Kent State University School of Information

Congratulations to Heather Soyka, who has earned tenure and promotion to associate professor!

Congratulations to these CCI faculty members who have earned promotions 🎉 Send them your congrats in the comments!
⚡️ Luke Armour, ➡️ senior lecturer (MDJ)
⚡️ Becky Rolnick, ➡️ associate professor (MDJ)
⚡️ Heather Soyka, tenured ➡️ associate professor (iSchool)
⚡️ Dana White, tenured ➡️ associate professor (MDJ)

Associate Professor Rebecca Meehan will be speaking at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society HIMSS24 Conference in Orlando. This event runs March 11-15. If you're interested in pursuing an exciting new career in Health Informatics one of her speaking sessions will be on "Preparing the Workforce for Digital Transformation."

📢 We have exciting news to share! 🏆The winner of the 2024 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction is BEA AND THE NEW DEAL HORSE by L.M. Elliott, published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Set during the Great Depression, this poignant tale celebrates the resilience of the American spirit and the enchanting bond between a young girl and her remarkable horse.

According to Maria Trivisonno, Chair of the 2024 Committee and Family Engagement Specialist for Cuyahoga County Public Library, "the reader cannot help but root for Bea to successfully overcome the hardships she faces during this tumultuous time in American history." The committee appreciated not only the accessibility of the story to middle grade readers but also the depth of research done by L.M. Elliott to support the tale she created.

As a New York Times best-selling author, L.M. Elliot is renowned for her compelling historical fiction. BEA AND THE NEW DEAL HORSE is a testimony to Elliott's ability to bring captivating eras to life in her work. Upon hearing about her award, the author expressed, “I am thrilled...and am so very honored that BEA will be joining previous winning books that I have long admired."

Join us in congratulating L.M. Elliott on this well-deserved recognition and don't miss out on this remarkable read! 📖🏇

Excellent recognition for two of our faculty members:

⚡️ Professor Yin Zhang, Ph.D., was one of 33 Kent State University faculty members included in the 2% Lifetime Achievement List for most-cited scientists in the world
⚡️ Professor Marcia Zeng, Ph.D., was recognized among Kent State faculty whose single-year productivity put them in the top 2% of researchers for 2022

More here:

33 Kent State Faculty Members Named Among Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide | Kent State University 33 Kent State Faculty Members Named Among Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide | Kent State Today, Kent Campus, Department of Psychological Sciences University News, Research | Kent State's top-notch research and R1 status are showcased in a study.

Archival studies is a recognized strength of our MLIS graduate program and we've recently added it as an academic concentration. Plus we were ranked 12th in this specialty in 2021 by U.S. News & World Report!

Career doors that this degree can open for students include archivists, curators, museum technicians and conservators. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these careers are expected to grow 10% over the next ten years – much faster than average job growth across all fields.

You'll learn from our award-winning faculty, including Dr. Karen Gracy and Dr. Heather Soyka, and find a rewarding future in the archives. Learn more:

Archival Studies | Kent State University Archival Studies School of Information | Archivists are information professionals who assess, collect, organize, preserve, maintain control over, and provide access to records and archives determined to have long-term value. The records maintained by an archivist can consist of a variety of analog a...

Kent State University alumna Megan Cash is the designer behind the design Jason and Kylie Kelce selected for their family's holiday card! She earned her master's degree in User Experience in 2019. Read her story via The Canton Repository / CantonRep.com:

Stark County artist Megan Cash designs holiday card for Jason Kelce's family Jason & Kylie Kelce choose "Madras" design for their holiday card, created on Minted by Canton's own Megan Cash

Michael Bice created the Health Informatics program for Kent State University in 2010. We spoke recently about HI’s accreditation, the history behind it, and how technology, specifically AI, is shaping the future of healthcare.

Generative AI, Health Informatics and the Future: A Chat with Michael Bice | Kent State University Generative AI, Health Informatics and the Future: A Chat with Michael Bice | School of Information | Michael Bice served as a senior executive of academic medical centers and large healthcare systems for over 25 years. In 2008, when he was tapped by Kent State University's Provost, Robert Frank, to....

