Associate Professor Kathryn La Barre received an Honorable Mention in the category of Outstanding Faculty/Staff at the 8th annual Diversity and Social Justice Education Awards. The awards recognize undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and student organizations "that have sought to address marginalization, oppression, and/or privilege in their communities." La Barre serves as chair of the iSchool's Diversity Committee.
"I'd like to give a shout-out to my compatriot at the iSchool, Victor Jones. While he nominated me for this, he is as deserving of this recognition as I am. I could not do this work without his steadfast commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion," she said.
La Barre's research interrogates the power dynamics of historical and contemporary practices in cultural heritage collections with a focus on Zines and Community-driven collections. She teaches the seminar courses Naming and Power and Social Justice in the Information Professions. Her public outreach activities include hosting Zine workshops and serving as caretaker for the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Zine Library and openED Archive.