Research and Innovation Updates

Overview

Dr. Yu Chi Publishes New Research on Machine Learning and Generative AI

2/9/2026

Dr. Yu Chi’s recent work examines how people seek support and make decisions in digital environments, spanning machine learning analysis of online recovery communities and emerging research on college students’ adoption of generative AI for job searching.

  • Chi, Y., Chen, H. Y., & Thaker, K. (2025). “Self-Disclosure and Social Support in a Web-Based Opioid Recovery Community: Machine Learning Analysis.” JMIR Formative Research, 9, e71207.
  • Chen, H.-Y., & Chi, Y. (June 2026). “From literacy to adoption: college students’ use of generative AI for job search via the technology acceptance model.” 76th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA): Communication and Inequalities in Context, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Internal research awards
    • Research Impact Academy, San José State University — $2,000 (Spring 2026)
    • Faculty Mentor, CURF Grants for Research, College of Information, Data and Society, San José State University — $4,500 (Spring 2026)

Dr. Shelly Buchanan Co-Edits New Brill Volume on Doctoral Learning and Leadership

2/9/2026

Dr. Shelly Buchanan and Gateway PhD Program alum Dr. Africa Hands co-edited a new scholarly book on doctoral education and student agency, published by Brill in October 2025. The Self-Determined Doctorate brings together perspectives on navigating and leading the doctoral journey, with an emphasis on self-directed learning and development across the doctorate.

  • Hands, A. S., & Buchanan, S. (Eds.). (2025). The self-determined doctorate: Perspectives on leading the doctoral journey (Vol. 9). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-74442-4 (hardback); 978-90-04-74443-1 (ebook).

Dr. José Aguiñaga Publishes New Scholarship on Academic Library Workforce Development, Reference Services, and Generative AI

2/9/2026

Dr. Aguiñaga’s recent work examines how academic and community college libraries evolve their services, collections, and professional development practices, particularly as reference work and LIS education adapt to changing user needs and emerging technologies such as generative AI.

  • Aguiñaga, J., & Howell, S. K. (2026, in press). “Academic Libraries and Professional Development: An Assessment from Academic Library Employees.” Library Leadership & Management.
  • Aguiñaga, J. A. (2025). “Who belongs at the reference desk now?” In Valuing the Community College Library: Impactful Practices for Institutional Success. Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
  • Aguiñaga, J. A., & McKennon, E. (2025). “Leveraging diverse knowledge to support collection development: Maximizing student engagement and community resource value in varied community college settings.” In The Community College Library: Collections and Technical Services. Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
  • Aguiñaga, J., Mooradian, N., Ghosh, S., & Hofman, D. (2025). “Evolution of Reference Services in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 62, 13–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.1232
  • Aguiñaga, J., Azof, N., Friedland, M., & Chow, A. (2025). “Symposia influencing LIS curriculum and society.” Proceedings of the Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual Conference. https://doi.org/10.21900/j.alise.2025.1952
  • “Evolution of Reference Services in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence” (lead panelist). Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., November 2025.
  • “Symposia influencing LIS curriculum and society” (lead panelist). Association for Library Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO, October 2025.
  • “iLead: Preparing Tomorrow’s Library Leaders” (panelist). California Library Association Annual Conference, Riverside, CA, October 2025.

Dr. Hodges’s New Research Explores How Data, Infrastructure, and Environments Shape Knowledge Production

2/9/2026

Dr. Hodges’s recent scholarly activity examines how data, infrastructure, and environments shape knowledge production, especially in aquatic and coastal contexts, while also contributing to disciplinary conversations through conference publication, presentations, panel discussions, and a book review.

  • Huvila, I., Lischer-Katz, Z., Hodges, J.A., Bishop, B.W., Marsh, D., and Bull, I. (2025). “Geographic Information in Information Science Research.” Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), 2025 Proceedings [extended abstract]. Washington, DC, 1248–1253.
  • Hodges, J.A. (2026). [Review of The Connectivity of Things: Network Cultures Since 1832, by S. Giessmann]. Information & Culture 60(3).
  • Hodges, J.A. (September 6, 2025). “From Data Streams to Outflow Streams: Reverse-Engineering a Coastal Water Monitoring Initiative.” Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S), annual meeting. Seattle, WA.
  • “Oceans of Data: Knowledge Production in Aquatic Environments” (September 6, 2025). Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S), annual meeting. Seattle, WA.
  • “Research and Practice: The Impact of Research on Teaching” (November 13, 2025). RSCA Committee fall panel discussion, San José State University College of Information, Data and Society.

