Eight iSchool master's students have been named 2025-2026 Spectrum Scholars by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services. Since 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program has assisted over 1,600 graduate-level students pursuing degrees in library and information studies through ALA-accredited programs. This year's scholars were selected based on their commitment to community building, leadership potential, and planned contributions to making social justice as part of everyday work in LIS. The highly competitive scholarship program received four times as many applications as there were available scholarships.

Associate Professor Dong Wang will present the keynote at the second workshop on generative AI for recommender systems and personalization on August 4, in Toronto, Canada. The event will be held in conjunction with KDD 2025. 

Associate Professor Kate McDowell has authored a new book that will equip readers with the skills to transform data into stories for library advocacy, social justice, and inclusivity. Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries: Crafting Ethical Narratives for Advocacy and Impact, the second book in a new ALA Editions series on Critical Cultural Information Studies, will be available next month.

Associate Professor Maria Bonn, Teaching Assistant Professor Haileleol Tibebu, and Assistant Professor Travis L. Wagner are among the twenty faculty from the University of Illinois System who were selected for the 2025–2026 cohort of the Public Voices Fellowship. The program is part of a national initiative led by The OpEd Project to help experts from underrepresented groups to be positioned as public thought leaders in their fields and contribute to the national dialogue around important issues.