vita

Higher Education Instruction and Program Administration

Associate Professor and Library Media Program Chair, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, October 2021 to present. Courses include EFD 500 Educational Research for Librarians and Reading Specialists, LM 512 Children's Literature, LM 612 Advanced Children's and Young Adult Literature, LM 532 Cataloging, Collection Management, and Reference, LM 513 Management of Media Centers, LM 530 The Librarian as Instructional Leader,   LM 531: Trends, Issues, Innovation and Leadership in School Libraries, LM 515 Internship, and EFD 615, Leadership for School Librarians. Honors undergraduate instructor for The Picture Book, The History and Future of the Book, and The Mystery Genre. 

Assistant Professor and Library Media Program Chair, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, fall 2015 to October 2021. Courses include LM 511 Collection Development, LM 513 Management of Media Centers, LM 520 Reference, LM 550 Instructional Design and LM 515 Internship. 

Instructor, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, spring 2012, LM 514 Cataloging and Classification of Media, Spring 2013, LM 512 Young Adult Literature, and LM 515 Internship, Dr. Betty Morris 

Adjunct Professor, School of Library and Information Science, University of North Texas, 2007-08, Faculty for SLIS 5208, Learning Resources Organization and Management, Dr. Carol Simpson

Teaching Assistant, School of Library and Information Science, University of North Texas, spring 2006, Online clinical faculty for SLIS 5445, History and Culture of Youth Information Services, Dr. Elizabeth Figa

Instructor, Calhoun Community College, Decatur, Alabama, 1999 to 2000. Taught classes in developmental reading, writing, and college English.


Librarian Practice


Librarian, Cullman High School, Cullman, Alabama, 2012 to 2015

Cullman City Schools District Library Media coordinator. Work with high school faculty, students, and community, including spearheading 1:1 technology integration and school-wide benchmark testing. As member of school leadership team, planned for new library construction and facilitated move, prepared documentation for accreditation and state monitoring. Service on district Schools Foundation and as Governor's High Hopes representative. Successful record of grant writing to expand print collection.

Librarian, Buckhorn High School, New Market, Alabama, 2003 to 2012

Provide instruction, reader's advisory, reference and curriculum support in a grades 9-12 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon designee school. Allocated annual budget, managed networked computer resources campus-wide. Served on Budget, Technology, and Literacy Committees and Building Leadership Team. Selected as Teacher of the Year, 2006-2007.  Named a 21st Century Learning Fellow, one of 10 teachers statewide funded by Microsoft Partners in Learning and Alabama Best Practices Center initiative, 2005-06, to integrate Web 2.0 technologies for transformative instruction. 

Certifications:  ALA-Accredited MLIS, National Board Certified in Library Media (achieved 2008, renewed 2018), Google Certified Teacher (NYC '08).


Other Professional Experience

Training and Integration Consultant, Sirsi Corporation, Huntsville, Alabama, 2001 to 2003

A consulting librarian for an automation vendor, spending weeks on-site involve configuring servers, customizing networked software and consulting with system administrators, librarians, and paraprofessionals on both product capabilities and best practice with regard to implementing new OPAC and workflow technology in a wide range of library settings. Creating cataloging and systems administration training documentation.

Features writer, The Madison Spirit, Madison, Alabama, 1998 to 2000

Developed, reported and wrote feature articles, new stories, and profiles on a freelance basis for a zone publication and magazine supplement of The Huntsville Times. 

Weather producer, WAAY-TV, Channel 31, Huntsville, Alabama, 1996 to 1998

Created forecast models and broadcast animations using SGI's UNIX variant. Maintained weather department website. Edited raw video and produced weekly local public service program.


Education

University of North Texas Denton, Texas, Ph.D. in Information Science, College of Information, Library Science and Technologies, 2014. Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) fellow. Research topic: "The influence of engagement with nontraditional text format on student attitudes towards the high school library."

Samford University Homewood, Alabama. M.S.Ed. in Instructional Leadership, with Educational Leadership certification, 2011

University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama, M.L.I.S., 2001

Graduate Council fellow. Advanced work in online technology and information sources. 

University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama, M.A. in English, 1999

Dean's List, four semesters. Concentration on intertextuality. 

Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire, B.A. in Art History and Studio Art, 1995

Concentrations: Contemporary art and printmaking.


Publications

Stephens, W. (2023). Research roundup: Critical race theory. Young Adult Library Services, 20(3). 