Dr. Hengyi Fu Evaluates LLM Fairness in Library Reference and Presents New Findings on Algorithm Aversion at iConference 2026

2/9/2026

Dr. Fu’s recent research explores responsible, human-centered use of AI in digital library contexts, examining both fairness in LLM-supported academic reference services and user trust/algorithm aversion beyond technical performance. Recent and forthcoming publications/presentations:

  • Wang, H., Clark, J., Yan, Y., Bradley, S., Chen, R., Zhang, Y., Fu, H., & Tian, Z. Fairness evaluation of large language models in academic library reference service. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.
  • Fu, H. & Cao, F. Beyond technical performance: Preliminary findings on algorithm aversion in digital library environments. Proceedings of iConference 2026 (accepted). Dr. Fu will present during the iConference 2026 virtual program on March 24, 2026.

Dr. Norman Mooradian Publishes New Work on Knowledge Ethics, Information Governance, and Generative AI

2/9/2026

Dr. Norman Mooradian’s recent scholarship examines how organizations create, govern, and ethically use knowledge in today’s knowledge economy, spanning knowledge ethics, archival theory, information governance culture, and the evolution of reference services in the era of generative AI. Recent and forthcoming publications:

  • Haines, J., Mooradian, N., Anyacho, B., Hilsinger, C., Zieba, M., Bedford, D. (March 2026). Knowledge Ethics in the Knowledge Economy. Emerald Publishing.
  • Mooradian, N. (2026, in press). “Ontology.” In L. Duranti & P. Franks (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Archival Science (2nd ed.).
  • Hofman, D., Mooradian, N., Eisen, L., Poff, E., Salvarezza, M. (2025). “From Rules to Reflex: Transforming IG Into A Cultural Value.” ARMA International Publication.
  • Aguinaga, J., Mooradian, N., Ghosh, S., Hofman, D. (2025). “Evolution of Reference Services in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” ASIS&T Annual Conference Proceedings.

Dr. Donald A. Westbrook Publishes New Scholarship on New Religious Movements and Second-Generation Membership

2/9/2026

Dr. Westbrook’s recent scholarship advances the study of new religious movements and contemporary religious life through a major public-facing interview, editorial leadership, and new publications and recognitions. Selected activities and publications:

  • Interview (WRSP Forum): Interviewed by Dr. Ethan Doyle White, “Scientology: An Interview with Dr. Donald A. Westbrook.” World Religions and Spirituality Project (Virginia Commonwealth University, January 2025). https://wrldrels.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WRSP-Interview-with-Donald-A.-Westbrook.pdf
  • Honor: Honoree, Author & Artist Celebration (in recognition of Anticultism in France, Cambridge University Press, 2024), SJSU King Library, April 2025.
  • Editorial role: Guest Editor, special issue on New Religious Movements and Second-Generation Members, Nova Religio: Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions (University of Pennsylvania Press); authored the introductory essay “New Religions and Second-Generation Studies” (May 2025, pp. 5–13).
  • Book review: Review of Travis Dumsday, The Marian Apparitions at Zeitoun: An Evidential Inquiry (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2024). Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies 8(1) (2025), 162–64.
  • Travel grant: Recipient, School of Information Travel Grant (2025), to attend the XXIII IAHR World Congress, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, August 24–30, 2025.
  • Audiobook release: Audiobook version of Mariachi in the Twenty-First Century (Cambridge University Press; print 2024, audio 2025).

