Twelve iSchool master’s students were named 2024-2025 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. MSLIS student Mateo Caballero graduated from Northeastern University with a BA in communications and media and screen studies.
Why did you decide to pursue an LIS degree?
Toward the end of my time in college, I was considering graduate school for the first time. I’d had the chance to work on a study about the experiences of young transmasculine people of color in healthcare settings, and I became very interested in the dynamics of knowledge and expertise, and what that meant for people who are alienated by conventional knowledge. I knew I was interested in the humanities but also wanted to explore (qualitative) research methods further. I realized that LIS was the gateway for my professional pursuits.
Why did you choose the iSchool at Illinois?
I read a lot about the faculty at the University of Illinois and wanted to go to a center of research in the field. I was also concerned with balancing school and a full-time job, so I wanted to join a program that would accommodate working and remote students. I've found that my courses fit very well into my schedule, and I appreciate that the iSchool doesn’t center the "traditional" student experience. Students here come from a wide variety of professional and academic backgrounds.
What particular LIS topics interest you the most?
At the moment, I'm very interested in nonprint and unconventional information artifacts, both digital and analog. I'm hoping to take a course on oral storytelling and maybe one on born-digital archiving.
What do you do outside of class?
I currently work in access services at Harvard Business School's Baker Library, where I do a lot of collections maintenance work and coordinate an affinity group for Latine library staff. In my free time, I enjoy trivia, embroidery, eating well, visiting local cinemas, and exploring my city.
What does being a Spectrum Scholar mean to you?
Being a Spectrum Scholar is a fantastic opportunity to start building a community of peers contending with the same structural barriers in our profession. I also hope that this program will help prepare me to be someone who knows how to network, advocate, and open doors.
What career plans or goals do you have?
I have been considering law librarianship as a future path. I know I want to stay close to academic research, regardless of the subject area. I also miss the public library environment and would like to find ways to stay involved in the programming at my local library.