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Congratulations to Simmons GSLIS Assistant Professor Naresh Agarwal, who has been named the winner of the ASIS&T James M. Cretsos Leadership Award for 2012. The award was established in 1992 to recognize a new ASIS&T member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in professional ASIS&T activities. He will receive the award at this month's ASIS&T Annual Meeting in Baltimore. From the citation: Dr. Naresh Agarwal, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College, joined ASIS&T as a student member in 2008. An interview during Naresh’s first ASIS&T annual conference in 2008 led to his current position. As importantly, Naresh launched his ASIS&T career during that conference when he took the initiative to ask various members how he could get involved. By 2009, Naresh was the Vice Chair of SIG/SI, Chair-Elect/Vice Chair of SIG/HLTH, an Alternative Assembly Representative to the Chapter Assembly, and a Co-Faculty Advisor to a student chapter. In 2010, Naresh became the Student Chapter Representative to the Chapter Assembly, the Chair of SIG/HLTH, and Chair-Elect of SIG/ED. Naresh’s work as Chair of SIG/ED during the 2011–2012 term resulted in a new web site, redesigned newsletter, increased social media presence, a successful four-webinar series on hybrid/blended learning, two webinars on online teaching and mentoring, a student travel award, acceptance of two panels and a workshop for the 2012 Annual Meeting, and new membership initiatives, among other accomplishments. Along the way, Naresh participated in a variety of ASIS&T panels and paper/poster presentations, while contributing to ASIS&T publications as author and reviewer. Naresh works hard to promote ASIS&T, ASIS&T special interest groups (SIGs), and student chapters. One of his goals is to encourage new members, which he accomplishes through such diverse activities as hosting the traditional secret student party at the Annual Meeting, promoting ASIS&T membership among his students, and facilitating SIG membership drives. His quest is to help connect different SIGs, regional and student chapters within and across each other for greater knowledge sharing. In September 2012, in his role as the Student Chapter Representative, and to connect different student chapters, Naresh led a virtual meeting of Student Chapter Advisors and Leaders. As documented by successes during his tenure as SIG/ED Chair, Naresh envisions ASIS&T as a dynamic, thriving Society and he lends his leadership skills to the realization of that vision. Unquestionably, Naresh exemplifies the ASIS&T future leader honored by the James M. Cretsos Leadership Award. ================================= Jennifer Doyle '98LS Director of GSLIS Curriculum and Communications Simmons College 300 The Fenway Boston, MA 02115 www.simmons.edu/gslis =================================