Fontichiaro, K., Stephens, W. (2022). Blurring the boundaries between home and school: how videoconference-based schooling places American education’s cultural values at risk during COVID-19. Children and Media Research and Practice during the Crises of 2020. London: Routledge.

Paynter, K., Stephens, W., Gramling, S. (2022). Faculty Perceptions of a Faculty-Led Center for Teaching and Learning. Journal of Faculty Development 36(2), 43-52. 

Stephens, W.  (2022) A kinesthetic approach to data: moving to understand nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio relationships in data. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Data Literacy Cookbook. Chicago, Ill. 61-63.

Stephens, W. (2021). Mindful School Libraries: Creating and Sustaining Nurturing Spaces and Programs. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.

Stephens, W., Fontichiaro, K. (2021). Pushing forward while treading water: things you can do to help your school in times of uncertainty. Knowledge Quest 50(1).

Stephens, W. (2021). An appreciable affinity: Exploring yoga programming in public, school, and academic library settings. World Journal of Yoga, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation 3(3), 2. 10.33552/WJYPR.2021.03.000602.

Stephens, W. (2020). Welcome to your post-coronavirus school library. Teacher Librarian, 48(November/December).

Fontichiaro, K., Stephens, W. (2020). Blurring the boundaries between home and school: how videoconference-based schooling places American education’s cultural values at risk during COVID-19. Journal of Children and Media. doi://10.1080/17482798.2020.1860101

Stephens, W. (2018). Research roundup: Small, rural, and tribal libraries. Young Adult Library Services, 16(3), 16-17. 

Stephens, W. (Fall 2017). Young voices from the field and home front: World War II as depicted in contemporary children’s literature. Children and Libraries 15, 3. 27-33.

Stephens, W. (2017). Tools for preserving your personal and intellectual privacy. Edited by Kristin Fontichiaro et al. Data Literacy in the Real World: Conversations & Case Studies. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan. 55-57.

Stephens, W. (2017). When insurance gives you a fitness tracker. Edited by Kristin Fontichiaro et al. Data Literacy in the Real World: Conversations & Case Studies. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan. 95-97.

Stephens, W. (2017). Hiding from digital marketing. Edited by Kristin Fontichiaro et al. Data Literacy in the Real World: Conversations & Case Studies. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan. 98-100.

Stephens, W. (2017). What does Cambridge Analytica have about you? Edited by Kristin Fontichiaro et al. Data Literacy in the Real World: Conversations & Case Studies. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan. 127-130.

Stephens, W. (2017). Tour of the Leafsnap leaf identification app. Edited by Kristin Fontichiaro et al. Data Literacy in the Real World: Conversations & Case Studies. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan. 142-144.

Stephens, W. (2017). Real world data fluency: how to use raw data. Creating data literate students. Ann Arbor: Maize Publishing of University of Michigan.

Valenza, J.K. & Stephens, W.S. (2015). Challenging channels: School librarians and evolving literacies." The Journal of Media Literacy 63, 1. 28-38.

Stephens, W.S. (Spring 2015).  Shifting teen services for a new school space. Young Adult Library Services. 13-14.

Stephens, W.S. (September/October 2014). Testing under the microscope. Knowledge Quest 43, 1. 30-35.

Stephens, W.S. (Spring 2014). Checking out tomorrow's school library collections. Young Adult Library Services. 17-19.

Stephens, W. S. (Fall 2013). The future of school libraries. Young Adult Library Services. 4-8.

Stephens, Wendy & Sarah Fanning. (January/February 2013). Bring your own excitement. Library Media Connection, 12-13. 

Stephens, W.S. (November/December 2012). Amplify your professional knowledge through RSS. Knowledge Quest 41, 2. 26-28.

Stephens, W.S. (August/September 2012). One semester circulating e-readers: one high school's pilot project. Library Media Connection, 40-41.

Stephens, W. S. (Summer 2012). In a more digital direction. Young Adult Library Services, 58-61.

Valenza, J.K. &  Stephens, W.S. (March 2012). Reading remixed. Educational Leadership 69, 6. 75-79.

Stephens, W.S. (January/February 2012). Deploying ereaders without buying ebooks. Knowledge Quest 40, 3. 40-43.

Stephens, W. S. (May/June 2011). The school librarian as leader: out of the middle, into the foreground. Knowledge Quest 39, 5. 18-21.

Stephens, W. S. (June 2010). Books are more than files: teens skeptical about ereading. VOYA, 124-125.

