School of Information (iSchool) alumna Dr. Lenese M. Colson has been named the Head of the Department of Library and Information Studies at Valdosta State University (VSU). Colson, who has been a faculty member at VSU since 2019, previously served as interim department head and is still an associate professor at the university as well.
A graduate of Florida State University, Colson credits her time at the university as a large part of her professional development.
“I would say the modeling of the faculty at FSU was really instrumental in how I approach my job here,” Colson said. “They really did prepare you to not only be faculty, but serve as leaders as well.”
While at FSU, Colson served as a lead graduate instructor for courses such as Information and Society and Information Technologies. She earned both her Master of Library and Information Studies and her Ph.D. in Information Studies. 
Colson’s collegiate academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Norfolk State University, followed by a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Her early research focused on undergraduate women’s perceptions of information technology professionals and the barriers that contribute to their underrepresentation in the field. However, over time, her work has expanded.
“I’ve moved more into part of my other background, which is my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction,” Colson said. “I’m looking at more e-learning or just online graduate education, because that is a really big part of our program since we’re all online and asynchronous in trying to help develop best practices.”
Recently, her focus has been on creating a welcoming environment for those on campus.
“Making sure that people feel seen and heard, and when we are developing our courses and curriculum, that we are not forgetting that we were once students as well — making sure that whatever we do makes them feel included,” Colson said.
Colson spent several years working as a public librarian and later contributed to national research initiatives, including serving as a fellow for the American Association of School Librarians CLASS II project. She has also taught at institutions such as Old Dominion University.
As she steps into this new leadership role, Colson is focused on preparing the department for the future of the field.
“Now that I’ve been officially named, we as a faculty have been working together to craft the future with the ubiquitous nature that AI is becoming,” Colson said. “How do we tackle that moving forward? How do we continue to stay relevant and make sure that we are training the next generation of information professionals?”
Ultimately, Colson says her motives remain the same no matter what position she holds.
“Being a department head and also a faculty member myself, I want to remember who we’re serving, why we’re doing this, and making sure that all the changes that I bring forth are focused on making sure that my faculty and students feel supported,” Dr. Colson said.