Affiliated faculty member Clara Chu, director and Mortenson Distinguished Professor at the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at Illinois, has been selected to serve as the American Library Association (ALA) representative to the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO through June 2018.
The National Commission serves as a federal advisory committee to the U.S. government through the Department of the State. It works with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization, which was founded in 1945 to eradicate poverty, sustain development and promote an intercultural dialogue of peace. The National Commission members, including ALA, assist with global initiatives focused on communication, education, social science, natural science, and culture.
“I am truly honored to represent the American Library Association in articulating the transformational role of libraries and ensuring information access for all, in strategic alignment with UNESCO priorities,” Chu said.
Chu’s research interests include multicultural library and information services, information seeking behavior, critical information studies, international and comparative librarianship, and LIS education. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia and master’s and doctoral degrees in library science from the University of Western Ontario.