Latest News
Spring 2024 SILS Commencement
May 2, 2024
About the Event May 10, 2024 | 7:00-8:30 p.m. Memorial Hall, UNC Chapel Hill This is a ticketed event. You must have a ticket from a graduating student to attend. Watch Online The event will be live-streamed on YouTube and the recording will b…Read moreBeyond the AI Hype
April 30, 2024
Over the past year or so, conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) have ranged from doomsday prophecies to predictions of a miraculous new way of working. Mohammad Hossein Jarrahi is somewhat frustrated with both. He has spent his career rese…Read more Information Interaction and RetrievalMaster of Science in Information Science (MSIS)
Media and January 6th
April 24, 2024
Recap & Highlights by Felicity Gancedo and Katherine Furl On April 12, the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life hosted an event entitled Media and January 6th. Many contributors and co-editors of the Media and January 6th volume ga…Read moreRising Star: Xavier Nonez
April 22, 2024
Xavier Nonez (’21) was born and raised in Durham. He grew up playing almost every sport except baseball. Through sports, he developed a passion for teamwork. Nonez hadn’t spent much time outside North Carolina before he graduated from high school, so…Read moreMinor in Information Systems
Rising Star: Alena Manjuck
April 16, 2024
Alena (Principato) Manjuck (MSLS ’17) has loved libraries since childhood. As a library page in her teen years, she realized that working in a library could be a career—and her path was set. Her interest in working in libraries took her first to Lafa…Read moreMaster of Science in Library Science (MSLS)
Moore Making the Most of SILS Education
April 8, 2024
Receiving the SILS Distinguished Alumni Award might seem like a suitable capstone to Anne Cooper Moore’s 40-year library career. After all, she retired from her position as dean of the J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte in December 2023. She s…Read moreMaster of Science in Library Science (MSLS)
Advocates for Inclusion
April 1, 2024
In front of the library entrance at Riverside High School hangs school media coordinator Jenna Wine’s SILS Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Advocate Certificate. Surrounding it are posters that say “This is a safe space” and “Al…Read moreCelebrating Casey Rawson
March 18, 2024
Music plays over the classroom speakers as students enter Casey Rawson’s classroom. Dr. Rawson asks students to send her songs that make them happy at the beginning of the semester, then uses the playlist before the class and during breaks or indepen…Read moreEmerging Library Leader
March 7, 2024
Imagine a vibrant hub where a library seamlessly merges with a community and social services center. Picture a father attending a story time with his child while consulting with a social worker about elder care for his parents. Envision an unhoused t…Read moreDoctor of Philosophy in Information and Library Sciences
Working to Bridge the STEM Gender Gap
February 29, 2024
Technology has been an integral part of Julia Crume’s life from an early age. She grew up playing video games with an older brother who also had a passion for tech and building his own computers. In high school, she attended Mooresville Public High a…Read moreBachelor of Science in Information Science (BSIS)
New Associate Dean of Development
December 11, 2023
Please join us in a warm welcome to Ty Cole. Ty started his new role as Associate Dean of Development at the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) in October 2023. Ty comes to UNC from Penn State University, where he served in three progre…Read moreHail! (But not farewell)
November 30, 2023
Becoming a dean wasn’t in Gary Marchionini’s career plan. A renowned expert in human-information interaction, interface design and testing, and digital libraries, Gary’s primary passions have always centered around writing and teaching. In 2010, howe…Read moreSILS welcomes five new faculty members
May 24, 2023
The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science (SILS) welcomes five new faculty with appointments beginning July 1. Alexandra Chassanoff, William Payne and Joseph Winberry bring expertise in archives and digital curation, inclusive mus…Read moreLouis Rosenfeld to Deliver 2023 SILS Departmental Commencement Address
May 5, 2023
Information architect, author, and publisher Louis Rosenfeld will deliver the 2023 SILS Departmental Commencement keynote address on May 11 in the Dean E. Smith Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. About Rosenfeld Rosenf…Read moreSILS Associate Professor Lukasz Mazur Awarded 2023 IISE Fellow Award
April 6, 2023
In March, Lukasz Mazur, an associate professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science and the UNC School of Medicine, was awarded the 2023 IISE Fellow Award. The Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE), which distributes…Read moreAmy Vincent: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week
April 6, 2023
