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.

Kristen Rebmann led the committee that reviewed Stephens’ qualifications and approved his promotion. By meeting standards set forth by SJSU Policy S15-8, as well as being reviewed several times throughout his tenure, Stephens met the requirements to become full professor. Rebmann states this achievement is “only awarded when a faculty member has demonstrated extraordinary performance and leadership in teaching, research and service.”

Stephens currently teaches INFO 200 Information Communities and INFO 287 The Hyperlinked Library: Emerging Trends, Emerging Technologies. Stephens has contributed to the library and information science field with his books Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance and The Heart of Librarianship. Both books discuss how to approach librarianship with a people-first focus and how to create accessible, welcoming spaces. Stephens has also authored multiple book chapters and peer-reviewed articles, and he has delivered countless presentations at professional association conferences.

Stephens says deciding to teach at San José State University was “one of the best decisions I have ever made.” In addition to teaching his course The Hyperlinked Library, he says he is “proud and excited to be contributing to our school through my work as INFO 200 coordinator and to the university via the University Writing Committee.”