News: Faculty
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.
‘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.
2021 iSchool Staff and Faculty Awards Highlight Outstanding Contributions
The San José State University School of Information conferred its 2021 slate of awards recognizing faculty and staff members for outstanding contributions on March 16 of this year. Candidates were nominated by fellow iSchool staff and faculty members and by self-nomination and selected by Interim Director Linda Main.
Retiring Faculty Reflect on iSchool’s Embrace of New Technologies
Dr. Patricia Franks and Debbie Faires, both longtime faculty members of the School of Information at San José State University, will retire at the end of the spring 2021 semester. The two have spent a combined three and a half decades of their professional lives at SJSU, making significant contributions to the iSchool’s transition to 100% online learning.
iSchool Faculty Members Debbie Faires and Dr. Patricia Franks Will Deliver Dual Convocation Addresses This May
The School of Information at San José State University will celebrate graduates of its fully online programs in a virtual convocation May 20, at 5 p.m. PDT. Debbie Faires and Dr. Patricia Franks, two pillars of the iSchool faculty, both of whom are retiring at the end of the spring semester, will deliver convocation addresses. Attendees can expect rich reflections on the iSchool’s past and inspiration for graduates entering the field.
Discussion Assignments Become Case Studies in iSchool Instructor’s New Book
Textbook Explores Contemporary Library Management Issues
Textbook and scholarly publisher Rowman and Littlefield will release Wayne Disher’s new book, Library Management Problems Today: Case Studies in March, 2021. Disher, an instructor at the San José State University School of Information, has edited a library management textbook that is unique in using fictionalized versions of real scenarios that have taken place at the library, in order to explore contemporary library management issues.
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.
iSchool Instructor Lori Lindberg Honored with National Award for Archival Achievement
The Society of American Archivists
recently honored
Lori Lindberg, an instructor at San José State University
School of Information, with a
2020 Council Exemplary Service Award for her long-standing
commitment to archival education and the betterment of archives
professionals.
New Tenure-track Assistant Professor Brings Data Science Expertise to iSchool Faculty
The San José State University School of Information announces the addition of a new tenure-track assistant professor to its diverse and award-winning faculty. Souvick Ghosh will focus on developing a foundational course, Problem Solving with Data, and will contribute his professional applied experience to the iSchool’s Master of Library and Information Science degree program.
iSchool Alumna and Faculty Member Named 2020 Library Journal Movers and Shakers
The highly anticipated annual roster of Movers and Shakers in the information profession published by Library Journal is out, and two of them have ties to the San José State University School of Information. Anna Avalos, a 2007 alumna of the Master of Library and Information Science program, and Maggie Murphy, a faculty member, are among the distinguished group of award winners that has grown to nearly 1,000 since its launch in 2002.
iSchool Instructor Patty Wong Wins 2021–2022 ALA Presidency
San José State University School of Information instructor Patty Wong has been elected 2021–2022 president-elect of the American Library Association. As ALA president, Wong, currently director of library services/city librarian for the Santa Monica Public Library in California, will be the chief elected officer for the oldest and largest library association in the world. She will serve as president-elect for one year before moving into her role as president at the close of the 2021 ALA Annual Conference.
New Instructor to Join SJSU iSchool’s Award-Winning Faculty
The San José State University School of Information announces the addition of Darra L. Hofman, a new tenure-track faculty member that will join its diverse and award-winning faculty.
Two iSchool Faculty Members Awarded Highly Coveted Grant Funding
Professor Lili Luo and Assistant Professor Deborah Hicks of the School of Information at San José State University were recently awarded grants for their exemplary research efforts, bringing accolades to the iSchool and joining an extensive list of innovative faculty research activities.
iSchool Director Transitions to New Leadership Role at SJSU
Dr. Sandra Hirsh Accepts Associate Dean Position
The San José State University School of Information announces a change in leadership effective March 16, 2020. Dr. Sandra Hirsh is transitioning from her role as director and professor at the iSchool to associate dean for academics in the SJSU College of Professional and Global Education.
“Serving as the iSchool director over the last 10 years has been the highlight of my career! I am very proud of what we have accomplished during this period,” Hirsh stated.
2020 iSchool Staff and Faculty Awards Celebrate ‘Highly Deserving’ Recipients
The San José State University School of Information recognized the exceptional contributions and instruction made by staff and faculty members at the 2020 awards reception, held on February 10, 2020 at the SJSU Student Union. Candidates were nominated by fellow iSchool staff and faculty members, and by self-nomination.