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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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