Amy Vincent is a Master of Science in Library Science major at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS). Vincent’s previous background teaching elementary school brought her to SILS, where she is pursuing her passion to become a Schoo…Read moreMaster of Science in Library Science (MSLS), Masters
Aashka Dave: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week Feature
April 5, 2023
Aashka Dave is pursuing her Ph.D. in Information and Library Science at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS). At SILS, Dave currently conducts research to study how people find information on politically divisive topics. She is al…Read moreDoctor of Philosophy in Information and Library Sciences, Doctoral
Drew Robinson: 2023 Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week Feature
April 4, 2023
Drew Robinson is a Master of Science in Information Science major at the UNC School of Information and Library Science. As an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Robinson received a minor in information science wh…Read moreMaster of Science in Information Science (MSIS), Masters
Donna Nixon (MSLS ‘01) Named 2023 SILS Distinguished Alum
April 3, 2023
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) presented the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award to Donna Nixon (MSLS ‘01) on April 1 during the 2023 SILS Dean’s Luncheon. Established in 1981, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni wh…Read moreJulie Stivers (MSLS’15) named Library Journal “Mover & Shaker”
March 19, 2023
Julie Stivers (MSLS’15), alumna of the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and current librarian at Mount Vernon Middle School in Wake County, N.C., has been named a 2019 “Mover & Shaker” by Library Journal. Click here to read th…Read more Equity and InclusionSILS Congratulates December 2022 Graduates
December 19, 2022
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) extends its congratulations to the SILS students that graduated in December 2022. During the University’s winter commencement ceremony, which was held in the Dean E. Smith Center on December 11…Read moreUpcoming Virtual Talk: Designing and Building Tools for Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Civic Decision-Making
November 7, 2022
Designing and Building Tools for Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Civic Decision-Making Narges Mahyar and Ali Sarvghad UMass Amherst Hosted by SILS McColl Term Professor David Gotz When: Monday November 14, 10am-11am Location: Via Zoom @ https://unc…Read moreJoin the SILS Alumni Network on HeelsEngage
November 7, 2022
Over the next few months, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be rolling out a new networking and career development platform called HeelsEngage. The UNC School of Information and Library Science welcomes all SILS alums to join the U…Read moreDoctoral Student Lan Li Accepted to AIS Entrepreneurial Innovation Fellowship Program
November 7, 2022
UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) third-year doctoral student Lan Li has been accepted into the Association for Information Systems (AIS) Entrepreneurial Innovation Fellowship Program. AIS’s mission is to serve society through the…Read moreAlum Jim Curry (MSLS ‘18) Named Arkansas Library Association Rising Star of the Year
November 4, 2022
SILS alum Jim Curry (MSLS ‘18) received the Rising Star of the Year Award from the Arkansas Library Association (ArLA) during the organization’s annual conference in October. This award recognizes a library worker with fewer than 5 years of experienc…Read moreMSLS Student Yee Wing Chan Awarded MLA Diversity Scholarship Award
November 4, 2022
Yee Wing Chan, a Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) student at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) was awarded the Music Library Association’s (MLA) 2022-23 Diversity Scholarship. MLA is the professional association for…Read moreJoin Triangle UXPA and SILS for World Usability Day 2022
October 27, 2022
Join the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and Triangle UXPA for the 2022 Triangle UXPA World Usability Day celebration on November 10th at 6 p.m. at the Carolina Club at UNC – Chapel Hill for networking, dinner, and two speaking s…Read moreAlum Julie Stivers (MSLS ‘15) Named North Carolina Library Media Coordinator of the Year by North Carolina School Library Media Association
October 24, 2022
SILS alum Julie Stivers (MSLS ‘15) received the Media Coordinator of the Year Award by the North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA). The award is presented annually to a media coordinator, or team of media coordinators at one school,…Read moreSILS Associate Professor Melanie Feinberg Publishes New Book “Everyday Adventures with Unruly Data”
October 11, 2022
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) Associate Professor Melanie Feinberg published her new book, Everyday Adventures with Unruly Data, on October 11 through MIT Press. The book comprises a set of essays that explicate and interro…Read moreSILS Professor, CHIP Director Javed Mostafa Awarded Grants to Lead Research Projects on Improving Maternal Health and Veteran Cancer Treatment
October 4, 2022
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) Professor Javed Mostafa has been awarded grants from National Institute of Health (NIH) and The Duke Endowment to conduct two research projects centered on improving maternal health informatics…Read moreCongratulations grads: Recognizing SILS December 2021 graduates
December 21, 2021
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) extends its congratulations to the SILS students that graduated in December 2021. “On behalf of the SILS faculty, staff, and alumni, I extend my congratulations to all our December 2021 graduat…Read moreEquity in the Making Research Lab developing virtual reality makerspace
December 20, 2021
The Equity in the Making (EITM) Lab, a research lab within the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), is working to develop a virtual reality (VR) makerspace lab. Led by Maggie Melo, an assistant professor at SILS, the EITM Lab conduct…Read moreCITAP to co-host conference on “The Capitol Coup One Year Later,” SILS Professor Francesca Tripodi named a keynote speaker
December 17, 2021
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center for Information, Technology and Public Life (CITAP) and George Washington University’s Institute for Data Democracy & Politics (IDDP) announced they will co-host a two-day conference titled…Read moreDavid Gotz named McColl Term Professor, promoted to full professorship
November 1, 2021
David Gotz, associate professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), has been appointed to serve as the next Frances Carroll McColl Term Professor through July 2023. Additionally, Gotz has been promoted to full professor at SI…Read moreFrancesca Tripodi, co-researchers receive $750k NSF grant for research project on misinformation
October 29, 2021
False news is everywhere, and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is exploring ways to help people sort through the swarm of bad information. Francesca Tripodi, an assistant professor at the UNC School of Information and Li…Read moreRegister now for the Symposium on AI and Knowledge Work
August 30, 2021
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) is hosting a year-long examination of how technological developments and social upheavals, including those ushered by the COVID-19 pandemic, will sh…Read moreNext SILS faculty ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Friday
August 26, 2021
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) is hosting a series of faculty Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions. The next event on Friday, Aug. 27, will feature SILS Associate Professor Jaime Arguel…Read moreFirst SILS faculty ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Friday
August 19, 2021
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) is hosting a series of faculty Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, starting Friday, Aug. 20. The first event will feature SILS Alumni Distinguished Prof…Read moreFall welcome message from Dean Gary Marchionini
August 18, 2021
Gary Marchionini, Dean and Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), sent the following message to SILS students, faculty, and staff on August 18, the first day of classes for the fall 2021…Read moreTressie McMillan Cottom pens cover story for Vanity Fair
August 6, 2021
Tressie McMillan Cottom, Associate Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), spent part of her summer interviewing musician and mogul Sean Combs and writing an expansive profile of “the original influencer,” which became…Read moreAmelia Gibson completes Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholars program
December 19, 2020
Amelia Gibson, Assistant Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), graduate from the Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholars (FES) program in a virtual ceremony hosted by the Carolina Center of Public Service on Dec. 11, 2020. Gib…Read moreSILS Distinguished Alumna Irene Owens establishes fund for diversity and global programs
December 15, 2020
SILS Distinguished Alumna Irene Owens (PhD ’95) has created a fund to support new students of color and those interested in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS). The fund will make it…Read more Equity and InclusionDavid Gotz and collaborators chronicle the rapid deployment of COVID-19 dashboard in JAMIA
December 11, 2020
David Gotz, Associate Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and Assistant Director of the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP)(link is external), teamed with two other University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill…Read more Health InformaticsJaved Mostafa finishing term as JASIST editor
December 11, 2020
Javed Mostafa, Professor and Director of the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP), will complete his five-year term as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology (JASIST) in January 2021. Mostafa br…Read more Health InformaticsMaggie Melo co-authors book on cultivating inclusive, equitable makerspaces
November 13, 2020
Maggie Melo, Assistant Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), and Jennifer Nichols, Digital Scholarship Librarian at the University of Arizona, have co-authored a new collection that captures how librarians and educato…Read moreSILS professors offer election analyses in national publications
November 11, 2020
Tressie McMillan Cottom, Zeynep Tufekci, and Francesca Tripodi, faculty members at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and researchers with the Center for Information, Techology, and Public Life (CITAP), recently wrote columns fo…Read moreSILS Faculty and Students at ASIS&T
October 20, 2020
Faculty and students from the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) will be part of several workshops and presentations at the ASIS&T Virtual Annual Meeting, starting Thursday, Oct. 22. Ryan Shaw, SILS Associate Professor Conceptua…Read moreSILS researchers collaborate on multi-university project to improve neuroscience data sharing
October 8, 2020
Given the significant time and resources needed for most neuroimaging research, scientists in the field could greatly benefit from reusing data collected by other scientists. Unfortunately, current databases are disconnected, incomplete, and often di…Read moreTressie McMillan Cottom named 2020 MacArthur Fellow
October 6, 2020
Tressie McMillan Cottom, Associate Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), has been named a fellow in the MacArthur Foundation’s Class of 2020. MacArthur Fellows are selected for their “extraordinary originality…Read moreSILS team led by Brian Sturm will use $150K IMLS grant to help transform LIS youth services education
October 2, 2020
Brian Sturm, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), has been awarded nearly $150,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to help facilitate a national conver…Read moreEdible Book Contest photo compilation
April 19, 2019
The SILS Library hosted its annual Edible Book Contest on April 12. Click on the Adobe Spark Page below (removed) or visit (link removed) for additional details and photos of the delectable creations from 2019, as well as some previous contests.…Read morePhD candidate Megan Threats selected for P.E.O. Scholar Award
April 10, 2019
Megan Threats, a doctoral candidate at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), is one of 150 doctoral students in the U.S. and Canada selected to receive a $15,000 P.E.O. Scholar Award for the 2019-20 academic year. She was sponsore…Read more Equity and Inclusion, Health InformaticsSILS reaches 150% of its #GiveUNC goal
April 10, 2019
In its first year of participation, the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) blew past its goal of 40 donors during the #GiveUNC event on April 9. More than 60 SILS alumni and friends contributed, unlocking an $8,000 challenge gift to…Read moreMSLS student Jordan Wrigley awarded MLA scholarship
April 9, 2019
Jordan Wrigley, a second-year Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) student at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Medical Library Association (MLA). She will accept the award…Read more Health InformaticsMaster of Science in Library Science (MSLS)
Zeynep Tufekci: “Machines Shouldn’t Have to Spy On Us to Learn”
April 2, 2019
In her most recent column in Wired, UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) Associate Professor Zeynep Tufekci discussed the need to stop excessive data collection practices for machine learning (ML), and to develop privacy-preserving ML…Read moreSILS at iConference 2019
March 30, 2019
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) will be well represented at the 2019 iConference in Washington, D.C. Monday, April 1 1:30pm-3:00pm – “Automating Documentation: A Critical Perspective into the Role of Artificial Intelligence i…Read moreWei Gao (MSIS ’01), VP at Amazon, selected for National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Women in Tech
March 28, 2019
Wei Gao (MSIS ’01), alumna of the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and Vice President, Technical Advisor to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, has been named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Counci…Read moreNSF Cyber Carpentry Workshop application deadline extended to April 15
March 27, 2019
The application deadline for the NSF Cyber Carpentry Workshop: Data Lifecycle Training has been extended to April 15, 2019. The workshop will take place July 15-26, 2019 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Travel and accommodations wi…Read moreMary Grace Flaherty receives fellowship from MLA to study health information use
March 26, 2019
UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) Assistant Professor Mary Grace Flaherty has received a Lindberg Research Fellowship from the Medical Library Association (MLA) to study how information use affects timely diagnosis and health servi…Read more Health InformaticsAlumna author Mélina Mangal to discuss her new picture book at SILS Library
March 21, 2019
Author, school librarian, and UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) alumna Mélina Mangal (MSLS ’94) is visiting Chapel Hill in early April to share her new book, The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just. She will rea…Read more