Stephens, W. S. (2008). Evidence from student voices: finding meaning in intellectual freedom. Knowledge Quest 37, 2. 44-48.

Stephens, W. S. (2008). 'Not all good or all bad: listening to student perspectives on book banning. Forbidden fruit: the censorship of literature and information for young people. S. McNicol, ed. Boca Raton: Brown Thomas, 67-76.

Stephens, W. S. (May/June 2008). Report from the Forbidden Fruit Conference. Knowledge Quest 36, 5.

Faber, T., Li,. R, Puacz, J.H. & W.S. Stephens. (2007). Evaluating virtual reference in an academic library. Virtual reference on a budget: case studies. T. Dalston & M. Pullin, eds. Columbus, Ohio: Linworth, 97-144.

Stephens, W. S. (March/April 2007). Digital frontier: Schools, libraries, and adventure. Knowledge Quest 35, 4. 70-2.

Faber, T., Li,. R, Puacz, J.H. & W.S. Stephens. (2007). Information needs and information seeking behavior in an academic virtual reference environment.  Educational Media and Technology Yearbook 32. M. Orey, V.J. McClendon, & R.M. Branch, eds. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 128-139.

Stephens, W. (November/December 2005). How to easily improve real access to all aspects of your collection. Library Media Connection 24, 3. 54-5.

 

State and National Conference Presentations (see also Local and Regional Workshops)

"Freedom of the Press Before the First Amendment," Florida Atlantic University Teaching with Books Seminar. Based on the NEH Summer Seminar on the Revolution in Print. Online. August 4, 2022.

"Book Bans," Student Webinar Panelist, Children's Literature Assembly (CLA). Online, July 14, 2022.

"The Algorithm Stole My Democracy: Libraries Grappling with Misinformation in a Polarized Society," with Kristin Fontichiaro. American Library Association, Washington, D.C. June 26, 2022. 

"Implicit Reiteration of Reading Visual Texts: Revisiting the Picture Book," International Board on Books for Young People 37th IBBY Congress, Moscow, Russia., September 11, 2021. (presented virtually)

"Post-truth Childhoods and New Editions of Familiar Texts," The Nineteenth International Conference on Publishing Studies, Information, Medium and Society, Madrid, Spain. July 2, 2021. (presented virtually)

"Augmented & Virtual Realities For Teaching & Learning." Computers in Libraries & Internet Librarian Connect. Online. September 21, 2020.

"Practical Strategies for Developing Data Literacy Skills across Content Areas: A Kinesthetic Approach to Data," American Association of School Librarians National Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, November 16, 2019.

"The Shape of Hope: Finding Wonder, Joy and Strength in Literature: Third General Session Panel," United States Board on Books for Young People IBBY Regional Conference, Austin, Texas, October 26, 2019. 

"Modernization or expurgation?: revision and recalibration of canonical American children’s literature," Centre for Printing History & Culture, in conjunction with the Printing Historical Society and the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K., October 11, 2019.

"Social-Emotional Learning in Your Library," Southeastern Library Association at Arkansas Library Association, Hot Spring, Arkansas, September 28, 2019,.

"All Texts Look Alike in the Dark : How ebook Platforms Erase the Publisher and Democratize Publishing," The Seventeenth International Conference on Books, Libraries, and Publishing, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. July 5, 2019.

"Beyond the Fairy Tale of Digital Equity: A Snapshot of Ebook Adoption in American Schools," International Board on Books for Young People, 36th IBBY Congress, Athens, Greece, August 30, 2018.

"All About You, Up For Sale: How Data Brokers Like Cambridge Analytica Construct Consumer Identities," 4T Data Literacy Conference, Online.  July 11, 2018.

"The mindful school library: creating necessary liminal spaces for student learning," American Association of School Librarians Conference, Phoenix Arizona, November 11, 2017.

"tl;dr: Fake news and what you can do about it." Fostering Media and Information Literacy Among Students in a "Post-Truth" Era: Fake News, Social Media, and an Evolving Instructional Agenda. Education Innovator, Online, November 8, 2017.

"Tools for preserving your personal and intellectual privacy." 4T Data Literacy Conference, Online, July 20, 2017.

