UMD College of Information INFO

Scenes from the INFO Welcome Event!

Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed the scenes and the INFOfusion ice cream .🍦

Did you enjoy the flavor? Let us know! 👇🏽

🎓 John Eubank IV, a proud alum of UMD's INFO program, is giving back in a big way. After benefiting from scholarships himself, he’s now funding opportunities for future generations.

Eubank’s mission? To inspire students to dive into fields like cybersecurity, data science, and more—areas critical to the future. Learn how his scholarships are making a difference and his thoughts on the shift from the Information Age to the Experience Age.

Ready to be inspired? Follow the link to read more. 👉https://brnw.ch/21wMaSC

This fall, the INFO College is excited to bring a robust lineup of industry talks, networking events, and career fairs to INFO students.

Click the link to learn more and register for the upcoming events!

🔗👉 https://brnw.ch/21wM1Xd

Digital librarianship is transforming how libraries serve their communities, from managing digital collections to enhancing user experience.

The MLIS program at the University of Maryland equips future with essential technical skills like digital asset management, work, and integration. These skills are key to modern librarianship, bridging the gap between traditional roles and new digital demands. Discover how this program prepares students for the evolving landscape of .

👉 Follow the link to learn more! https://ischool.umd.edu/news/info-is-leading-the-charge-in-training-librarians-for-a-digital-era/

Join the INFO Community at the Welcome Back Kickoff Event for fun and games, sweet treats, prizes, student resources, and more! Network with employers.

Be sure to try the new official INFO ice cream flavor “INFOfusion” from the Maryland Dairy, and pick up a free INFO t-shirt while supplies last!

All are welcome at this free event. No registration is required, just stop by!

Balancing three jobs as an undergrad, Faisal Quader knows the challenges of pursuing education under financial strain.

Now, as a co-founder of Technuf LLC and an adjunct faculty member at UMD’s INFO College, he’s giving back. With a $100K donation, matched dollar-for-dollar, Quader aims to ease the burden for students. His Innovation Center of Excellence also offers hands-on internships in , ML, and , bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Read more about his inspiring journey and impact: https://ischool.umd.edu/news/turning-dreams-into-impact-one-donors-contribution-to-future-innovators/

Over six weeks this summer, 19 students delved into cutting-edge experimental courses on spatial representation, network analysis, and generative AI. Highlights included:

📍 INST608A: Mapping people and places using QGIS.
🔗 INST608C: Analyzing relationships with Neo4j.
🤖 INST608G: Exploring AI and LLMs with Google NotebookLM and OpenAI ChatGPT4.

These courses, hosted by the AICollaboratory, contributed to the Asheville Community Reparations Commission's historic $148K recommendation.

🗺️ Learn more about their impactful work and innovative techniques! Read More: https://ischool.umd.edu/news/umd-students-studying-archival-technology-ai-make-real-world-impact/

📚 Discover Jennifer Robertson's journey from history teacher to Director of Education at the National Cryptologic Museum! 🏛️ During the pandemic, Jennifer pivoted from the classroom to pursue her passion for history and education through the University of Maryland's MLIS program.

Learn how her dedication and resilience led to her dream job, where she now hosts engaging educational programs. Want to know more about her inspiring story and opportunities at the museum?

Follow the link to read the full article! 🔗 https://ischool.umd.edu/news/its-my-turn-from-school-teacher-to-director-of-education-at-the-national-cryptologic-museum/

We're thrilled to announce two esteemed professionals joining the iLEAD Council: Ovetta Sampson, Director of UX AI/ML at Google, and Kanitha Sar, Managing Director of Cybersecurity at Ernst & Young (EY). Their diverse expertise will enrich our educational, research, and philanthropic goals. 🌟

Ovetta Sampson excels in human-centered design, blending tech with equity and social justice. Kanitha Sar brings 20 years of cybersecurity experience, passionately advancing cyber maturity and mentoring women in tech.

Discover more about their impactful journeys and the future of INFO College. Follow the link to read more! ✨

🔗https://ischool.umd.edu/news/introducing-ileads-newest-members-2/

📚 Discover how carceral facility libraries are transforming lives with updated standards! These libraries support education, offer extensive resources, and ensure accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities.

Assistant Professor Victoria Van Hyning, from the University of Maryland's INFO College, played a key role in this important update. Learn how these standards aim to create inclusive and supportive environments, guided by the invaluable insights of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Follow the link to read more! 👉https://ischool.umd.edu/news/a-beacon-behind-bars-updated-standards-designed-to-increase-accessibility-of-carceral-libraries/

📚🔍 Discover the fascinating journey of Nancy Balz, who embraced early information retrieval systems in 1972 and pursued ongoing education to master modern librarianship.

