News

I am so thrilled to announce that I have been granted tenure at the School of Information Studies at Dominican University! This is a major milestone in my academic career, and I am incredibly grateful for the support of my colleagues, students, and mentors.

I have been teaching at Dominican University for the past five years, and I have loved every minute of it. I am passionate about teaching students about the importance of information and how to use it effectively. I am also committed to conducting research that can help improve the lives of people around the world.

I am excited to continue my work at Dominican University and to contribute to the School of Information Studies' mission of preparing students to be leaders in the information professions. I am also looking forward to continuing my research and to sharing my findings with the world.

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I am so grateful for your encouragement and guidance.

As businesses continue to rely more heavily on data to drive decision-making, the demand for skilled data analysts, business analysts, and data scientists continues to rise. To help address this demand, I recently arranged a career panel talk on data analytics in the area of finance and business, featuring experienced professionals from a variety of industries.

The panelists shared their experiences and insights on how data analytics is used in their respective industries and discussed the various career opportunities available in this field. The panelists also provided valuable advice for those considering a career in data analytics. They emphasized the importance of developing strong technical skills, such as programming and data analysis, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders in different areas of the business. They also highlighted the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in data analytics.

The audience, consisting of students and professionals interested in data analytics, asked a variety of questions on topics ranging from the technical skills required for data analytics to the future of the field. The panelists provided thoughtful answers and insights, giving the audience a better understanding of the exciting opportunities available in this field.

I am excited to announce that I have recently received research grants that will enable me to mentor undergraduate students in their research projects. These grants will support investigations into the use of AI and TikTok algorithms, and will help us to better understand the impact of these technologies on society.

The grants are part of the URSCI program at Dominican University, which supports research, scholarship, and creative investigations by undergraduate students in collaboration with faculty mentors. The program offers several different initiatives, including grants and awards that support research activities, course credits for research, and opportunities for students to disseminate their work at the annual SI (Scholarship and Ideas) Expo.

With these grants, I will be able to hire undergraduate students and mentor them in their research projects. The investigations will focus on the use of AI and TikTok algorithms, and will explore the impact of these technologies on various aspects of society, such as privacy, bias, and cultural values. The grants will enable students to gain valuable experience in research and develop their critical thinking and analytical skills. They will also have the opportunity to present their work at the annual SI Expo, where they can showcase their findings and interact with other researchers.

I am excited to share the news that I have been appointed as the Director of the Informatics Program, the undergraduate program of the School of Information Studies at Dominican University. This new role is an exciting opportunity for me to contribute to the development of the next generation of information professionals and to help shape the future of our field.

As the Director of the Informatics Program, I will oversee the program's curriculum, work with faculty to develop new courses, and ensure that our students receive a rigorous and relevant education. I am excited to collaborate with my colleagues to create an innovative and forward-thinking program that prepares our students for success in the rapidly evolving field of informatics.

This new role is an honor and a responsibility that I take seriously. I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a passion for learning. I believe that the Informatics Program at Dominican University has the potential to be a leader in the field of information studies, and I am excited to be a part of that journey.

I would like to thank the School of Information Studies for entrusting me with this important role. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues, who have been a constant source of inspiration and guidance. I am also excited to work with our students and to learn from them as we embark on this new journey together.

I am proud to announce that our grant of $750,000 from the Department of Education's Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program has been awarded, where I am the co-PI for  grant. This grant is part of our project, "Building the Digital Bridge to Emerging Careers for Women and Underrepresented Minority Students through Technology-Driven Instruction. "This project seeks to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in emerging technology careers by providing technology-driven instruction that is both accessible and engaging. Our goal is to create a digital bridge that will help these students overcome the barriers they face in pursuing careers in the technology field.

As co-PI, my role will be to help oversee the implementation of the project and ensure that it meets its goals. I am excited to be part of this important initiative, which has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of women and minority students.

The project will utilize a variety of instructional methods, including online learning modules, virtual reality simulations, and interactive labs. These technologies will help make the instruction more accessible and engaging for students who may face barriers to traditional classroom instruction. This grant is an exciting opportunity to advance the careers of women and underrepresented minorities in emerging technology fields. Through our innovative approach to technology-driven instruction, we hope to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce that is better prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

I am thrilled to announce that I have been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor by the School of Information Studies at Dominican University. This promotion is a significant milestone in my academic career, and I am honored to have achieved it.

My journey to this point has been one of hard work, dedication, and a passion for the field of information studies. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and students, who have inspired me to strive for excellence in my teaching and research. As an Associate Professor, I will continue to teach courses in information studies while also pursuing my research interests. I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of our field and to inspire the next generation of information professionals.