"Exploring and exploding multimodal texts: the promise and the failure of eReading's greatest ambitions," The Fifteenth International Conference on Books, Publishing & Libraries: The Publisher Is Dead; Long Live the Publisher! Imperial College, London UK, July 7, 2017, 

"The revenge of the filter bubble: how accelerating content customization and mobile device access drives fake news." Library 2.017 mini-conferences: "Digital Literacy & Fake News," online. June 1, 2017. 

"Teaching students to read between the numbers: data literacy for the real world," National Council of Teachers of English, Atlanta, Georgia. November 18, 2016.

"Situating graphic format narrative reading within a larger context of contemporary adolescent literacy," International Board on Books for Young People 35th IBBY Congress, Auckland, New Zealand. August 20, 2016.

"Real world data fluency: how to use raw data," 4T Data Literacy Conference, Online. July 14, 2016.

"The relationship of visual literacy preferences and student attitudes towards libraries and reading," Educators of School Librarians Section panel, American Association of School Librarians, Columbus, OH, November 7, 2015.

"Making a change: new tools for expanding digital literacy," with Maggie Crawford of the Newseum, American Association of School Librarians, Columbus, OH, November 7, 2015.

"Commence learning! Prepping for college readiness library programming and services, YALSA webinar, online. September 17, 2015.

"The core: A year (or more) in, how does this affect libraries?" RUSA panel, American Library Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, California. June 28, 2015.

"Everyone's a publisher: digital design and layout tools to sweeten student work." Alabama School Library Association conference, Irondale, Alabama, June 8, 2015, and Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, June 11, 2015.

"Behind our disguises: information superheroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow." Alabama Library Association, Point Clear, Alabama, April 9, 2015.

"Teacher to teacher: highlights of ANEW summer institute." Panel presentation at Newseum Teacher Open House, October 4, 2014.

"Teen spaces 201," YALSA panel, American Library Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 30, 2014.

"Around the world in thirty sites: web-based resources to increase global awareness." Alabama School Library Association conference, Irondale, Alabama, June 2, 2014, and Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, June 4, 2014.

"Transliteracy in practice," with Carolyn Starkey, Alabama Library Association, Huntsville, Alabama, April 23, 2014.

"Virtual author visits at your library," Alabama Library Association Public Library Division Winter Mini-Conference, January 30, 2014. 

“Professional membership & service: what does It mean to really serve and how does it help me?" Panel discussion. University of Alabama SLIS Alumni Day, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, October 11, 2013.

"BYOD in practice." AASL Concurrent Session, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, July 1, 2013.

"Real world budgets" and "Real world technology," AASL Preconference, Real World, Real Tools, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 2013.  

"It's been digitized! Teaching with primary sources from the Library of Congress. " Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, June 12, 2013 and Alabama School Library Association, Irondale, Alabama, June 10, 2013.

"Finding not searching," Tennessee Association of School Librarians, Murphreesboro, Tennessee, October 26, 2012.

"ereading in the school library," Tennessee Association of School Librarians, Murphreesboro, Tennessee, October 26, 2012.

"Top tech trends for school libraries," Tennessee Association of School Librarians Preconference, Murphreesboro, Tennessee, October 25, 2012.

"Teen tech talk," Georgia Council of Media Organizations Youth Services Preconference, Macon, Georgia, October 3, 2012.  

"World wide wows," Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Trussville, Alabama, June 13, 2012

"All access to young adult authors," Alabama Library Association, Hoover, Alabama, April 26, 2012. 

"Establishing a school-wide focus on adolescent literacy to benefit all students," with Sarah Fanning, April McCutcheon, and Tracy Wilson. Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence 2011 National Conference, Orlando, Florida, December 8, 2011. 

"Books, e-ink and databases, oh my! Collection development in the 21st century," full-day preconference with Angela Carstensen, Buffy Hamilton Frances Harris, and Laura Pearle. American Association of School Librarians National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 26, 2011.

"Creating tomorrow's leaders today: A guided conversation about leadership programs," with Sara Kelly Johns, Moderator,

Gwyneth Jones, Margaux DelGuidice, Shannon McClintock Miller, and Laura Warren-Gross. American Association of School Librarians National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 28, 2011.

"From building level to regional level: ebook models for K12," Library Journal | School Library Journal virtual summit "Ebooks: the new normal," October 12, 2011.

"Librarian as technology leader," Kentucky School Media Association General Session, Louisville, Kentucky, October 1, 2011.

"Future-proofing the school library," Kentucky School Media Association Opening General Session, Louisville, Kentucky, September 30, 2011.

