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College of Information and Communications

2023 iSchool News

iSchool hosts hooding ceremonies

The iSchool honored Fall 2023 graduates at the Hooding Ceremony for MLIS students on Dec. 15. Watch a video recap.

Cocky’s Reading Express debuts “Little Free Library” at local elementary school

Through its new Adopt-a-School program, Cocky’s Reading Express unveiled a new “Little Free Library” at Edward E. Taylor Elementary School — providing kids with chances to choose books throughout the year and keep them as their own.

iSchool accepting applications for an open rank faculty position in Information Science

The School of Information Science invites applications for a school library faculty position at the level of open rank, associate, or assistant professor to begin January 1, 2024, or August 16, 2024. Candidates with interest and experience in research and pedagogy in school librarianship will be considered.

Digital certificate program offers in-demand career skills

This fall, the college launched its digital studies certificate program, which allows undergraduate students to gain in-demand digital skills and receive official recognition on their transcripts.

MLIS student selected for prestigious ARL Kaleidoscope Program

MLIS student Adele Chase learns leadership, research and networking skills as an ARL Kaleidoscope Program Scholar.

Area students get to jump on the Cocky Reading Express

Cocky, the big bird on the USC campus, and a bunch of his friends made a stop at Edward E. Taylor Elementary School to teach the kids about conservation and the joy of reading.

Media personality Curtis Wilson reflects on culturally responsive leadership

A regular contributor to the A&E Network’s top-rated show LivePD, Wilson headlined the first in-person community conversation sponsored by Augusta Baker Chair Nicole Cooke, which addressed issues of importance to communities in Columbia and throughout South Carolina.

iSchool faculty and staff create Words and Warriors book club

With over 400,000 veterans and eight different military facilities in South Carolina, iSchool faculty and staff had an epiphany. They created a veterans book club as a platform to continue to emphasize and highlight the university’s commitment to serving the veteran and military population,

Get to know Lyda Fontes McCartin

After 17 years at the University of Northern Colorado, Lyda Fontes McCartin left the Rocky Mountains for the Palmetto State's CIC. Sunshine, school spirit and SEC football await her arrival as the next director of the iSchool.

iSchool Spotlight: Adia Caldwell

As a social media community manager for PepsiCo, information science graduate Adia Caldwell ('21) serves up content for Quaker’s ready-to-eat brands, including Cap’n Crunch and Quaker Chewy.

iSchool invites applications for an open rank faculty position

The School of Information Science invites applications for a school library faculty position at the level of open rank, associate, or assistant professor to begin Jan. 1, 2024, or Aug. 16, 2024.

MLIS alumna Patrice Green embraces new role at Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

Not everyone would be excited to examine a rusty filing cabinet in the basement of a 100-year-old boarding house. But, for Patrice Green, '19, it is a potential treasure trove of information that could fill in gaps in the historical record.

How book-banning campaigns have changed the lives and education of librarians

Augusta Baker Chair Nicole Cooke writes in The Conversation about the new ways librarians are being trained to defend the rights of readers and writers in the battle raging across the U.S. over censorship, book challenges and book bans.

Jackie McFadden named interim dean of Dacus Library and Archives

MLIS alumna Jackie McFadden will serve as interim dean of Winthrop University's Ida Jane Dacus Library and the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections while a national search is conducted.

Cearra Harris is making an impact as a Spectrum Fellow

Doctoral student Cearra Harris hopes that in her career she can help librarians be better equipped to deal with the day-to-day issues that they are confronted with in their communities.

iSchool Spotlight: Alex Chambers

Associate professor Vanessa Kitzie catches up with Alex Chambers near where he now works as a product consultant for Deloitte. They talked about his decision to pursue an information science degree, his time at the University of South Carolina, and what he’s up to now in his new career.

iSchool celebrates graduates with spring hooding

The School of Information Science held its spring hooding ceremony for the largest undergraduate class since the major began, along with a large class of Master of Library and Information Science students and one doctoral graduate.

iSchool hosts Augusta Baker Lecture featuring Renée Watson

The fourth annual Augusta Baker Lecture was held at Richland Library Main on April 21. Critically acclaimed author Renée Watson read excerpts of her writing and discussed her work with Nicole Cooke, the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair in the School of Information Science at USC.

Leadership award winner hopes her success helps others

Ethena Inez Lighty has left her mark on the Carolina and Columbia communities through her dedication to leadership and service.

Award-winning author headlines the 2023 Augusta Baker Lecture

Renée Watson, recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award and the Newbery Honor for the young adult novel, Piecing Me Together, will be the keynote speaker for the Augusta Baker Lecture, April 21.

iSchool Spotlight: Reflections from our undergraduate alumni

What do a client case representative and an IT tech from two different cities (Charlotte and Charleston) have in common? Something that they wish they did not…

iSchool hosts 38th Deans' and Directors' Lecture

The School of Information Science honored students, faculty and alumni leaders at the 38th Deans' and Directors' Lecture and awards ceremony on March 16. The keynote speaker was cybersecurity expert Eddie Doyle.

Now streaming: MLIS grad makes herself heard at Sling TV

Sara DeSantis got over her shyness after completing her Master of Library and Information Science degree and with her newfound confidence has been put to the test in her newest role as a content acquisitions specialist at Sling TV.

Carrying on a legacy

For decades, the face of librarianship has been dominated by white females. The iSchool set out this year to help change that imbalance by actively recruiting a more diverse talent pool for its Ph.D. program.

iSchool spotlight: Reflections from our undergraduate alumni

What do a policy analyst for a law and lobbying firm and a technology consultant at Ernst and Young (EY) have in common? ... A deep appreciation for their undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Information Science (BSIS) degree and a love for their alma mater, the University of South Carolina.

Information Security and Intelligence course teaches students about the human side of cybersecurity

What happens when an international bank with customers around the globe has a data breach? Who decides next steps and how to prevent future breaches? The iSchool recently developed a course that helps students learn how organizations answer questions like these.

Applications open for school libraries tenure track faculty

The iSchool invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level to begin August 16, 2023. Candidates with interest and experience in research and pedagogy in school librarianship will be considered.

iSchool names new director

Dr. Lyda McCartin has been selected as the next director of the School of Information Science in USC’s College of Information and Communications. McCartin comes to the university with more than two decades of experience in higher education as a library practitioner, faculty member and department chair.


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