School of Library and Information Studies’ Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) graduate, Stephany C. Jones, is CEO of WBS Multimedia.  Her story is inspiring for women who want to get into IT and helps to demonstrate the value of SLIS graduate IT education. Her company is cutting edge, spearheading multimedia marketing campaigns which encompass: mobile friendly websites, search engine optimization (SEO), social media management (Facebook, Google+, Youtube, Twitter, etc.), corporate graphic art, web videos/commercials, text message campaigns, online newsletters, content writing, and much, much more.  Online marketing is their specialty.

Uniquely, they are a bilingual branding boutique as all their services are offered in both English and Spanish, a necessity in Central and South Florida.  By the end of the year they will have expanded their web branding services to Latin America as WBS Latino will be opening an office in South America.

Ms. Jones stated that “The SLIS MSIT degree offered me a lot of practical knowledge to include useful resources that I have been able to implement into my business which have saved us both time and money.  The professors in the program were always available, accessible, and knowledgeable.  I would encourage others to consider training in IT as it is one of the few careers that make the world smaller and surpasses the barriers of distance, culture, and race preparing you for a globalized future.”

The SLIS Master’s in Information Technology degree enables students to gain a solid foundation in areas such as information architecture, information quality assurance, usability, IT governance, information systems management, IT project management, user experience design, IT documentation/technical writing and communication, information archives, distributed information systems, data management, and mobile information systems.  The degree provides expertise in information technology, individual and organized behavior, and information management targeted to the IT skills needed within the information rich and the information provision environments.

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2013

Contact: Charles R. McClure, PhD

cmcclure@lis.fsu.edu

The National Science Foundation – Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program announced that Florida State University, College of Communication & Information, School of Library and Information Studies, Information Institute will receive an $847,000 award to support the four year project Assessing Information Technology Educational Pathways that Promote Deployment and Use of Rural Broadband. The project begins summer 2013 and is one of a number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives underway at the FSU College of Communication & Information.

Charles R. McClure PhD, Francis Eppes Professor and Director of the Information Institute will lead the project as the Principal Investigator.  Marcia Mardis, PhD, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at the Institute, and Ebrahim Randeree, Associate Dean at the FSU College of Communication & Information are Co-Principal Investigators as are James P. Froh, PhD, Dean School of Business and Technology at Chipola College (CC) and Kathryn M. Stewart, PhD Dean, Technology & Professional Development at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). The FSU, CC, TCC and a number of industry and private sector firms/organizations will collaborate closely in completing the project.

The project was prompted by the growth of broadband use in all industries that has resulted in a significant workforce need for IT/broadband workers. The project’s research will focus on the educational and career pathways of individuals working as information technology (IT) technicians who support broadband deployment in non-metropolitan communities in Northwest Florida.  The project team will identify the workplace roles of broadband technicians; the education needed to develop skills to be successful in these roles; and the processes to sustain partnerships between educational and industry stakeholders.

The results of this project will further define a field that requires flexible workers who can manage a constant stream of new knowledge and support work functions that are increasingly broadband dependent.  Project activities will align the efforts of educators directly to the needs of employers and industry as they integrate continued broadband deployment initiatives. This study will support the efforts of career technical education to facilitate economic development and connect the nonmetropolitan communities to global society.

In response to the grant notice, Kathleen Burnett, PhD, Professor and Interim Director of the School of Library & Information Studies at The Florida State University, said that “SLIS looks forward to cementing our relationships with Chipola College and Tallahassee Community College; We will work in partnership to develop technicians and managers who can lead broadband deployment across Florida’s large non-metropolitan areas.”  Larry Dennis, PhD, Dean of the College of Communication & Information, reiterated that message: “This project will do a great deal to expand the IT expertise in North Florida and is also laying the foundation for long-term partnerships in IT education.”

The FSU Information Institute http://www.ii.fsu.edu/ is a research center within the School of Information Studies http://slis.fsu.edu/  and has conducted an extensive number of externally funded projects in areas such as planning and evaluation of digital services; high speed broadband telecommunications deployment and use; rural broadband use and economic development; program evaluation; digital learning; and the role of public libraries and the Internet.  Additional details on the project Assessing Information Technology Educational Pathways that Promote Deployment and Use of Rural Broadband can be found on the Information Institute’s website at http://ii.fsu.edu/Research/Projects/2013-Project-Details/NSF-ATE-Project-Abstract.

Florida State’s No. 1 ranked School Library Media Program at the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) is among 56 such programs accredited by the American Library Association around the country. Its master’s degree program is completely online, with students closely monitored and supported through technology, including employing Skype to observe interns in the field.

