MLIS Profiles
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) attracts a wide range of students from a variety of locations. They are diverse in nature and thought, perform at the highest quality, and are committed to the field of librarianship and information science. Here are just a few of our current students and recent alum. Find out why they chose to pursue the MLIS degree at the iSchool and what they are accomplishing because of it.
Darla Moyer-Sims
2004 Distance Cohort
I live in Portland, Oregon, where, in addition to being a MLIS Online student, I am a parent and work part-time. I love the distance program because it affords me the flexibility I need with my family and busy schedule. Not only is it convenient and tailored to my schedule, but I really enjoy that the online class discussions in my distance courses are often more in-depth and with the opportunity for more voices and opinions when we are posting to an online discussion board, as opposed to raising our hands in a classroom. On top of that, I can "attend class" in my pajamas and while eating my breakfast! Upon completing my MLIS, I am looking forward to working as a subject specialist or in reference in a university library. I’m also quite interested in archival work, which I may pursue as a hobby, perhaps in a volunteer capacity.
Kreg Hasegawa
2005 Residential Cohort
I’ve lived in Seattle for eight years. During that time, I’ve worked as a temp, freelanced, written book and music reviews, and worked at Amazon.com. As I contemplated the next step I wanted to take, professionally, I thought about what all of these experiences had in common and what I could do to bring everything together like an amoeba in reverse. Why, information, of course! I applied for the MLIS degree and now I’m in my first year -- I haven’t looked back. I think of the MLIS as a jack-of-all-trades degree. Sure, one could work for a library, but one could also be an independent researcher, develop databases, catalog, index, or think in a think tank. Information, after all, is everywhere! The iSchool’s MLIS program provides their students with the theory, knowledge, and experience to go down any number of information byways.
Rivkah Sass
1978 Residential Alumna
“2006 Librarian of the Year” – Library Journal
My University of Washington experience prepared me for a lifetime of adventures as a librarian. I learned to think about libraries and what they represent in a way that has stayed with me for more than 25 years. I learned then that libraries are organic institutions that evolve to serve the changing needs of society. I learned to be flexible, to explore and to take risks to develop library service that reflects my community. I’m grateful for the relationships and for the support I have received over the years. I can’t imagine a better place to pursue an education that prepares one for a lifetime of service. I’ve been acknowledged for being a risk taker, change agent and library true believer. The University of Washington prepared me to be all of those things.
Joanna Burgess
2004 Residential Cohort
Not having come from a traditional library background, I am particularly interested in special librarianship, and the diverse roles that information professionals can play. In the MLIS program, I’ve been able to work as a research assistant, and serve as chairperson for the Special Libraries Association student chapter at UW. In addition to my core pursuits in reference and research work, I am interested in art librarianship, special collections, and digital archives. I have learned and grown immensely through my participation in the MLIS program, have made terrific contacts among both my cohort and the iSchool faculty, and look forward with tremendous excitement to the new possibilities that will be open to me when I complete the program.
Bill Kelm
2005 Distance Alumnus
I started working as a student assistant in the campus library at Willamette University when I was an undergraduate. Upon graduation I continued on as a staff member and have moved through Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Systems and Reference. I really enjoy working at Willamette and did not want to have to leave my current position to get my Masters degree. The Online MLIS program worked perfectly for my schedule and my lifestyle. While in the Online MLIS program I did a lot of work with the Support Staff Division of the Oregon Library Association, coordinating their Annual Conference and serving as their Chair last year on the OLA Executive Board. Now that I have graduated I’ve chosen to stay at Willamette, moving up to a Systems Librarian position. My Master of Library and Information Science degree is opening a lot of different doors for me, and best of all it is giving me the background to make solid strides in a field I love.