Masters in Library and Information Science

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

I have been at IUPUI since 2017. After getting my undergraduate degree, I had created a community on this campus that I cherish. IUPUI is renowned for their research and academics but for me it was my peers, faculty, staff, and various mentors on this campus that made me feel safe and uplifted emotionally and mentally as I finished my studies. The community here at IUPUI is what made me want to stay here for my graduate degree because every university has their own accolades but not every university has a community committed to their student’s personal growth along with their academic achievements.

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

My favorite academic accomplishment so far has been switching master’s programs. Going to and graduating from college is hard enough as an African American woman because we have to be twice as good to be considered half as great. I started my graduate journey in a program that I thought I was interested in, but after taking a few classes, I realized it did not resonate with my interests and career goals as much as I thought. Instead of continuing in that program, just to say I did it or dropping out, I decided that another program might be a better fit for me. I switched and started taking classes in the School of Informatics and Computing, where I found my home in the Library and Information Science program. It is important for me to not only receive a graduate degree but receive a degree that I would enjoy and use in the future. I also think it’s good for people to know that not every program is going to be aligned with your interests, but the right grad program is out there.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

I love how Indianapolis has continued to grow and innovate. We are truly in the world’s largest smallest city. There are opportunities everywhere. There is always something to do professionally or just for fun.

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

During the summer of 2022, I was a Junior Fellow within the Library of Congress. I worked in the Informal Learning Office, which exists to connect kids, teens, and families to the collections and resources of the Library by developing programs, resources, and learning spaces that inspire them to use the Library for their own creative purposes. During my internship, I contributed to the content of the new Southwest Corridor, a new 5,700 square foot experiential learning space in the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building. The Southwest Corridor will be a user-driven, flexible, and participatory space for intergenerational family groups and school groups, with a focus on ages 9-13. While visitors of all ages will be given the chance to open-explore curated replicas of Library collections, visitors will also have an opportunity to dive deeper by exploring discovery boxes, which will be a core component of the experience. In my role, I developed content for a prototype of two primary source “quest/discovery boxes” based on the Library’s vast collection.

I also self-published a children's book, Precious Love. Because my graduate program is virtual, its flexibility helped me balance time between school and my personal life. I have been able to use what I learned in my undergraduate and graduate courses here at IUPUI to write my book, which is about being in a blended family and dealing with an absentee father. Ultimately, Precious Love teaches children how to move forward when someone in their life has left them behind.