Congratulations are in order! Through the hard work of faculty and staff in the iSchool, we can now officially add "Accredited" to our Health Informatics master's degree description, making us one of only two schools in Ohio to receive this honor for our fully online program.

Health Informatics Program Awarded Accreditation | Kent State University Health Informatics Program Awarded Accreditation | School of Information | The School of Information (iSchool) at Kent State University is pleased to announce that they have been awarded Initial Accreditation for Seven Years to the Health Informatics Master's Degree program. On August 22, 2023 the C...

We are pleased to announce that Professor D**g Whi Yoo has joined us as Assistant Professor of User Experience. He is seen here with one of the dogs he walks as part of his volunteer work with a local shelter (who is also very pleased at Professor Yoo's arrival.) 😀

iSchool Welcomes New UX Faculty | Kent State University iSchool Welcomes New UX Faculty | School of Information | The School of Information and the College of Communication and Information are pleased to introduce the newest member of the iSchool faculty, D**g Whi Yoo, who assumes the role of Assistant Professor in User Experience. Professor Yoo joins us...

We're excited to host the Midwest KM Symposium this Friday. Will we see you there?

School of Information to Host 2023 Midwest Knowledge Management Symposium | Kent State University School of Information to Host 2023 Midwest Knowledge Management Symposium | School of Information | Returning to an in-person event after a three year virtual hiatus, the Midwest KM Symposium will be hosted Friday, June 16, 2023, at Kent State University's main campus.This year, the School of Inform...

Our alumnus, Brent Hicks, M.A. '19, is mentioned in the latest issue of Kent State Magazine — highlighting the many roles Kent State University graduates play at the Cleveland Clinic.

Hicks is an enterprise application architect responsible for leading healthcare IT teams focused on developing innovative technologies, and he was our alumnus of the year in 2020.

Read more: https://www.kent.edu/magazine/kent-state-works-cleveland-clinic

We're pleased to be hosting the Midwest Knowledge Management Symposium in less than a month, on Friday, June 16!

There's still time to register to hear from experts and discuss important topics related to knowledge management:

School of Information to Host 2023 Midwest Knowledge Management Symposium | Kent State University School of Information to Host 2023 Midwest Knowledge Management Symposium | School of Information | Returning to an in-person event after a three year virtual hiatus, the Midwest KM Symposium will be hosted Friday, June 16, 2023, at Kent State University's main campus.This year, the School of Inform...

Congratulations to our spring Class of 2023 graduates! 🎓⚡️

Congratulations to our faculty 🎊
⚡️Katie Campana, tenured and promoted to associate professor
⚡️Marianne Martens, promoted to full professor

Congratulations 🎉 to our faculty who have recently earned promotion and tenure:

Kent State University School of Communication Studies:
⚡️Cristin Compton, tenured ➡️ associate professor
⚡️Aaron Maguire, ➡️ senior lecturer
⚡️Ikram Toumi, ➡️ associate professor
⚡️Ginger Bihn-Coss, tenured ➡️ associate professor
Kent State University School of Information:
⚡️Katie Campana, tenured ➡️ associate professor
⚡️Marianne Martens, ➡️ full professor
Kent State University School of Visual Communication Design:
⚡️Jess Barness, ➡️ full professor
⚡️Jillian Coorey, ➡️ full professor
⚡️Jaime Kennedy, ➡️ full professor
Kent State School of Emerging Media and Technology:
⚡️Enrico Gandolfi, tenured ➡️ associate professor

Thanks to all who came out today for the 2023 Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth!

In honor of Graduate Student Appreciation week (and always!): We appreciate you!

Check out the activities happening this week, thanks to Kent State University-Graduate College and campus partners: https://www.kent.edu/graduatecollege/graduate-student-appreciation-week

Scholarship spotlight: Finn Schalk is a recipient of the Vanita Scholars in Youth Librarianship scholarship!

