Kristen Gallant

Empowering Students with Cutting-Edge Technology to Shape Tomorrow’s Leaders

With strategic initiative funds received from the College of Communication and Information, the School of Information Sciences (SIS) created a new facility and introduced new technology to the college in its iLab in 2024. The iLab is equipped with high-performance workstations, robots, digitization equipment, and virtual reality headsets, making it a space where teams of…
MSIS Student’s Work Showcased at ALA: First Step Towards Becoming a Published Graphic Novelist

Brandi Payne, a master’s student in the School of Information Sciences, had their work on display at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference this summer in San Diego. Payne is from Sevier County and is working at the Pigeon Forge Public Library while completing their MSIS. Payne loves comics and graphic novels. They received their…
Non-Traditional BSIS Student Finds Her Passion After Pursuing Second Degree

Catlin Rehders (’23) works as a financial intelligence analyst at Navy Federal. She completed her bachelor’s in information sciences in 2023 and now loves what she does for work, but that wasn’t always the case. Rehders describes herself as a non-traditional student as she did not find her true passion until seeking her second bachelor’s…
SIS Assistant Professor using UX to help underrepresented communities in Africa and beyond

Assistant Professor Hope Chidziwisano had a very busy summer working on multiple research projects very close to his heart. He traveled across the world to his home country of Malawi to see if his research could improve the lives of those there. Chidziwisano grew up in Malawi and completed his undergraduate studies at the University…
SIS Assistant Professor Receives IMLS Grant to Help Continue Research on Inclusive Cataloging in Libraries

Assistant Professor Brian Dobreski at the School of Information Sciences began his research with the Inclusive Catalog Use Lab in 2022. Recently, he secured an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant to support his ongoing research. Dobreski, along with his research partners Karen Snow at Dominican University and Heather Moulaison-Sandy at…
School of Information Sciences Faculty and Incoming Student Present at the American Library Association Annual Conference in San Diego

Many School of Information Sciences faculty members, current students, and alumni traveled across the country from Tennessee to San Diego to attend the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition. ALA prioritizes learning and ensuring access to information for all by providing resources to library systems across the country and by advocating for…
MSIS Student Travels to Norway to Present Research on Mammoth Ivory Hunting in Siberia

It’s not very common for undergraduate students to travel across the world to present their research at international conferences, but one School of Information Sciences student recently had the unique opportunity to do so. Chris Hastings is a master’s student and a teaching assistant for Assistant Professor Brian Dobreski. Hastings has been researching mammoth ivory…
SIS Professor working to detect research misconduct on a global scale

Professor Wade Bishop from the School of Information Sciences is committed to protecting and correcting the scholarly record with a focus on research data. Although the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from presenting his 2020 research at the World Conference on Research Integrity that year, he was able to attend and share his findings this June…
SIS Student Awarded Scholarship Enabling Her to Receive US Passport and to Study Abroad

Incoming School of Information Sciences senior Sinit Eyob was recently gifted the opportunity to study abroad in Valencia, Spain, thanks to multiple scholarship opportunities provided by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Eyob is originally from Eritrea, Africa, but moved to Ethiopia when she was three and to the United States when she was six. She’s…
MSIS Alumna Shares How Advocating for Oneself Can Lead to Opportunities After Being Honored by YALSA

Ariel Birdoff (‘12) is an elementary school librarian who loves to read teen novels in her free time. Her father started his undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and was a huge fan of the campus environment. The New York native remembers hearing about her father’s experience on campus when she was growing up.…