Lecturer Elizabeth Wickes (MS '16) has received a NumFOCUS Contributor Award for her contributions to Project Jupyter, a nonprofit, open-source project that supports interactive data science and scientific computing across all programming languages.

PhD student Michael Gryk presented his research in data curation at iPRES 2018, which was held in Boston from September 25-27. The conference brought together researchers, archivists, librarians, providers, and other experts to share recent developments and innovative projects in the field of digital preservation.

Michèle Cloonan (MS '84, PhD '88) and Sid Berger (MS '87) have a special connection to the iSchool, one that is professional and personal.

Eight iSchool alumni were selected to participate in the Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups, which was held from July 16-20 in Minneapolis. The institute is a week-long program housed at and sponsored by the University of Minnesota Libraries, focusing on the development of library leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Doctoral students Jamillah Gabriel and Lettycia Terrones will discuss diversity in LIS education at the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC), which will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from September 26-30. The conference brings together librarians, staff, and supporters as well as community participants to explore issues of diversity in libraries.

School librarians are at the forefront of transformative learning and education for youth. The School Librarian Licensure program at the iSchool welcomes those who want to contribute to student academic success and create a culture of innovation in education. Applications to the program are due October 1.

As the new Student Leadership GA for the iSchool, MS/LIS student Eileen López will serve as chair and coordinator of the Student Advisory Board and iSchool Student Representatives as well as support the Student Affairs Office. Born and raised in Chicago, she earned her BFA in graphic design from Columbia College Chicago and worked as a designer before coming to the iSchool for her master's degree.

Ashley Batchelder, a master's student in the Leep online program, presented her library's physical activity programs at the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference, which was held from September 13-15 in Springfield, Illinois. Batchelder, who is an assistant children's librarian at the Mt. Zion (IL) District Library, took part in the session, "Let's Get Moving at the Library! Physical Activity Programs for Fun and for Health." She presented two programs that promote physical activity at her library: the Music and Movement program she developed and the library's Annual Garden Party that kicks off the summer reading program.

Michèle Valerie Cloonan (MS '84, PhD '88), iSchool research associate professor and professor of the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University, has authored a book addressing the social, cultural, and political issues in cultural heritage preservation. Her book, The Monumental Challenge of Preservation: The Past in a Volatile World, was recently published by The MIT Press.

On September 24, the iSchool will dedicate a memorial plaque to Yingbo Zhou, an MS/LIS student whose life was tragically cut short in 2009 when she died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run car accident. The plaque, inscribed in both English and Chinese, will be located next to a tree that was planted in her honor following the accident.