Her dedication to library science, bolstered by the supportive UMD faculty, led her to excel in the Montgomery County public library system. Now, through a scholarship fund, she's empowering future library professionals to advance their skills and meet the challenges of today.

Dive into her inspiring story and learn how education shapes our community libraries! 🌟

Read more: https://ischool.umd.edu/news/committing-to-lifelong-learning-and-public-service/

📚✨ Honoring Gordon Conable’s legacy, the Conable Conference Scholarship celebrates intellectual freedom and mentoring in the library profession. This year, Etana Laing and Tif Sutherland are the proud recipients, chosen from the largest applicant pool in the scholarship's history.

Etana Laing, an MLIS student, highlights the importance of intellectual freedom amidst rising book bans and challenges. Tif Sutherland, President of the Maryland Library Association, emphasizes the role of libraries in fostering engaged and informed communities.

Discover more about their inspiring journeys and the Freedom to Read Foundation’s mission. Follow the link to read more: https://ischool.umd.edu/news/news-release-freedom-to-read-foundation-announces-2024-conable-conference-scholarship-recipients/

The INFO College has been in attendance at this year's 20204 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, California.

Here are a few candid pictures featuring:

-Keith Marzullo: INFO College Dean
-Nancy Murray: INFO Chief Development Officer
-Victoria Van Hyning: INFO Assistant Professor
-Mega Subramaniam: INFO Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty
-Aaron Wilson: Government Documents Coordinator (UMD)
-INFO Graduate Award Winner, Antariksa Akhmadi: Laurence B. Heilprin Award

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Event duration: June 27 – July 2, 2024
Scenes: Happy Hour with iSchool Deans & INFO Alumni Reception, June 29th.

More information: https://2024.alaannual.org/

American Library Association

📢 Exciting News! 📢 Tamara Clegg has been appointed director of the University of Maryland's Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing (I4C), starting July 1, 2024.

As an advocate for inclusive education and a leader in STEM, her work will further I4C’s mission to diversify the tech sector and support underrepresented groups.

Learn about her impactful journey, innovative research, and how I4C is shaping the future of computing for over 2,200 UMD students and 2,500 K-12 learners.

👉 Read more here: https://ischool.umd.edu/news/tamara-clegg-named-director-of-umds-iribe-initiative-for-inclusion-and-diversity-in-computing/

🔎 On May 1, 2024, the Center for Archival Futures (CAFe) hosted public historian Krista McCracken and historian Skylee-Storm Hogan-Stacey to discuss decolonial archival practices.

Drawing from their book “Decolonial Archival Futures,” they emphasized how these practices aim to rectify the inequities rooted in settler colonialism. They highlighted the importance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Indigenous-led stewardship of historical materials.

Learn more about their insights and watch the full presentation here: https://brnw.ch/21wKKdK

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Hey Terps! Discover all the amazing resources and student organizations available for those who identify as LGBTQ+ at . Connect, support, and celebrate your community with pride!

Check out more info here: https://lgbtq.umd.edu/student-groups

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LGBTQ+ Student Discussion Groups &… | LGBTQ+ Equity Center Active Student Discussion Groups (Last updated Summer 2024) Notes on student discussion groups Most discussion groups are a part of the larger LGBTQ+ student organization on campus, Pride Alliance Nice Jewish Qu**rs (NJQ) is a part of Hamsa All groups are open to newcomers and those questioning…

🔍 Curious about how team effectiveness is studied and improved?

On May 17, 2024, UMD’s OTTRS hosted a virtual presentation by Nancy J. Cooke, an expert in Human Systems Engineering from ASU. For over 30 years, Cooke has explored how teams think and work together, using innovative methods like synthetic task environments and popular games like Minecraft to create realistic scenarios for study.

Learn about her groundbreaking theory of Interactive Team Cognition and why team interactions are crucial to success. Watch the presentation recording here. 📺

🔗https://brnw.ch/21wKGPA

🚨 Big News from College Park! 🚨

The University of Maryland College of Information Studies is now the College of Information (INFO), effective on June 1, 2024. This change highlights our dedication to pioneering research and education in fields like data science, cybersecurity, AI, human-computer interaction, and more. Dean Keith Marzullo emphasizes that INFO is a dynamic hub for advancing social good through technology and information.

