MLIS student inspired to build libraries for queer community

Friday, May 2, 2025

After earning her MFA, Caitlin Wheeler took a day job at Spokane County Library so she could pursue fiction writing at night. Eventually, though, she felt herself drawn to librarianship. “It seemed to offer a unique opportunity to combine my love of stories with my dedication to making a deeper, more lasting impact on communities,” she said. Now a third-year online Master of Library and Information Science student, Wheeler plans to apply the skills, knowledge, and connections from her degree to build a queer library in Spokane to support queer community members, especially queer youth

Ph.D. students show research skills in summer internships

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

As the school year winds down, many Ph.D. students seize the opportunity to put their expertise to work in industry settings, tackling research beyond the realm of academia. Several iSchool Ph.D. students have done just that, gaining valuable experience as research interns.  These internships provide Ph.D. students with opportunities to apply their research skills in real-world settings, offering them the chance to uncover new areas of research and deepen their understanding of existing ones. Ph.D. candidate Bin Han explored his research interests in the applications of large la

MSIM student learns to leverage data to help communities

Friday, April 25, 2025

After graduating from the UW with a B.S. in Public Health and a B.A. in Communication, Alexandria (Ali) Lo landed a fellowship tracking many diseases, including COVID-19, Mpox and bird flu. There, she worked alongside data scientists who helped her team process genomic (DNA and RNA) data. She helped coordinate with clinicians, epidemiologists and legal teams to devise patient care plans such as quarantines. The experience with the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stirred her interest in learning more about data work. She found pu

Native American Read-In celebrates Indigenous resilience

Thursday, April 24, 2025

People from around the world gathered via Zoom to participate in the Native American Read-In, an event to celebrate Native American heritage and the work of Indigenous artists and authors. The iSchool, in partnership with the nonprofit Read-a-Rama, hosted the third annual read-in on Sunday, April 13. The online event highlighted Indigenous voices through storytelling, dance and musical performances.The event was emceed by MLIS alum and Ph.D student Mandi Harris, a member of the Cherokee Nation. Michelle H. Martin, the iSchool’s Beverly Cleary Professor for Children and Youth Services, b

5 iSchool students named among 2025 Husky 100

Monday, April 21, 2025

The University of Washington recognized five students from the Information School for the 2025 Husky 100, awarded to undergraduate and graduate students making the most out of their Husky experience. The Husky 100, now in its 10th year, celebrates students who have demonstrated excellence inside the classroom and beyond, showing a commitment to a set of criteria that include leadership, engagement and community impact.The iSchool honorees this year include three students from the Bachelor of Science in Informatics program, one from the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) prog

Fellowship sends MSIM student on worldwide adventure

Monday, April 14, 2025

Afomia Assefa found inspiration in Tricia Hairsey’s novel Rest is Resistance. She applied for the University of Washington’s Bonderman Fellowship envisioning a life beyond grind culture — a decision that will take her on an eight-month solo journey across the world this fall.Assefa, an online Master of Science in Information Management student, will travel to countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, exploring how rest, spirituality and self-care are honored across various cultures. “I’ve been working since high school, through college and now grad school, but I’v

Scholarship recipient working to support his community

Thursday, April 10, 2025

For senior Informatics student Jonathan Ortiz-Candelaria, "leave everything off the mat" is more than a saying. The words he hears every day at judo practice have become a mantra. As the president of the Judo Club at the University of Washington, he has embraced it as a mindset both on and off the mat.“Learn from your failures, learn from your losses, and keep going,” he said.Ortiz-Candelaria’s life has been defined by perseverance. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he moved to Washington in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the 2017 storm that was the strongest to hit the island in over a cent

Information School rises to top of U.S. News rankings

Monday, April 7, 2025

The University of Washington Information School rose to a tie for the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings of U.S. master’s degree programs in library and information science. The magazine’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools” were released Tuesday, April 8.Cindy Aden, chair of the Master of Library and Information Science program, who is herself an alum who returned to the iSchool in 2021 as distinguished practitioner in residence said, “I’ve been waiting impatiently for this particular ranking to catch-up with us and reflect what I’ve always known to b

