Spectrum Scholar Spotlight: Brandi Hart

Brandi Hart

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 Brandi Hart earned her BA degree in history and classical studies from Denison University.

Why did you decide to pursue an LIS degree?

In college, I completed two summer research projects and a year-long senior research project. Doing independent research made me deeply appreciate academic librarians, specifically their work in supporting student research. During the second summer, the professor who served as my research advisor invited me to dinner with his family. At the dinner, his sister-in-law, a public librarian, shared stories about the Korean culture club for young adults that she ran at the library. Ever since, I have thought that being a librarian would combine my many areas of interest into one career, which would be so rewarding!

Why did you choose the iSchool at Illinois?

I considered many programs, but the iSchool's MS/LIS very quickly outshone all the others. I was impressed by the faculty and the breadth of course offerings, including the opportunity for completing a practicum.

What particular LIS topics interest you the most?

I am most interested in LIS topics regarding young adult services, academic research librarianship, and how social justice guides our work. I am interested in how to tackle systemic oppression and racism in our field and in our greater communities to implement positive change and to create a more equitable and inclusive future. As an Asian American woman, I am interested in representation in LIS—including the portrayal of Asian Americans in media and in library collections—and how we can use critical information literacy informed by social justice to combat the normalization of negative stereotypes and racist imagery. 

What do you do outside of class?

I enjoy reading nonfiction, playing video games with friends, learning all sorts of new subjects (lately I've been watching an online course about linguistics), cooking Korean food for my friends and family, playing the alto recorder, and spoiling my pets.

What does being a Spectrum Scholar mean to you?

I am so honored to be a part of the Spectrum Scholar community and to be surrounded by a group of amazing LIS professionals. I am inspired by the work that Spectrum Scholars have done in making the field of librarianship more equitable, inclusive, and accessible. I plan to learn from my fellow scholars' examples and do what I can to continue Spectrum's mission to dismantle systemic oppression, institutional bias, and racism to help make libraries a safe and inclusive space.

What career plans or goals do you have?

My dream is to work as a research librarian, helping young adults in a college setting. In particular, I would love to specialize in assisting international students by developing outreach programming and providing creative services for them.

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