Discover more about this exciting transformation and our mission: https://brnw.ch/21wKCpH 🔗

INFO College faculty including Dean Keith Marzullo (4th from left) attended a review and planning summit for the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) on June 5th in the Iribe Center.

📢 On May 7, 2024, ’s Social Data Science Center ( ) hosted a thought-provoking symposium as part of its SoDa Seed Grant Award series. The final session, "Do County Demographics Shape Exposure to Cyber Harm?", explored how socio-economic factors influence the vulnerability of local government networks.

Moderated by INFO Professor Wayne Lutters, the discussion featured experts like Charles Harry and William Lucyshyn from UMD’s GoTech, and Netta Squires from Maryland's Local Cybersecurity.

Discover insights on cybersecurity, federal funding, and critical infrastructure. Watch the full video here!

🔗View more: https://brnw.ch/21wKvzp

The landscape of athletics is constantly evolving, especially with data analytics playing a key role. During the Dean’s Lecture Series, ’s College of Information Studies (INFO) hosted a panel on the game-changing unification of sports and data.

Experts discussed how information technology is revolutionizing coaching, play-by-play decisions, and revenue. INFO Professor Tammy Clegg emphasized that athletic data is transforming sports. Panelists included Eli Logan Dross, Damon Evans, Ben Hoffman, Erianne Weight, Chad Wells, and Derek Willis.

Maryland Terrapins 🐢

Watch the full event now: https://brnw.ch/21wKt6F

Calling all Big Ten alumni & friends! Show your pride & support at the Capital Pride Festival! ️‍ Volunteer at our booth (June 8th, 9 AM - 7:30 PM) for a fun-filled day of entertainment, food & advocacy!

Limited spots- Sign up by June 6th: https://brnw.ch/21wKr0j

Capital Pride Festival:… | University of Maryland Alumni Association Fearlessly Forward

From humble beginnings to global impact, Kevin Beverly's journey showcases the power of information and education.

Raised on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he leveraged his UMD INFO MLS degree to lead initiatives in public health, technology, and international development. Beverly’s career, from NIH to spearheading groundbreaking AIDS research in Africa, is a testament to the transformative potential of information management.

Discover how he continues to invest in the next generation and why he believes an information degree can open countless doors.

Read more: https://brnw.ch/21wKqys

A couple of pictures from the recent opening reception of the InfoDesign Gallery!

This is a showcase recognizing the inaugural graduating cohort of students from the Bachelor or Arts in Technology and Information Design (InfoDesign) program.

Among those pictured are INFO's Ron Padrón (Director of Undergraduate Operations) & Tammy Clegg (Associate Professor & Program Director of the BA in Tech & Info Design).

Ready to visit? This exhibit is open for viewing through June 28th. We hope to see you there!

🔍 Curious about the latest AI advancements? Professor Jen Golbeck from the University of Maryland College of Information Studies (INFO) spoke with CNN about the new AI computers for Windows.

These devices feature "Recall," an AI tool that lets users access anything ever displayed on their screens. While customizable, there are rising concerns about user privacy and data security. Golbeck highlights risks for vulnerable individuals and potential exploitation by hackers.

🛡️ How secure is your data? Learn more about the implications of this technology. 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wKoDn

🎓✨ Proud Moment for the UW iSchool! ✨🎓

We're thrilled to announce that Eun Kyoung Choe, Ph.D. '14, is the recipient of the 2024 UW Distinguished Alumni Award! Dr. Choe, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s INFO College, has significantly advanced human-computer interaction and health informatics, making health tech more accessible to marginalized populations.

Learn more about her groundbreaking work and inspiring journey. 👉 Read more: https://brnw.ch/21wKk8w

In a recent Jeopardy Masters episode, Ken Jennings and contestant Yogesh Raut discussed an created by professor Jordan Boyd-Graber and his students. Boyd-Graber, an expert in machine learning and INFO affiliate, designed the AI for quiz bowl challenges. Curious about the outcome?

Watch the intriguing exchange here! https://brnw.ch/21wKhIC

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Gone are the days of waiting in long lines at government offices! Yet, many still struggle with accessing online services.

The University of Maryland College of Information Studies (INFO) and the UMD Extension’s Marylanders Online initiative are here to help. They've launched free eGovernment courses to aid Maryland residents in using digital platforms for services like SNAP benefits and workforce development.

Learn how this innovative curriculum can bridge the digital divide and empower you. Explore more here: https://brnw.ch/21wKfyo