A necessary (but fun!) introduction and such: I’m an Associate Professor in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. My research interests include neurodiversity, madness, disability, accessibility, empathy, instructional technology, and the library as both an institution and community space. I also research on and offline harassment and aggression. Primarily, cyberbullying and bullying. It’s not just for kids.
I received my PhD in Information Science from the School of Information at Florida State University in Spring 2016. Upon graduation, I began a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Utah State University’s Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences. Joining a research team funded by an IMLS grant on development of STEM-focused making training materials and resources needed by small, rural school librarians, building welcoming space for creativity, and sharing just how many forms “making” can take. Before I began that journey, I served as a public librarian in a small, rural library system in Southwest Georgia. Per the norm when working in small public libraries, I wore many, many hats.
A native of Southwest Georgia, I grew up in a small, rural town which (honestly) few have heard of. I usually reference my hometown’s distance from Atlanta (drive approximately three hours south) to give some idea where Leesburg can be found. I received my BA in anthropology and history from the University of Georgia in 2006. In 2008, I completed my Masters in Library and Information Studies at Florida State University, with a concentration in children and youth services. After serving as a public librarian for four years, I returned to Florida State to pursue a PhD in Information Science. Somewhere along the way, I completed a Specialist degree in Information Studies, focusing on leadership and management.
In my free time, I am an avid reader of a diverse range of genres. These include Southern Gothic, social and culturally leaning non-fiction, curious and unexpected memoirs. I also enjoy poetry ( Andrea Gibson, my heart), YA literature, and speculative fiction. Outside of books, I’m an eclectic music nerd (Tacocat, Sierra Farrell, Kimya Dawson, Charlie Parr, the Mountain Goats, Brandi Carlile, The Beaches, and …….), craft beer fan, year round cold brew drinker, and enthusiast of (almost) anything pickled.