During her time as an active-duty Naval Officer, Anna Hartman realized that she had a passion for helping others and building community. That passion, combined with a lifelong love of reading, led her to pursue an MSLIS degree at the University of Illinois. Hartman is receiving support for her studies through the Balz Endowment Fund, which was established by Nancy (BA LAS '70, MSLIS '72) and Dan (BS Media '68, MS Media '72) Balz to help make education more affordable for returning students.
"This scholarship has made a huge difference," said Hartman. "A recent change in work locations for my spouse led to additional living costs. The Balz Endowment Fund helped alleviate some of that financial burden and is allowing me to finish my degree in May 2025."
Hartman, who earned her bachelor's degree in English from the United States Naval Academy, chose the MSLIS program at the iSchool because of its reputation and flexible curriculum. She is especially interested in machine learning techniques and how they can serve the humanities fields.
"After graduation, my plan is to work either in an academic setting as a digital humanities librarian or pursue a career in a non-traditional library role. I would especially love it if these career opportunities allowed me to work with oral histories or archives," she said.
Outside of class, Hartman enjoys taking her two boys (ages four and one) to local parks and the library. When she isn't spending time with her family, she is reading, knitting, or jogging around her neighborhood. Hartman is grateful to Nancy and Dan Balz for their generosity and thankful for donors who demonstrate their commitment to education through gifts to the iSchool.
"For anyone interested in supporting other students, I would say please do it! While you might think you’re simply supporting a student, you are investing not only in their future but in the well-being of their families, their friends, and their dependents. Your generosity reaches much farther than you might think," she said.