I would like to thank my colleagues for their support and guidance throughout my time at Dominican University. I would also like to thank my students for their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Their curiosity and passion for the field have been a constant source of inspiration for me.

As a recipient of two Dominican University Faculty Development Summer Research Grants in 2021 and 2022, I have had the opportunity to delve deeper into two important areas of research related to the digital age: the diffusion of conspiracy theories on Twitter during the 2020 US Presidential Election and the effectiveness of library guides for fact-checking to fight misinformation.

In my first project, I am investigating how conspiracy theories were disseminated on Twitter during the 2020 US Presidential Election. Social media has become a significant platform for spreading misinformation, and conspiracy theories can have a profound impact on public opinion and policy decisions. Through this research, I aim to understand how conspiracy theories are disseminated on Twitter and how they can affect public opinion.

My second project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of library guides in promoting fact-checking and combating misinformation. Misinformation can spread rapidly on the internet, and it is essential to have reliable sources for fact-checking. Library guides can be an important tool in providing accurate information and promoting media literacy. Through this research, I am exploring how library guides can be utilized to effectively combat misinformation.

These two research projects highlight the importance of addressing the impact of conspiracy theories and misinformation in the digital age. As social media platforms continue to grow in influence and misinformation becomes more prevalent, it is critical to understand how these issues are affecting our society and how we can combat them. Through my research, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of these complex issues and to develop effective strategies for promoting media literacy and combating misinformation.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, we attended the NetVUE conference, which is a nationwide network of colleges and universities focused on enriching the exploration of vocation among undergraduate students through intellectual and theological means. This initiative is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and members' dues and is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), which receives guidance from an advisory council consisting of representatives from participating institutions.

I am delighted to share that the book "Cybersecurity for Information Professionals: Concepts and Applications" has been published by Auerbach Publications, an imprint of CRC Press, which is a part of Taylor & Francis Group. Taylor & Francis Group is a distinguished academic publisher that specializes in publishing high-quality academic books, journals, and online resources. Being associated with such a prestigious publisher is an honor, and I am proud to have contributed a chapter to this important work.

"Cybersecurity for Information Professionals: Concepts and Applications" is a book that highlights the importance of cybersecurity for information professionals, librarians, archivists, and record managers. The book covers various topics related to cybersecurity, including information governance, user privacy, social media, healthcare regulations, mobile cybersecurity, software development life cycle, data security, and privacy. The book also emphasizes the significance of designing and leading cybersecurity awareness campaigns to change people's security behavior, making them more conscious about cybersecurity and privacy risks.

At ALISE 2020 Conference, scholars from various LIS programs and iSchools across the US presented on "Library and Information Science Across Disciplines in ALISE: Transforming LIS Education in an Interconnected World." Due to COVID-19, this conference was held virtually. 

Our collaboration with University of South Florida, Syracuse University, University of British Columbia on Data Science education for undergraduates got accepted at the 2020 iConference Sessions for Interaction and Engagement (SIE) held at Boras, Sweden.  The conference took place virtually due to the COVID-19. 

Attending 2019 iConference at University of Maryland. Together with Dominican University Informatics Director Dr. Don Hamerly and University of South Florida partners Dr. Loni Hagen and Dr. James Andrews, we are organizing a Sessions for Interaction and Engagement (SIE) on Data Science education in US iSchools. This conference is special for Don and I because three of our undergraduate seniors have also been accepted at the first ever iConference Undergraduate Symposium. 

Dominican University Business School is hiring a faculty in assistant professor position to be appointed by fall 2019. I have been serving as an external committee member. Working with the DU Business School faculty is rewarding. My motivation is to enhance partnerships between Informatics and the Business School. Hopefully, the School will find the deserving candidate who can uphold DU missions and willing to work collaboratively with us in preparing more students in the areas like data analytics and more.

In partnership with Dr. Don Hamerly and Dr. Stacy Kowalczyk at DU, we are working on NSF grant for cybersecurity issues. We are focusing on importance of governance in the area and promotion of cybersecurity education and workforce in the US. More news as develops will be followed.

Thanks to the DU Academic Technology and Facilities Grant committee for awarding me an IT grant. It is a great start of 2019. With this grant I can enhance my online teaching experiences one step ahead. This grant will be useful for adding more state-of-the-art tools in my online teaching equipment collections. 

It is an honor to become the editor of the renowned journal, World Libraries. Essentially, the journal is a scholarly project of the faculty, staff, and students of the Dominican University. It aims to promote works of library and information professionals globally. My priority is to publish diverse works from around the world and at the same time enhance the website's security. If you are interested to submit your research work, please visit here. Please share the journal's news and calls for submission to your network as well.