Washington DC—The Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is pleased
to announce the selection of Jessica A. Koepfler as the 2010 recipient
of the Paul Evan Peters Fellowship for graduate study in the
information sciences or librarianship. Koepfler is currently a
doctoral student in the College of Information Studies at the
University of Maryland. The fellowship, which was established to
honor the memory of CNI founding Executive Director Paul Evan Peters,
recognizes outstanding scholarship and intellectual rigor, as well as
civic responsibility, democratic values, and imagination.
Koepfler has a BA in archaeology and classics from the University of
Virginia and a graduate degree in museum studies from the University
of Toronto; she has also served in the Virginia Army National Guard.
Her research addresses issues of human-computer and human-information
behavior and interaction, currently focusing on investigating
information presentation and participatory design strategies for
homeless and underserved populations. “There are so many
organizations providing resources for the homeless, but few resource
Web sites that are actually designed with the homeless as stakeholders
in the process,” Koepfler commented. “The role that public libraries
and day shelters play in providing free computer and Internet access
makes this an area of great opportunity for applying user-centered
design principles to a specific user group’s crucial information needs.”
Judith Klavans, of the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced
Computer Studies, noted, “Jes is energetic, creative, and eager to
make a difference, and Paul [Evan Peters] was committed to making a
difference; they have that incredible quality in common.” Selection
committee member Kathryn Monday, of the University of Richmond,
recognized Koepfler for “the courage to tackle big challenges, a
commitment to democratic values, and a great sense of humor,”
qualities for which Paul Evan Peters was also known. Monday praised
the candidate for including underserved populations in her research,
citing Koepfler’s statement of intent, "Improving intellectual
productivity and information access for individuals in all walks of
life will help create the informed citizenry this country needs..."
A four-member committee selected Koepfler for the award: Kathryn
Monday, Vice President for Information Services at the University of
Richmond; Patricia Renfro, Deputy University Librarian at Columbia
University; Gary Strong, University Librarian at the University of
California, Los Angeles; and Joan Lippincott, Associate Executive
Director of the Coalition for Networked Information. “We had a
wonderful pool of applicants this year,” commented CNI Executive
Director Clifford Lynch, “and the choice was very difficult. Jessica
captures the combination and balance of talent, potential, and
commitment that I think will make her a great selection to carry on
the fellowship's high level of excellence.”
About the Fellowship
The Paul Evan Peters Fellowship was established to honor and
perpetuate the memory of the founding Executive Director of the
Coalition for Networked Information. Funded by donations from
colleagues, friends, and family, the fellowship provides a two-year
award of $5,000 per year to a student who demonstrates intellectual
and personal qualities consistent with those of Peters, including:
— a commitment to the use of networked information and advanced
technology to enhance scholarship, intellectual productivity, and
public life;
— an interest in the civic responsibilities of networked
information professionals, and a commitment to democratic values and
government accountability;
— a positive and creative approach to overcoming personal,
technological, and bureaucratic challenges; and
— humor, vision, humanity, and imagination.
The fellowship will be awarded next in 2012; applications will be
available on the Web site of the Coalition for Networked Information, http://www.cni.org
.
More information about the fellowship is available online at http://www.cni.org/pepfellowship/
.
CNI is a coalition of some 200 institutions dedicated to supporting
the transformative promise of networked information technology for the
advancement of scholarly communication and the enrichment of
intellectual productivity. The Coalition, which is sponsored by the
Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and EDUCAUSE, is headquartered
in Washington DC. More information about CNI is at http://
www.cni.org/.
ARL is a nonprofit organization of 125 research libraries in North
America. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of
scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research
libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this
mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries,
providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly
and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and
expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research
libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its
interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the Web at http://www.arl.org/
.
EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit membership association created to support
those who lead, manage, and use information technology to benefit
higher education. A comprehensive range of resources and activities
is available to all EDUCAUSE members. The association’s strategic
directions include focus in four areas: Teaching and Learning;
Managing the Enterprise; E-Research and E-Scholarship; and the
Evolving Role of IT and Leadership. For more information, visit
educause.edu.
***********************************************
Diane Goldenberg-Hart
Communications Coordinator
Coalition for Networked Information
21 Dupont Circle, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-296-5098
202-872-0884 (Fax)
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www.cni.org
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