Graduate of the program Jodi Hooks was a Project Lead recipient and a master’s student at Florida State University studying Library and Information Studies. She was a educator for 16 years in Tarpon Springs, Florida as an ESE Teacher certified in K-12.  Jodi notes, “My favorite way to expose students to literature is through Teacher Read Alouds. I thoroughly enjoy reading aloud, changing my pitch & tone in character voices and watching the children’s faces as the story unfolds.”  The use of books and stories in the classroom was based on student needs–core subject curriculum, holidays, emotional, just for fun, etc. and varied depending on the time of the year.

While at FSU, Jodi was accepted into the honor society Phi Kappa Phi and also attended 2 graduate classes at the London Study Centre during the summer of 2008 – something she remembers as a truly eye-opening and spectacular time. Says Jodi of her time at SLIS, “I am thankful for FSU for creating a climate of connectivity and support.  During the program, I was teaching full-time and a single mom.  I never felt alone and still rely on my cohorts from my time at FSU.  It was validating to go through the program with my peers while having a high level of support from the caring professors.”

After receiving her graduate degree from FSU, Jodi accepted a position as a Library Media Specialist at Dunedin HIghland Middle School in Dunedin, Florida.  During this first year running her own library, she led a group of students to win Pinellas County district’s Battle of The Books competition.  In August 2011, Jodi accepted a position as a Library Media Specialist with DoDEA at Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa, Japan, and has never looked back.  Reflecting on her latest adventure in Japan, Jodi says, “As an educator, we all need to feel like we are making a difference in the lives of children and others in our community.  The strong sense of community at Misawa AFB is unlike anything I have ever experienced.  I am humbled by the sacrifices of military families that I observe on a daily basis.”

Florida State University’s School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) was ranked 13th in the nation, 5th in Youth Services and 11th in Digital Libraries in U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” published in March, 2013. Read more about SLIS’s top-ranked programs at FSU News.

The 2013 Academic Affairs Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony was held on April 30.  This event recognizes employees who have:

• served 10, 20, 30, and 35 years at the university with Sustained Service Awards,
• recognized with a Gabor Superior Accomplishment Award,
• and been highlighted as Exemplary Service Awards (awarded through nominations from Division employees and chosen by a committee comprised of past award winners).

The College of Communication and Information (CCI) employees recognized were:

• Mary Ealey – Twenty Years of Service to FSU
• Ercelle Fishburn – Twenty Years of Service to FSU
• Erica Heasley – Ten Years of Service to FSU
• Elaine Howard – 2013 Gabor Award Nominee & Exemplary Service Award Nominee
• Robert Levine – Twenty Years of Service to FSU

In addition, Michele Kiker, who is employed through the Office of Undergraduate Studies and serves as an undergraduate advisor for CCI, and Matthew Mortimer (SLIS, UG ’08), who is employed by Information Technology Services, were recognized for Ten Years of Service to FSU.

CCI Dean Larry Dennis was at the event to thank the recipients.  He said, “Congratulations to our CCI winners; their commitment to providing outstanding service to our College, students, and faculty is proudly being recognized.  It is their hard work and dedication that makes us successful.”

The Division of Academic Affairs, the largest division on campus, includes:

• Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
• All Colleges and Schools, including Panama City Campus
• Office of the Vice President for Planning and Programs
• Office of the Vice President for Faculty Development and Advancement
• Ringling/Asolo Conservatory
• Florida High-DRS
• International Programs
• Undergraduate Studies
• The Graduate School
• Office of Distance Learning
• University Libraries
• Center for Academic and Professional Development
• Information Technology Services (ITS)
• Admissions/Registrar/Financial Aid
• Institutes and Centers at FSU (100+)

Several recent School of Library and Information Studies graduates were nominated by SLIS faculty to join Beta Phi Mu, the international LIS honor society. They include:

•  Jenna Cowen
• Jennifer Diaz
• Leonel Escamilla
• Allison George
• Marcus Gilfert
• Kristen Gurciullo
• Marjorie Hoomes
• Natacha JeanBaptiste
• Mairelys Lemus-Rojas
• Jeremy Lucas
• Lindsey McDole
• Hyacinth Power
• Rachel Ramsey
• Claudia Robinson
• Lauren Turner
• Theresa Wondracek

Since 1948, Beta Phi Mu has been the international library and information studies honor society. FSU’s Gamma Chapter is the second oldest continually existent chapter.  Shortly after graduation each semester, the SLIS faculty votes on which academic leaders with at least a 3.75 GPA are invited to join Beta Phi Mu and Gamma Chapter. This recognition of students for their academic achievement, leadership and service becomes a part of their resume and your career. Congratulations!

To learn more about the Beta Phi Mu organization, visit www.beta-phi-mu.org or search for “Beta Phi Mu” and “Beta Phi Mu – Gamma Chapter” on Facebook.  You can also contact Charles McElroy, Secretary, Beta Phi Mu Gamma Chapter at bpm-gamma@fsu.edu or cnmcelroy@fsu.edu