"Ebooks go to school: building level," School Library Journal Leadership Summit: The New World of Reading, Arlington, Virginia, September 23, 2011.

"Optimal Google searching and online Google docs," Alabama Education Association, Huntsville, Alabama. September 17, 2011.

"E-Readers and your library," YALSA Webinar, July 14, 2011.

“From Gutenberg to Google and glogs, from books to vooks,” with Carla Bosco, Angela Carstensen, and Laura Pearle. American Library Association Virtual Conference, July 17, 2011, and American Library Association Virtual Conference, July 17, 2011.

“Reading on the screen,” YALSA Pecha Kucha, American Library Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 26, 2011 and

“From Gutenberg to Google and glogs, from books to vooks,” with Carla Bosco, Angela Carstensen, and Laura Pearle. American Library Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 25, 2011.

“21st century reading,” Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, June 16, 2011.

“eReaders for the classroom: are they right for you?” with Carolyn Starkey. Alabama Educational Technology Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, June 16, 2011.

“Digital equity and the school librarian,” Alabama Educational Technology Conference Library Media Symposium opening remarks, Birmingham, Alabama, June 15, 2011.

“Reading with Google,” Alabama Educational Technology Conference Library Media Symposium, Birmingham, Alabama, June 15, 2011.

“Future-proof your library.” Keynote speech, Alabama School Library Association, June 14, 2011.

“The librarian as technology leader,” Alabama School Library Association, June 14, 2011.

“Surf’s up! Plunging headfirst into the briny waters of eReaders and eBooks,”  with Carolyn Starkey, Alabama Library Association Annual Convention, Orange Beach, Alabama, April 21, 2011.

“eBooks go to school: limitations and possibilities for instruction and leisure reading” with Carolyn Starkey. Computers in Libraries Internet@Schools East Conference, Washington, D.C., March 21, 2011.

“How ‘e’ to be,” with Angela Carstensen, Frances Jacobson Harris, and Laura Pearle. Computers in Libraries Internet@Schools East Conference, Washington, D.C., March 21, 2011.

"Multiple literacies through the high school library," with Kristin Fontichiaro, Beth Friese, and Laura Warren-Gross. National Council of Teachers of English, Orlando, Florida. November 20, 2010.

"Want to be a Nationally Board Certified Teacher?" with Cathy Nelson. ISTE SIGMS webinar, May 26, 2010. slides, archived webinar 

 "Promoting web 2.0 tools to encourage reading." YALSA Online Chat, May 5, 2010.   

"Tap into twitter," with Marianne Lennox and Cheryl Burnette, Alabama Library Association, Huntsville, Alabama, April 14, 2010 

"Flip your collection," with Laura Pearle and Buffy Hamilton, Alabama Library Association Preconference, New Market, Alabama, April 13, 2010.

 "Unleashing the potential of your faculty through personalized professional development" with Tommy Ledbetter and Sarah Fanning. National Association of Secondary Schools Principals. Phoenix, Arizona. March 14, 2010.

"Flip your library," with Laura Pearle and Buffy Hamilton. YALSA 3.0 Institute, ALA Midwinter Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts. January 15, 2010

"Recreating your media center to support adolescent literacy," National Council of Teachers of English, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 22, 2009.

"Web 2.0 meets the standards for the 21st century learner." with Pam Berger, Floyd Pentlin, Lisa Perez, Joyce Valenza and Robin Williams. American Library Association, Chicago, Illinois. July 12, 2009.

"Library learning tools smackdown." with Karen Kliegman, Cathy Jo Nelson, Joyce Valenza and Keisa Williams.  National Educational Computing Conference. Washington, D.C. June 29, 2009. 

"Teen tech trends." Alabama Library Association. Auburn, Alabama. April 8, 2009.

"Reading spells success: daring to confront the challenges of adolescent literacy." with Tommy Ledbetter, Sarah Fanning, and Tracy Wilson. National Association of Secondary School Principals. San Diego, California. February 28, 2009.

"Closing the achievement gap through whole-school literacy initiatives." with Tommy Ledbetter, Sarah Fanning, and Tracy Wilson. National Association of Secondary School Principals. San Diego, California. February 26, 2009.

 "'Not all good or all bad': Student responses to censorship," Forbidden Fruit Conference, Southport, UK, June 17, 2008.