Finn graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with an undergraduate degree in English. They have worked in the Cuyahoga County Public Library system since 2016. They currently work in the Children’s department, facilitating programs and leading storytimes. They are enrolled in the dual degree program pursuing a Master of Education degree in Educational Technology and an Master of Library and Information Science with a School Library Media K-12 focus. After graduation, they hope to continue to work with children and teens, and move to a school library setting.

Learn more about Finn and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship spotlight: Shandra Myers is a recipient of the Vanita Scholars in Youth Librarianship scholarship.

Shandra writes: "I live in Bucyrus, Ohio, with my husband, daughter, son and dog. I have been employed as a children’s assistant librarian for the past 5 years with a wonderful library system in Mansfield, Ohio. I love working with children and designing programs and storytimes for them. I am particularly happy to work with low-income and homeless families to show them all the ways that the library can be a safe, friendly place to play or seek information. I truly believe that children’s librarians can change a child’s life. I am beginning my fourth semester here at Kent. Earning my M.L.I.S. degree will allow me to take on more responsibilities within the library so that I can become even more involved within my community. I am so appreciative of the Vanita Scholars in Youth Librarianship donors for awarding me with this scholarship, and I promise to put it to good use!"

Read more about our 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Nicole Clarkson is the Vanita Scholars in Youth Librarianship scholarship recipient!

She writes: "I started volunteering in my hometown library when I was 17. Around 21 years old, I began working for Cuyahoga County Public Library as a Page and became a Clerk Sub for the system three years later. In 2021, I graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in English and came right to Kent State’s iSchool for my M.L.I.S. For the Fall 2022 semester, I continued subbing for CCPL while also cataloging as a Student Worker for KSU’s Technical Services department. In 2023, I am set to be our ALA Student Chapter’s President. I also co-lead a writing group at the Willian N. Skirball Writers’ Center in South Euclid. I plan for my future to include Teen librarianship, disability advocacy, and Young Adult authorship."

Read more about Nicole and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: UXD student Hannah Smith is a recipient of the School of Information Director's Scholarship.

She writes: "In addition to my master’s studies, I work full-time as a motion graphics designer for a software company, while raising my three children. In 2017, I chose to resign my inflexible position in the field of geology to care for my newborn son. During this time as the primary caregiver, I decided to shift my career and pursue my longtime passion by getting a degree in art. While completing my illustration and design degree, I was introduced to the field of user experience (UX) design. I found that I could combine my background in science with my newly developed design skills to provide a solid foundation as a UX designer. My goal upon completing my degree, is to jumpstart my career in a new field to help better provide for my family."

Read more about Hannah and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Jessyca Berkley is the recipient of the School of Information Director's Scholarship!

She writes: "I am currently an online student, enrolled in the User Experience masters program. I got my undergrad in fine arts and have 10 years of experience in graphic design. I currently work as a product and visual designer at General Motors, where I do graphics and software testing for infotainment and digital clusters. GM is my absolute dream job, as we work to build an integrated and digital future. I chose to pursue my master's degree because I want to expand my horizons and embark on a path that takes me to the next level with user experience. The UX program at Kent State has been engaging and has really sparked my interest to learn and grow as a subscriber to the UX community. I’m truly grateful to the Director of the School of Information for the Director’s Scholarship and look forward to more engagement and learning."

Read more about Jessyca and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Kennedy McKain is the recipient of the Rose Vormelker Scholarship!

Kennedy is a student in the Kent State University Master’s program for Library and Information Science. She has a bachelor’s in violin performance, and currently works in arts management for The Cleveland Orchestra. Her many fond memories of libraries and museums growing up, as well as her experience in music library work as an adult, inspired her to pursue her masters with the KSU program. She looks forward to a future of working with specialized collections and incorporating her skills she’s learned in the M.L.I.S. program in her arts work in the future.

Read more about Kennedy and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

We are looking forward to the 2023 Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth, scheduled for April 28!

This year's featured guests include Cecily Truett and Larry Lancit, the Emmy-Award winning creators, writer, director and producers of Reading Rainbow; Jaime Adoff, award-winning author and poet and son of Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff; and more!

To sign up: https://www.kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconference

Scholarship Spotlight: Brittany Cole is the recipient of the Priscilla Drach Children's Librarianship Scholarship.

