The GSLIS Library School Alumni Association (LSAA) has announced the recipients of its annual awards. The recipients were recognized on June 29, 2014, at the GSLIS reception held at the annual meeting of the American Library Association in Las Vegas.
Loriene Roy (PhD ’87) has been awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Each year this award is given to an alum who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of library and information science. Roy is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information, where she teaches graduate courses in reference, library instruction and information literacy, reader’s advisory, indigenous librarianship, and information in social and cultural context. The focus of Roy’s research, writing, and service is indigenous cultural heritage development, and she is an advocate for participation in and study of service learning activities for graduate students. Roy is the founder and director of a national reading program for American Indian students called, “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything.” She has held several national leadership roles and received numerous professional awards.
Dipesh Navsaria (MS ’04) has been awarded the Leadership Award, which is given to an alum who has graduated in the past ten years and shown leadership in the field of library and information science. As a pediatrician Navsaria advocates for reading as an important part of children’s overall health and as a tool for physicians to learn about their patients. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health and a pediatrician at Access Community Health Center. In addition, he is founder and director of the Pediatric Early Literacy Projects at UW and founding medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin.
Recently retired GSLIS staff members Kathy Painter and Sally Eakin have been awarded the Distinguished Service Award, which is given to a friend (or friends) of GSLIS, including faculty, staff, alumni, and nonalumni who has served LSAA or GSLIS in an exceptional way. Painter, who was an office administrator, and Eakin, formerly a staff clerk, were integral members of the School’s administrative team from 1978 and 1979, respectively, until their retirement in May 2014. The two are recognized for the outstanding level of service they provided to all members of the GSLIS community and for the professionalism and dedication that inspired their colleagues.
Pia Hunter (MS ’14) is the recipient of the LSAA Student Award, which recognizes a student who “caught the spirit” of the library and information science profession while employed in a library setting and so chose to enter the master’s program. This student must have a strong commitment to return to a professional position in a library setting and help others “catch the spirit.” Hunter was inspired to pursue her master’s degree through her work as a staff member at the University of Illinois at Chicago Library, where she is head of reserves, media, and microforms. She is already inspiring members of her own staff to further their education. Her positive attitude and approach to work, life, and her education have been motivational for her fellow students and others at GSLIS. Her professional promise can be clearly seen and also has been recognized by the Association of Research Libraries, which named Hunter a 2013-2015 Diversity Scholar.