Faculty Highlights

2021 ASIS&T OUTSTANDING INFORMATION SCIENCE TEACHER AWARD

Associate Professor Colin Rhinesmith was named the 2021 winner of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award. Rhinesmith was recognized for his dedication to his students and his creation of a safe classroom environment, vital for the challenging discussions at the core of Social Informatics. Supporters praised his willingness to alter the course to meet the needs of his students and his respect for student experience and input in class discussions.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARCHIVISTS

Associate Professor and Director of the Archives Concentration

and Archive Certificate Katherine Wisser was selected a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA). This distinction is SAA’s highest honor, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the archives profession. In addition to the leadership positions she has held within SAA, Wisser has written, presented, and taught updated archival standards, thus promoting widespread application.

ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION AWARD

Associate Professor Kyong Eun Oh has received an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation award for her project, “Collaborative Research Information Management in Cloud-Based Repositories.” The $43,916 Virtual Collaboration will research the most effective ways for researchers to manage files in collaborative projects.

FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

DAVIS EDUCATION FOUNDATION POST-PANDEMIC INNOVATIVE TEACHING AWARD

Associate Professor Lisa Hussey was selected as one of ten winners of the “Silver Lining Award” by the Simmons University Center for Faculty Excellence, as recognition of post-pandemic innovation in teaching. Hussey developed a “flipped classroom” approach to provide students with opportunities for engagement beyond a discussion forum. As an awardee, Hussey will receive a stipend and will participate in cohort opportunities to share the awardees’ innovations with the rest of the campus community.

2021 SIMMONS UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AWARD

Professor Rong Tang received the 2021 University Research Award. Tang’s research has gained an international reputation, as has her consistent publication of peer-reviewed articles and her dedication to mentoring students. The award was presented at Convocation on September 1, 2021.

IMLS GRANT TO STUDY BROADBAND ACCESS IN TRIBAL LIBRARIES

Associate Professor and Community Informatics Lab Director

Colin Rhinesmith was awarded a $517,078 grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to study digital inclusion and broadband access in tribal libraries, in partnership with the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM). Rhinesmith is working with School of Library and Information Science student Malana Krongelb ’22MS, a graduate research assistant working in the CI Lab. Krongelb co-wrote the IMLS grant proposal with Rhinesmith, ATALM President/CEO Susan Feller, and Director of Programs Melissa Brodt.

FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

IREX GRANT TO ESTABLISH DATA CENTER AT UNIVERSITY IN IRAQ

Professor and Dean Emerita Michele Cloonan received a grant in the amount of $73,193 from the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and the U.S. Department of State to assist Tikrit University in Iraq with establishing a data center. Cloonan will work with the Director of Institutional Research Lan Gao, Associate Provost for Planning, Assessment, Accreditation Richard Voos, and students to be hired as research assistants.

NEXT GENERATION INTERNET EXPLORERS GRANT

Assistant Professor Catherine Dumas and her colleague Lukasz Porwol (National University of Ireland Galway) were awarded a Next Generation Internet Explorers grant for $17,658, funded by the European Union. Their project, “Artificial Intelligence & Virtual Reality as the driver of the next-generation online communication,” was conducted in the SLIS XR@Simmons Lab.

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTES

Associate Professor Naresh Agarwal delivered a lecture, “Knowledge Management for Research Support in University Libraries,” at an International webinar on Research Support in University Libraries: Services, Resources and Best Practices in January. Agarwal has also been nominated for the 2020 Global North East Indian Award, in the category “NorthEast Young Heroes Awards: Recognizing Greatness.”

Professor and SLIS Director Sanda Erdelez virtually presented a keynote at the Annual Conference of the Taiwan Library Association on November 25 and at the Western Balkans Information & Media Literacy Conference in Bihac, Bosnia & Herzegovina, December 9-10.