Dr. Crystal Fausett Publishes New Research on Team Cognition and Human-Centered Cybersecurity

2/9/2026

Dr. Fausett’s recent research explores how team cognition and human factors shape performance and resilience in complex, high-stakes settings—spanning transactive memory systems and human-centered approaches to cybersecurity. Her recent and forthcoming publications include:

  • Fausett, C.M., Keebler, J. R., Lazzara, E. H., Gregory, M., Blickensderfer, E. (in press). Measurement matters: A meta-analytic examination of transactive memory systems and team outcomes. Small Group Research.
  • C. M. Fausett, J. R. Keebler, E L. Lazzara, & D. Schuster (Eds.). (2026, in press). Handbook of human factors in cybersecurity: A human-centered approach. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781032524931
  • Canham, M., & Fausett, C. M. (in press, 2026). Human factors science: From aviation and healthcare to cybersecurity. In B. Knox, R. G. Lugo, & S. Sütterlin (Eds.), Human factors in IT security: Cognitive perspectives of cybersecurity. CRC Press.
  • Fausett, C. M., Schuster, D., Lazzara, E. H., & Keebler, J. R. (2026). You can’t take the human out of cybersecurity: Reimagining people as partners, not problems. In C. M. Fausett et al. (Eds.), Handbook of human factors in cybersecurity. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003413707-1
  • Brennan, L., Fausett, C. M., & Lazzara, E. H. (2026). Insights and recommendations for improving handoff processes in cybersecurity operations centers. In C. M. Fausett et al. (Eds.), Handbook of human factors in cybersecurity. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003413707-6
  • Simonson, R. J., Foquet, S. D., & Fausett, C. M. (2026). Complex healthcare systems in the modern social engineering landscape: The human factors of system survivability. In C. M. Fausett et al. (Eds.), Handbook of human factors in cybersecurity. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003413707-8
  • Simonson, R. & Fausett, C. M. (2025). Game-based small team training. In P. M. Mangos & J. C. Ferraro (Eds.), AI and Gamification Technologies for Complex Work. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781032701639-3
  • Schuster, D., Fausett, C., Huang, M., Patel, S. M., Korentsides, J., Keebler, J. R., & Lazzara, E. H. (2025). Poster: Development of situation awareness measurement for cybersecurity professionals. Proceedings of the 2025 Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Conference (IEEE), Fremont, CA. https://doi.org/10.1109/SVCC65277.2025.11133655

Dr. Timothy Dickey Guest Edited Special Issue of Library Trends

2/9/2026

Dr. Dickey was one of the guest editors for the 2025 November Special Issue of Library Trends:

Dr. Timothy Dickey Presents at ASIS&T Conference

2/9/2026 

Dr. Dickey presented at the the ASIS&T Annual Meeting 2025 (Washington, DC), Nov. 17, 2025. His presentation was title “Responsible Use of AI: Role of Standards and Guidelines”.

Dr. Virginia Tucker Publishes New Article

11/30/2025

Dr. Tucker’s new article explored the design of OER textbooks:

Dr. James Hodges Publishes New Article

11/18/2025

Dr. Hodges’ new article, titled “Coastal water information orders: Reverse-engineering New York City’s data dashboards“, was published in Social Studies of Science. This study examines the information systems governing individual relationships to urban coastal waterways, drawing from two data publication initiatives in New York City. 

Dr. Souvick Ghosh Presents Multiple Papers at 2025 ASIS&T

10/10/2025

Dr. Ghosh presented the following papers, posters and workshop at  ASIS&T Annual Meeting 2025:

  • Charette, C. & Ghosh, S. (2025). From Queries to Conversations: Examining Human–GenAI Information-Seeking Through Belkin’s Cognitive Communication Model. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology [Full Paper] [Student Co-author] 
  • Aguiñaga, J., Mooradian, N., Ghosh, S., & Hofman, D. (2025). Evolution of Reference Services in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology [Full Paper] 
  • Ghosh, S., Malempati, K., & Charette, C. (2025). Human-AI Collaborative Content Analysis: Investigating the Efficacy and Challenges of LLM-Assisted Content Analysis for TikTok Videos on Palliative Care. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology [Full Paper] [Student Co-author] 
  • Shinde, G., Kirstein, T., Ghosh, S., & Franks, P. C. (2025). Tracing the Past, Predicting the Future: A Systematic Review of AI in Archival Science. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology [Full Paper] [Student Co-author] 
  • Fu, H., Cao, F., Li, Y., & Ghosh, S. (2025). AI Readiness in Libraries: A Technology– organization– environment framework for Action. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. [Poster] 
  • Fu, H., Ghosh, S., Hofman, D., & Mehra, B. (2025). AI and Social Justice in LIS. In Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. [Poster] 
  • Dinh, L., Hong, L., Ghosh, S., Dumas, C., Zheng, H., Ma, C. (2025). 5th Annual Workshop on Social Media Research, Challenges, and Opportunities. At the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., USA. [Workshop]