Having become an avid reader and library patron at a young age, she considers books to be her life force. In high school, she acquired her first job as a shelver at the Chardon Public Library, where she worked until moving to Kent to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English and minor in writing, graduating summa cm laude and with University Honors. After realizing her passion for community empowerment, she became a student in the Library and Information Science graduate program at her alma mater Kent State University. Currently, she works full-time in the Youth Services department at Reed Memorial Library creating programs and developing services for children and teens. Her hobbies include reading, writing, yoga, photography and her newest interest, crocheting.

Learn more about Brittany and our other 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Josie Cotton is the recipient of the Petta and Ron Khouw Scholarship!

Josie lives in the Cleveland area and works as a Library Assistant at Case Western Reserve University. She plans to finish her M.L.I.S. degree during the summer 2023 semester. She also has a bachelor's degree in history from the College of Wooster. Her goal is to become a librarian at an academic library, and her main interests are reference services, accessibility and assessment. In her free time, she enjoys listening to historical fiction audiobooks, traveling, and going on walks with her dog.

Read more about our 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Odessa Jackson is the recipient of the Mary T. Kim Scholarship.

Odessa entered her undergrad career bright-eyed and full of dreams of becoming a librarian one day. Shockingly, she was lured away from library sciences by English professors driving her to follow in the footsteps of academia and reading books about very serious people. Confused, Odessa graduated unsure of what to do. After almost a decade at a veterinarian office, Odessa realized that it was library sciences that she wanted. She put away a litter of kittens and promised to begin fostering after she had graduated. Odessa was especially interested in research, information needs and comic books. She wanted to ensure that libraries met the needs of disabled patrons who had for too long been left out of the conversation on information needs, seeking and use. She also really likes comic books and believes that more people should read them. Odessa currently lives in Kent, Ohio with her two cats: Bruce (pictured) and James.

Read more about the 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Maraya Wahl is the recipient of the Marian Porter Huffman Scholarship!

She writes: "I am studying Kent's Library Science and Business Administration graduate program. In 2018, I graduated from Wilmington College with a Bachelor's in Business Management and Political Science and a Spanish minor. I pursued various work positions, travel opportunities and learning experiences in the four years post-undergrad. I held positions as a barista and live-music organizer at the start-up Kairos Coffee; as the Women's Department Coordinator at T.J.Maxx; and as a team member of the Quaker Scenic Byway project at my alma mater's Quaker Heritage Center. I consider myself a traveler, most recently to Morocco and Spain in 2018 with the International Model Arab League and Plan My Gap Year, both academic and volunteering purposes. Post-COVID, travel has been limited to personal visits throughout the United States, but I seek further academic and volunteer-based travel. I look forward to opportunities this financial gift may grant me.

Read more about Maraya and our other 2022-23 Scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Christina Stowers is the recipient of the Marian Porter Huffman Scholarship.

She has worked in the school setting for over two decades as an elementary classroom teacher, ELL teacher, and professional learning coach. She currently works at an international school in Asia that uses an American curriculum and this is her eighteenth year abroad. She loves the courses at Kent State because of how practical and relevant they are to her current job as a Library Media Specialist.

Learn more about Christina and our 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients

Scholarship Spotlight: Tracie Pickett is the winner of the Marian Porter Huffman Scholarship!

A student our M.L.I.S. program, Tracie is following the Information Access and Discovery pathway and plans to graduate in 2024. Tracie is a native of Akron, Ohio, where she attended Akron Early-College High School and graduated from the University of Akron in 2015 with her high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree of Arts. She graduated from Kent State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and double-majored in Pan-African Studies (now Africana Studies) and Sociology. Tracie has worked in various public libraries and a law library in Northeast Ohio, and an academic library in Western Michigan. She now lives in Akron and works as a library associate in Adult Services at a public library. She plans to pursue another graduate degree in Africana Studies to one day become an Africana studies librarian at an academic institution.

Read more about our 2022-23 scholarship recipients here: https://www.kent.edu/ischool/news/ischool-announces-scholarship-recipients