Every year ASIS&T, the gold standard in Information Science publications, awards coveted and prestigious awards to professionals in the field of information. This year, Michelle Kazmer has found her place on the list as the Thomas Reuters Outstanding Information Science Teacher. Established in 1980, the award was created to honor exemplary information science teachers.

Michelle’s education is based in Mechanical Engineering and Library Science, with her research revolving around distributed knowledge. “From the time I entered the information professions in 1994 and attended my first ASIS&T conference, I aspired to win the Thomson Reuters Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award,” she shared. “My research is really important to me as a scholar, but I am also passionate about teaching and learning from the students whose education and professional preparation are entrusted to me each year.” Her colleagues and students agree, nominating her for the FSU Graduate Teaching award in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2012.

It was a group of students who nominated Kazmer. “I’m grateful to the team of doctoral students, led by doctoral candidate Julia Skinner, whose tenacity and hard work in the nomination process led to my receiving the award.” She credits her inspiring teaching environment to the “most awesome, amazing” colleagues. Beth Logan, professor in then-School of Library and Information Sciences from 1985-2001, was awarded the Outstanding Teacher award in 1998, shortly before her retirement in 2001. However it is last years honoree, