SILS remembers Evelyn Daniel

Evelyn H. Daniel, PhD, Dean and Professor Emerita of the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), passed away on November 24, 2019. Click here to read her obituary.

Photo of Evelyn Daniel — Dr. Evelyn Daniel at the SILS 75th anniversary celebration in 2007.

SILS Dean Gary Marchionini shared the following message with friends and colleagues who knew Dr. Daniel or were familiar with her contributions to the field:

“We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Evelyn Daniel. Evelyn was a significant leader in the field of information and library science, rising through the ranks at Syracuse University from 1976 to 1985 and serving as Dean from 1982-85. She arrived at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1985 and served as dean until 1990, transforming SILS into the precursor to an iSchool.

Under her leadership the School’s curriculum and research broadened significantly, symbolized by a change in name from the School of Library Science to the School of Information and Library Science and by the addition of two new degrees.

Since 1998 she also was an online instructor at the University of Illinois and was the catalyst for online courses at UNC-Chapel Hill. She continued teaching and inspiring students and her colleagues until her passing on November 24. She was a remarkable scholar, adding significant models for faculty governance and information leadership. She was passionate about educating students, always engaging with faculty on numerous scholarly topics and devoting many hours to School governance issues.

For her exceptional ability as an educator, Daniel received the “SILS Award for Teaching Excellence” in 1999 and again in 2009. She was the recipient of the ALISE Service Award in 2000 and was given the “Edward G. Holley for the Good of the Order” award during the 2010 spring commencement ceremony.

Evelyn was a passionate learner and reader and a fierce champion for libraries. She served on the Library Boards of the Chapel Hill Public Library and the Orange County Public Libraries. Her enthusiasm, optimism, and glowing smile inspired countless lives and she will be sorely missed in our field and in our school.”