Heritage and Horizon

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Eduring Purpose

Hi all,

When I was a master's student here, I took a course called Social Science Reference Librarianship with Tom Slavens. Tom was a great guy and a fantastic instructor. I still remember sitting in that classroom on the day Google was released in beta and realizing the entire landscape had changed. Search would never be the same, and neither would the way we prepared future information professionals.

For more than a century, our school has prepared professionals who help people discover, understand, preserve, and use information. Our roots in librarianship reflect a longstanding commitment to access, learning, service, and stewardship. While the tools have evolved dramatically over time, those values have remained remarkably consistent, guiding our community through each new era of technological change.

Today, we find ourselves in another period of profound transformation. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping how we work, learn, create, and communicate. These advances bring tremendous opportunity, along with important questions about trust, accessibility, ethics, and the human impact of technology. Preparing students for that future requires more than technical expertise. It requires curiosity, empathy, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with complex challenges.

That is work UMSI has always embraced. As we look toward the future, I am grateful for the faculty, staff, students, and alumni whose ideas, creativity, and commitment continue to move our school forward. Together, they ensure UMSI remains a place where information is used not only to advance technology, but to expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and improve the human experience.

Best,

Cliff

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

University of Michigan School of Information

From Community to Classroom

By turning Detroit into an extension of the classroom, UMSI's Design Justice course helps students connect technology, history, and community. Through immersive learning experiences and partnerships with local organizations, students gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design can create lasting social impact.

Innovation Starts Here

Curriculum innovation at UMSI is an ongoing effort. Faculty leaders across every academic program are strengthening degree pathways, integrating emerging technologies, and ensuring students graduate with the technical expertise, ethical foundation, and human-centered perspective needed to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Designing with Empathy

Through personal experience and hands-on learning, Lecturer Tonya McCarley is helping UMSI students understand that accessibility is more than a design requirement. It's a mindset rooted in empathy, inclusion, and creating technology that works for everyone.

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