Dr. Michele Villagran Publishes New Article in Library Quarterly

9/23/2025

Dr. Villagran’s article, “BIPOC Become Librarians: A Qualitative Study of Undergraduate Students Perception of Librarianship” has bee accepted for publication in Library Quarterly. She and her co-author, iSchool student Kristie Barlas conducted focus groups to investigate how undergraduate students perceive librarianship as a profession.

Dr. Lili Luo Publishes Article on Librarians’ Use of Generative AI

8/22/2025

Dr. Luo’s most recent article, titled “Use of Generative AI in Aiding Daily Professional Tasks: A Survey of Librarians’ Experiences“, was recently published in Library Trends. This study examines how librarians are using third-party generative AI (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT to aid their daily professional tasks. 

Dr. Hengyi Fu Publishes Article in IHCI

8/13/2025

Dr. Fu’s new article, titled “Understanding community dynamics of peer production through contradictions: An activity theory analysis of Mathematics Stack Exchange Q&A community” in published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. This study explores how internal contradictions shape community development, using Activity Theory as a lens.

Drs. Hengyi Fu,  Darra Hofman and Souvick Ghosh Presents Posters at 2025 ASIST Conference

8/13/2025

Drs. Fu,  Hofman and Ghosh have two posters accepted by the 2025 ASIST Annual Conference. Both work involve AI and libraries.

  • Fu, H., Chao, F., Li, Y. & Ghosh, S. (2025). AI readiness in libraries: A Technology–organization–environment framework for action. In Proceedings of the 88th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology, Washington, USA. 
  • Fu, H., Hoffman, D., Bharat, M. & Ghosh, S. (2025). AI and Social Justice in LIS. In Proceedings of the 88th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology, Washington, USA. 

Dr. Michele Villagran Presents at REFORMA Oregon Chapter

8/11/2025

Dr. Villagran delivers a presentation to REFORMA Oregon Chapter. The presentation, titled “Resilience in Practice: Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Values for Oregon Libraries“, explores how examining one’s own emotional intelligence can foster resilience, self-regulation, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Dr. Michele Villagran Presents at 2025 ALISE Conference

8/5/2023

Dr. Villagran delivers multiple presentations at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Library and Information Science Education:

Dr. Michele Villagran Presents at REFORMA National Conference

8/5/2025

Dr. Villagran delivers the following presentations at the 2025 REFORMA National Conference: 

Dr. Virginia Tucker Publishes Article in JELIS

7/23/2025

Dr. Tucker’s new article, titled “Experiential Learning About Database Design in the MLIS Curriculum: Software and Instructional Design for Threshold Knowledge“, was published in the Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. In this article, Dr. Tucker and co-author Christina Perucci report  a project that explored how essential knowledge about database design can be taught effectively through experiential learning activities involving collaborative groupwork and using database software to build small databases and search forms.

Dr. Ulia Gosart Presents at SAA Research Forum

7/23/2025

Dr. Gosart recently delivered a presentation titled “Ukraine’s Libraries in Wartime: To Save Memory, People, Hope” at the 2025 Society of American Archivist Research Forum. This presentation shares the history and fruits of the partnership between Ukrainian and American library professionals and scholars on archiving experiences of Ukrainian public libraries during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. 

Dr. Norman Mooradian Presents Webinar AI Ethics

6/20/2025

Dr. Mooradian recently presented a webinar for ARMA international, titled “The Shared Ethics Foundations of IG and AI Governance”. This webinar explored the shared ethical foundations of Information Governance (IG) and AI Governance, highlighting how traditional IG principles align with emerging AI ethics frameworks. Learn how AI is transforming familiar IG ethical issues, where the two domains overlap, and how IG professionals can contribute meaningfully to responsible AI governance efforts in their organizations.