. Dan Nathan-Roberts recently joined the San José State University School of Information’s faculty in a new capacity. In addition to his role as an associate professor, he will serve as the school’s program coordinator for the in-person/hybrid section of the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Data Analytics degree, which is slated to begin in fall 2024.
New Beginnings for MARA Program this Fall
Two New Instructors to Teach New Courses
The fall 2023 semester at the San José State University School of Information officially starts August 17, and students will be greeted by a few new faces. Rae Lynn Haliday and Dr. Junia Papas are joining the faculty and bringing brand-new courses to the Master of Archives and Records Administration degree program.
iSchool Recognizes 10 Faculty and Staff Members with Awards
Each spring, except in 2022, the San José State University School of Information recognizes its faculty and staff members with special awards for their achievements in several different areas. During the quarterly faculty retreat held in May, iSchool Director Anthony Chow announced the 2023 award recipients.
Assistant Professor and Students’ Paper Gets Published in International Research Journal
The Aslib Journal of Information Management recently published a paper researched and written by Dr. Souvich Ghosh, assistant professor at the San José State University School of Information, in collaboration with Julie Gogoi and Kristen Chua, both graduate students at the school.
iSchool Associate Professor Joni Bodart Appointed Editor of YALS
Adding to her impressive repertoire of teaching and service, Associate Professor Joni Bodart recently accepted the editor role of Young Adult Library Services, or YALS, the flagship journal for youth services in the library field.
iSchool Announces New Coordinator for CA Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program
Starting in the fall 2023 semester, the San José State University School of Information will have a new coordinator at the helm of its California Teacher Librarian Services Credential program. Jonathan Hunt has accepted the position most recently held by Dr. Mary Ann Harlan.
iSchool Director and Two Alumni on Ballot for CLA Board of Directors
The California Library Association has announced the roster of candidates for the Board of Directors. Continuing a strong representation of leaders from the San José State University School of Information, the 2022 CLA ballot includes the iSchool’s director and two alumni.
Pushing Forward with Native American Literacy and Libraries
IMLS Awards $1.2 Million Grant to iSchool and Reading Nation Waterfall
Dr. Anthony Chow, director of the
San José State University School of Information, and Reading
Nation Waterfall have received a $1.2 million grant from the
Institute of Museum and Library Services to foster Native
American literacy, as well as a $150,000 grant entitled “Seeking
Immortality” alongside the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana to
preserve the Northern Cheyenne language and culture through
virtual reality.
Longtime iSchool Faculty Member Promoted to Full Professor
Congratulations to Professor Michael Stephens
Eleven years after his hiring, Dr.
Michael Stephens has been promoted to full professor at San José
State University. Stephens joined the SJSU School of Information
in 2011 as an assistant professor. He teaches courses in the
iSchool’s fully online Master of Library and
Information Science degree program.
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.
Publication on Dementia Services Propels iSchool Instructor to Award Winner
Dr. Timothy Dickey Receives 2022 RUSA Award
Dr. Timothy Dickey was awarded the 2022 RUSA Margaret E. Monroe Award for Library Adult Services. On winning the award, Dickey stated, “I am deeply humbled and tremendously honored by the award, which recognizes so many aspects of my professional life as a librarian, a faculty member, an author, and as someone dedicated to professional service.”
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.”
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.
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.
Two iSchool Instructors Promoted to Full-time Faculty Positions
The San José State University School of Information has promoted two of its knowledgeable instructors to full-time, non-tenure track status. The iSchool welcomed Dr. Renée Jefferson to the full-time faculty in January of 2021, while Dr. Lei Zhang began her new role in August of 2021.
Two Faculty Members Receive Full Tenure and Promotions
Two faculty members at the San José State University School of Information, Dr. Virginia Tucker and Dr. Mary Ann Harlan, will start the fall 2021 semester with full tenure and new titles of associate professor. Tucker has been teaching at the iSchool for more than 15 years, while Harlan joined the faculty in 2010.
New Director Appointed for SJSU School of Information
Dr. Anthony Chow to Lead the iSchool
With deep roots in the Bay Area, Dr. Anthony Chow is eager to bring his leadership, academic, professional, and personal experience and background to the San José State University School of Information as its new director. Chow makes his way to the #1 Most Transformative University from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was an associate professor in the Department of Library and Information Science. His appointment as the iSchool’s director officially begins July 20, 2021, filling the open position previously held by Dr.