The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) is pleased to announce Madelyn Rose Sanfilippo as the winner of the 2026 ASIS&T Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award. Since 1980, this annual award has honored the unique teaching contributions of exceptional teachers of information science.
Sanfilippo is an assistant professor at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She holds a PhD in information science from Indiana University. Sanfilippo joined the faculty in 2020 and has compiled an impressive record of contributions to teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Her teaching responsibilities encompass two, established, required courses (IS 202 Social Aspects of Information Technology for BSIS students and IS 504 Sociotechnical Information Systems for MSIM students) and two elective courses that she designed and introduced into the curriculum (IS 390 Principles and Practice of Data Governance for undergraduate students and IS 524 Data Governance for graduate students).
In her nomination letter, Professor Emerita Linda C. Smith shared the sentiments of a PhD student and an alumnus who both praised Sanfilippo’s teaching. The alumnus said, "Professor Sanfilippo's record reflects the core values of this award: excellence, innovation, sustained impact, and leadership in information science education. Her contributions have shaped students, advanced scholarship, and strengthened the broader academic community." The student stated that "despite having over 10 years of professional experience as a knowledge manager in international development, Dr. Sanfilippo's teaching enabled me to identify critical gaps and new opportunities in how information science engages collaboration across universities, communities, governments, and international development sectors."
"This means so much, and it is humbling to be included with the illustrious list of past recipients!" Sanfilippo said of the award. "I care deeply for our students and spend a lot of time and energy trying to help them grow as creative and critical thinkers, future professionals, and engaged members of a society that is increasingly sociotechnical. I am so grateful to have that impact acknowledged and that the students support this recognition."
Sanfilippo was selected as the winner from among a pool of outstanding candidates who were judged based on evidence of sustained and unique contributions to teaching information science; impact on students, colleagues, and institutions; innovative and imaginative teaching materials and methods; professional association activities related to teaching excellence; research activities related to teaching excellence; and previous teaching awards.
Sanfilippo will receive the award during the 2026 meeting of ASIS&T, which will be held November 6–10, 2026, in Bangkok.