Syracuse University Libraries and School of Information Studies Announce Inaugural Class of Information Literacy Scholars

Syracuse University Libraries and the School of Information Studies have partnered to create a new Information Literacy Scholars program for graduate students. As part of its strategic plan, the Libraries is working to increase curricular integration of information literacy in the schools and colleges. This supports Syracuse University’s shared competencies, including “information literacy and technological agility.”

Information Literacy Scholars (from left): Grace Swinnerton, Austin Waters, Breeann Austin, Greg Dachille, Lauren Earl and Conor Dugan

The Information Literacy Scholars program will increase the Libraries’ capacity to teach information literacy sessions to undergraduate students while also providing library information studies graduate students with critical teaching experience.

The first class of six Information Literacy Scholars selected for the competitive program began in the Fall 2019 semester. The inaugural group includes:

• Greg Dachille, who received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College in 2017. He is from West Orange, New Jersey.
• Grace Swinnerton, who received a bachelor’s degree from Emory University in 2017. She is from Washington, D.C.
• Lauren Earl, who received a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in 2018. She is from Dallas.
• Breeann Austin, who received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Los Angeles in 2009 and a master’s degree from University of Leeds in 2013. She is from Los Angeles.
• Austin Waters, who received a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Purchase in 2012 and a juris doctor from William H. Bowen School of Law in 2019. She is from Westchester, New York.
• Conor Dugan, who received a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in 2015 and is a second-year School of Information Studies graduate student. He is from Pittsburgh.

Information Literacy Scholars receive a 50 percent tuition award and 20 hours of paid employment per week with Syracuse University Libraries, as well as mentoring from librarians with expertise in reference, information literacy instruction and student learning assessment. Scholars also receive practical experience in anything from desk support in the Learning Commons to information literacy instruction and assessment. The professional development they engage in will position them for meaningful career opportunities upon graduation.

“The Information Literacy Scholars program was the deciding factor in my choice to attend Syracuse University,” says scholar Breeann Austin.

David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries, University Librarian, and interim dean of the School of Information Studies, notes that “This new collaborative initiative provides iSchool graduate students with experiential learning and allows them the opportunity to balance professional studies with a personalized and academically rigorous student experience.”