Message from the Dean

Dear iSchool students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends,

Just before classes began at the end of September, the Information School held its annual Orientation to welcome our new students. These students are embarking on an extraordinary journey — a life-changing and enriching experience. They will do and achieve things in their careers that today we can only imagine.

Orientation is an inspiring way to begin the school year, in part because of the opportunity to welcome these great new students to our community, and in part because of their understandable enthusiasm for working with and learning from our faculty. As I told the students that day, there is something here for each of their widely varied interests.

Students who are passionate about the role of libraries in our communities will be interested in the work of Mike Crandall and Karen Fisher, who are investigating the impact of free access to computers and the Internet in public libraries across the U.S. Or they may want to connect with Cheryl Metoyer, who works closely with tribal schools and libraries on combining indigenous systems of knowledge with state-of-the-art information technology.

Those who get excited about the power of information access to transform society will want to learn about the iSchool’s Technology and Social Change group (TASCHA), a team of researchers increasing opportunities for people in the developing world by studying the design, use and impact of information and communication technology in more than 20 countries. If they want to get involved closer to home, they may be interested in working with faculty member David Hendry and Ph.D. student Jill Woelfer supporting technology literacy and access for homeless youth here in the University District through Street Youth Ministries.

Our most recent newsletter is filled with more examples of fantastic learning opportunities like a study-abroad program in the Netherlands, a profile of a new faculty member with cutting-edge research, and updates on alumni who are making an impact in the field right now.

And of course, alumni and friends of the iSchool like you can be just as interested in and proud of these efforts as are our new students. During my opening comments at Orientation, I asked the students to say aloud with pride, “The iSchool is my school!” I hope that you feel that same pride in the Information School, our students, faculty, and alumni. The iSchool is your school, too.

Best wishes and warm regards,

Harry Bruce
Professor and Dean
The Information School