Spectrum Scholar Spotlight: Kaila Rain Thomas

Kaila Rain Thomas

Eight iSchool master's students were named 2021-2022 Spectrum Scholars by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services. This "Spectrum Scholar Spotlight" series highlights the School's scholars. MS/LIS student Kaila Rain Thomas earned her BA degree in American history from the University of San Francisco, with a focus on African American history, culture, and politics.

Why did you decide to pursue an LIS degree?

I was an intern at the Freedom Archives during the last half of my senior year of college and became an employee after graduating. It was obvious that I enjoyed the work and was really good at it, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do next in terms of making it a long-term career. I actually hadn't considered pursuing an LIS degree until my supervisor suggested it. It made sense, and I had a very supportive and encouraging community. When the pandemic started, I left the city to move in with my family and help them out with the sudden major changes. This is when I decided it was the perfect time to start pursuing an LIS degree.

Why did you choose the iSchool at Illinois?

I want to say that I chose the iSchool because it's the number one program in the nation. However, I chose it because my supervisor and two of our colleagues attended the iSchool, and I wanted to be like them and keep the accidental tradition alive. No regrets.

What particular LIS topics interest you the most?

I'm particularly interested in archives and special collections. There have been a few captivating conversations about intellectual freedom, neutrality, and diversifying collections in my classes. As an emerging archivist who hopes to engage with my community, I think these are really important conversations to keep in mind.

What do you do outside of class?

When I'm not in class, I'm working on my first big project as a public historian, A Grandfather's Legacy Project. It's an archival project dedicated to preserving the legacy of my grandfather, Ronald Williams, and the Alabama Black Liberation Front. I built the website during my first semester of graduate school. I took the summer off to travel up and down the west coast to speak with people who knew my grandfather and were involved in his struggle for freedom. Now I'm reading his old letters and personal writings, hoping they'll reveal something important or fill in a gap or two in my research. I'm also hoping to have a solid timeline down in the next few months, in the style of a crazed investigator with papers stuck to walls and connections illustrated with pins and red string. 

When I'm not working on my project, I'm usually trying to get through an audiobook, FaceTiming my three-year-old brother, or chatting with my best friends who all live in different states. I recently moved to my family's farm in the Pacific Northwest, so I've also been spending some time with my relatives and enjoying the rain.

What does being a Spectrum Scholar mean to you?

At times, I still can't believe I'm a Spectrum Scholar. But I'm thrilled and honored to have been chosen to be a part of this year's cohort. It's been a real joy connecting with fellow Spectrum Scholars. They've all been so kind, caring, gracious, and welcoming. Being a part of the Spectrum community gives me the sense of belonging I desperately needed in this program. As a young Black woman coming into a field that is predominantly white, feeling like I belong here and having a community to back me up and uplift me is really special. I have so much to learn, and I'm so happy that I get to do that with the most wonderful and inspiring people.

What career plans or goals do you have?

My only real goal right now is to continue working on A Grandfather's Legacy Project and write a book. This story matters. Beyond that, I just hope that I can continue doing what I love (public history). It sounds crazy saying this, but I'm just going with the flow. I've followed my heart throughout this entire process, and it's worked out pretty well for me. I believe this is what I'm meant to do, so the rest is easy. 

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Get to know Kyrie Zhixuan Zhou, PhD student

PhD student Kyrie Zhixuan Zhou's goal is to make information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) experiences more equitable, accessible, beneficial, and ethical for all. In his free time, he is devoted to helping junior researchers, especially those from populations not typically represented in STEM.

Zhixuan Zhou

Santos honored by Illinois State Comptroller

Professor and Dean Eunice E. Santos was named a 2024 Women's History Month Honoree by the Illinois Office of Comptroller. She was recognized at a ceremony hosted by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza on March 21 in Springfield. At the Women's History Month celebration, Santos and three other women trailblazers were honored for their achievements and contributions to the community.

Eunice Santos

Dual degree program a perfect fit for Byington

Richard Byington wanted to pursue a master's degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies (REEES) at the University of Illinois, but after learning that he could earn an MSLIS at the same time, he decided to enroll in the dual degree program.

Richard Byington

Book co-edited by Dahlen recognized by ChLA

A book edited by Associate Professor Sarah Park Dahlen and Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, associate professor in the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education, has received the Children's Literature Association (ChLA) Edited Book Award. The annual award recognizes the contributions of an outstanding edited collection of essays to children's literature history, scholarship, and criticism. 

Sarah Park Dahlen

Campus-community partnership launches new maker-in-residence program

A new program co-led by the Champaign-Urbana Community (CUC) Fab Lab aims to bridge and enhance the creative capabilities of local maker communities. The Champaign County Community (CCC) Maker-in-Residence Program was recently awarded a $29,293 grant through the Campus-Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice initiative in the Office of Public Engagement.

Cu Community Fab Lab