Two iSchool alumni and two current MSLIS students have been selected by the American Library Association (ALA) to participate in its 2025 class of Emerging Leaders.
According to Hailley Fargo (MSLIS '16), the mentorship and educational opportunities she received at the iSchool provided a strong foundation for her current role as interim associate dean and head of education and outreach services at Northern Kentucky University. She enjoys building a strong and collaborative team and helping colleagues across campus understand the ways a library can impact the academic experience.
Donald G. Davis (PhD '72), one of three alumni who launched the iSchool at Illinois' endowed Professorship in the History of Libraries and the Information Professions, passed away on November 21, 2024. Born in 1939, he was raised and educated in California, earning a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles and master's degrees in history and library and information science from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his doctorate in library and information science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Karina Cooper (MSLIS '23) likes that her job as librarian at the Niels Bohr Library and Archives allows her to explore her interdisciplinary interests and do "a little bit of everything." She credits the iSchool with helping her build a well-rounded skill set and gain valuable hands-on practice, which have helped her succeed in her job.
As a digital consultant for Caterpillar, Kirti Tyagi (MSIM '23) helps people make informed, data-driven decisions that have a tangible impact on the business. Prior to joining Caterpillar full time, she served as a digital intelligence intern for the company.
Grant Florence (BSIS '23) used final projects from his iSchool courses to assemble a portfolio of case studies, which helped him land his job as a user experience designer for Microsoft. Now he is helping to design solutions for the cloud computing platform Azure.
In his role as a computer vision engineer at Precision Planting, Jeremy Carnahan (MSIM '21) is part of a team that is making agriculture more productive and sustainable while reducing costs for growers.
For Paige Schulz (BSIS '22), the best part about working as a software developer for The Aerospace Corporation is "embracing constant change." She enjoys the fast pace in the tech world and in New York City, where she resides.
The American Library Association (ALA) Council decided on July 23, 2024, that Sam Helmick (MSLIS '12) will be the 2024-2025 president-elect effective immediately. Helmick, who is community and access services coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, was recommended by the ALA Executive Board and confirmed by the Council.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one million people have died in the past twenty-five years from a drug overdose. More than seventy-five percent of drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid. As opioid addiction and deaths have mounted over the decades, the business of making and selling prescription painkillers was hidden from the public. Thousands of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies have since exposed the industry's deceptive practices.
Hiromi Morikawa (CAS '12), executive officer and chief information officer at Nishimoto Co., Ltd., enjoys helping her teams grow and succeed. She was recently named a 2024 Consumer Goods Technology Visionary, which recognizes a select cohort of consumer goods executives who embody positive change in their organizations and inspire through their leadership.
Alumna M. Katherine (Katy) Mullally (MSLIS '04) will deliver the 2024 iSchool Convocation address. The event will be held on Sunday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m. at the Activities and Recreation Center. The ceremony will be broadcast live online so that students, families, and friends can watch if they are unable to attend in person.
Two iSchool alumni and an adjunct lecturer are included in Library Journal’s 2024 class of Movers & Shakers, an annual list that recognizes 50 professionals who are moving the library field forward as a profession. Tarida Anantachai (MSLIS ’11) was honored in the Change Agents category, Lissa Staley (MSLIS ’01) was honored in the Community Builders category, and Adjunct Lecturer Zachary Stier was honored in the Community Builders category.
Quinn Dombrowski, academic technology specialist in the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages, and in the Library, at Stanford University, will deliver the 2024 Windsor Lecture on Wednesday, May 1, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 126, 501 E. Daniel Street, and online via Zoom.
In his role as a senior product designer for the Healthy Regions & Policies Lab, Shubham Kumar (MSIM '23) uses design to break down complex concepts, visualize information in meaningful ways, and ultimately encourage broader engagement in discussions about health and society.
Thanks to a new $1-million gift from Lionelle (BA English '66, MSLIS '67) and James (BS Business '66, MS Business '67) Elsesser, the iSchool will be better able to attract and retain outstanding faculty and educate future school librarians. Their latest donation will be directed to the iSchool Alumni Association Endowed Professorship Fund, Leigh Estabrook Faculty Development Fund, and Public School Licensure Program Fund.
Now the executive director of the World Innovations Network, Mojgan Momeni (MSLIS '09) credits her iSchool experience with leading her to discover her true passion—creating an innovative and entrepreneurial network model for global collaboration.
The PhD degree program at the iSchool celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. This profile is part of a special series featuring PhD alumni. Jeanie Austin (PhD '17) is a jail and reentry services librarian at San Francisco Public Library.
Ted Quiballo (MSLIS '17) has been selected for a 2024 I Love My Librarian Award. Honorees were selected for their outstanding public service accomplishments. The award is administered by the American Library Association.