Professional Service

American Library Association (ALA), member since 2000


American Association of School Librarians (AASL), member since 2005


Young Adult Library Services Association, member since 2005


Association for Library Services for Children, member since 2007


United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY), member since 2010 


Alabama Library Association (ALLA), since 2005


Alabama School Library Association (ASLA), since 2003


Other Memberships and Affiliations

Society for the History of Authorship, Readership and Publishing (SHARP), since 2019 

Printing Historical Society, since 2019

Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET), since 2015

Children's Literature Association (ChLA), since 2015

REFORMA, since 2015

Southeastern Library Association (SELA), since 2015

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), since 2013

International Literacy Association (ILA), since 2014

Council of Leaders of Alabama Schools (CLAS), since 2011 

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), since 2010

Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English (ALAN), since 2009

Beta Phi Mu, Beta Phi Chapter, library honor society, since 2002

Sigma Tau Delta, International English honor society, since 1998

 

Other Professional Experience, Involvement, and Accolades

National Endowment for the Humanities Institute for University Faculty Invitee, "The Revolution in Books," Florida Atlantic University, June 2022.

Rare Book School Access Scholarship, 2021.

Marantz Fellowship, Kent State University, August 2018.

Grant writer on behalf of the Alabama School Library Association, AASL/ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant, successfully funded March 2018.

National Endowment for the Humanities Seminar for University Faculty Invitee, "Take Note and Remember: The Commonplace Book and Its American Descendants," Winthrop University, July 2016.

Named Beta Phi Mu Honor Society Beta Kappa Chapter Librarian of the Year, 2016.

Curriculum Expert, Data Literacy project with University of Michigan School of Information, Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) grant-funded project, 2016-17.

Approaching Walden teacher workshop, Walden Woods Project, Concord, Massachusetts, July 12-17, 2015.

Library Technology Conference, school and rural libraries scholarship funding recipient, Macalester College, March 18-19, 2015. 

National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks Workshop Invitee, "Emily Dickinson: Person, Poetry, and Place," Amherst College, July 2014.

Annenberg-Newseum Summer Institute Invitee, July 16-18, 2014.

Doctoral Student Scholarship, Alabama School Library Association, June 2, 2014.

University of North Texas Faculty Research Grant, with Dr. Yunfei Du, summer 2014

National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks Workshop Invitee, "The Most Southern Place on Earth," Delta State University, July 2013.

Distinguished Service Award, Alabama School Library Association, June 10, 2013.

Carrie C. Robinson Award, for an Outstanding School Library Media Program, Alabama School Library Association, June 12, 2012.

Ann Marie Pipkin Technology Award, for implementing educational technologies in your library and the American Association of School Librarians, Alabama School Library Association, June 14, 2011.

Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Mentor Advisory Group, 2010 to date

2009 Chiquita Marbury Technology Award Winner, Alabama State Department of Education, June 9, 2010.

Gale-Cengage Guest Columnist on K-12 Reference, 2009 to 2011

Alabama Learning Exchange and Girls Engaged in Math and Science University (GEMS-U) Curriculum Writing, July 2009; Podcast Camp, December 2009, ALEX English Language Arts Curriculum Alignment for Common Core, July 2012., A.C.E. training, August 2013. 

Second Place, AASL/Partnership for 21st Century Skills video contest, 2009

Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Star, 2009

Winner of the Herman Moore Library and Media Professionals (LAMP) Award of Exceptional Service to Alabama School Library Media Centers over time, Alabama Library Expo, September 25, 2008

Participant in Alabama State Department of Education e-learning cohorts for 30-hour courses in Adolescent Literacy, 2007; Leading in 21st Century Schools, 2009; Facilitating an Online Course, 2009; 21st Century Skills Showcase, 2010; and Planning for Technology: Total Cost of Ownership, 2010, Using Google as a 21st Century Administrator, Spring 2014. 

University of Michigan, Knight-Wallace Fellow, Accompanying Spouse. Coursework included SI 648 -- InfoCulture: Theory and Method in the History and Sociology of Information Technology, SI 580 -- Understanding Records and Archives, and English 417 -- Graphic Narrative

U.S. Department of State, LITMUS (Leaders in Technology, Math, and Science) Educator exchange, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, October 2006. Study topic: School libraries in Russia.

University of Indiana School of Information, IMLS Summer Seminar on Inquiry-based Education, August 2006

Library of Congress Educators' American Memory Workshop, Women's History, July 2006

ALA Progressive Librarians’ Guild (PLG) Librarians Delegation to Cuban National Library, June 2004. Study topic: The Cuban Literacy Campaign of 1961.