Lili Luo

What was your educational and professional background before coming to SILS?

I had a masters in information management from Peking University in China.

How has your career progressed since you graduated SILS?

I started as a lecturer at School of Information at San Jose State University, and then moved on to a tenure-track position, and now I have obtained tenure and moved up to associate professor, and will soon apply for full professorship.

In your current employment, what are your job duties and responsibilities?

I teach, do research, and provide service to the university and the professional field.

What projects have gotten you most excited and/or what accomplishments have made you the proudest?

When I was still an assistant professor, I received the early career research grant from IMLS to study how text messaging based reference services worked. It was a great experience leading a federally funded research project, which truly helped me grow as a scholar.

What were some of your best experiences at SILS??

I enjoyed the collegial environment at SILS, which was encouraging and supportive. I learned a lot from my professors.

How did your time at SILS prepare you for the future?

The PhD program at SILS prepared me to be a confident and competent researcher and teacher. The courses I took, the research projects I worked on, and the people I interacted with, were all very helpful in shaping my growth toward a career in academia.

What inspires or motivates you?

My love for research and an innate curiosity to discover new knowledge.