Samantha Smith joined the iSchool on October 2 as an office manager with the business and finance team. In this role, she will assist with purchases, financial transactions, and financial administrative maintenance.

Matt Archer has joined the iSchool as coordinator of academic and student affairs. In his new role, he will support the social and academic development of students in the PhD degree program.

The iSchool is expanding rapidly, adding programs, faculty, and students. In the past four years, student enrollment and the number of faculty have nearly doubled. A new partnership created by Dean Eunice E. Santos, the iSchool Dean's Innovation Council (iDIC), provides an opportunity for leaders to engage with and benefit the School as it continues to grow.

Suzan Alteri joined the iSchool this month as assistant director of the Center for Children's Books (CCB). In her new position, she will foster cross-campus and community collaborations around youth media and literature, teach courses on children's literature, and manage the day-to-day operations of the CCB.

Patrick Martinez joined the iSchool this month as an endpoint services specialist. In his new position, he will work closely with faculty and staff to assist with their IT issues, needs, and concerns.

On September 15, 1963, four little girls had their lives cut short in a bomb blast at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This tragic event, which drew international attention to the civil rights movement in the U.S., is a pivotal moment in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, the Newbery Honor-winning book by children's author Christopher Paul Curtis. Next week, several organizations, including the iSchool's Center for Children's Books (CCB), are partnering on events for young people in Birmingham to mark the 60th anniversary of the bombing.

Former students, colleagues, and friends will gather to celebrate Professor Emerita Linda C. Smith's contributions to the field of LIS at a virtual symposium on Thursday, September 28, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.

Seventeen iSchool master's students have been named 2023-2024 Spectrum Scholars by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services. Since 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program has promoted diversity among graduate-level students pursuing degrees in library and information studies through ALA-accredited programs.

Shirley Meyers joined the iSchool in July as grants and contracts coordinator. In her position, she will perform pre- and post-award administrative functions related to sponsored research projects.

Joey Kennedy joined the iSchool in July as senior IT specialist. In this position, he will supervise the Help Desk graduate assistants and provide course and general IT support for the School.