Intensive Capstone students use AI to improve rural health care

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Overwhelmed and underresourced, health-care providers in rural Washington are struggling to meet patient needs. Students in an Intensive Capstone class stepped in to help bridge this gap and explore potential solutions using AI and Large Language Models (LLMs). The course was designed by Information School guest faculty member Frank Martinez, who comes from a rural community in Yakima Valley. His experiences with disparities in health care inspired him to structure his class around building resources for rural health-care providers. INFO 492, an eight-credit course, is among the iSch

17 iSchool students earn UW Libraries scholarships

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Seventeen iSchool students are among the recipients of UW Libraries 2025 Student Employee Scholarships.Thanks to sponsors from UW Libraries donors, 50 student employees received a $1,000 scholarship award for their work and contributions to the libraries’ operations. Of the iSchool recipients, 14 are from the Master of Library and Information Science program: Phoebe Brand, Sarah Collins, Linnea Davis, Ian Diedrich, April Rayne Duncan, Petra Ellerby, Seth Connor Gandt, Taylor Hazan, Sara Hruska, Sasha Olivia Powers, Heidi Shepard, Hannah Shulski, West Dean Skrobiak-Bales and Jet To.

MLIS students share visions of libraries' future

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Chance Hunt’s winter Future of Libraries course sought to equip students with practical skills to anticipate what lies ahead for libraries and act on trends. He came away impressed by what he saw in their work.“With these students, future libraries will be strong, they will be compassionate, and they will be essential to a thriving community,” said Hunt, an associate teaching professor at the University of Washington Information School.For their final assignment, students were asked to imagine a library and its services 10 years in the future.“What most impressed me was both the variet

Students, teachers, librarians boost media literacy at MisinfoDay

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

More than 500 Washington high school students, teachers and librarians gathered at the University of Washington in Seattle on March 17 for MisinfoDay 2025, an annual event featuring educational workshops, gaming activities and other programming aimed to help participants navigate complex information environments and make informed decisions about what they see online. MisinfoDay is co-organized through a statewide partnership between the UW Center for an Informed Public and Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. The first MisinfoDay was organized by

Touchscreen readers appear to show impact of iSchool research

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Tim Paulding ran his fingers across the smooth glass screen of an iPod Touch for the first time in 2010. He was working as a counselor at a summer camp for blind kids outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, when a friend handed him the then top-of-the-line iPod.Paulding, who is blind, was familiar with Symbian and Windows mobile phones, which featured keyboards with raised buttons. “I loved them — I could type so fast on those keyboards,” he said. Then he felt the iPod touchscreen. “I’m like, ‘Dude, what am I gonna do with a touchscreen?’ It's crazy. I can't feel anything,” Pauldi

Museology exhibition shows students' curatorial skills

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Museology program’s Exhibit Development course teaches the fundamentals of creating a museum exhibition, taking students through the development process from concept to installation. Students recently put their installation skills to the test, presenting four walk-through exhibitions in the Alder Commons. The March 3 exhibits each showcased a central theme, incorporating an interactive element and at least one personal artifact from every group member. Class instructor and iSchool Assistant Teaching Professor Lane Eagles said these pop-up exhibits “are a real testament to [th

MSIM duo among Forbes' '30 Under 30' for social impact

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

One Master of Science in Information Management student and one alum have earned a spot in the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 for Social Impact, a recognition for young innovators making tangible difference in the world. Nishit Bhasin (pictured above, at left), ‘24, and Lakshya Garg (at right), a current MSIM student, co-founded IncSkill during the winter break of 2023 when they were unable to return to their home country of India. While many students take a break from academics during the holidays, Bhasin and Garg spent their time participating in hackathons and product-bu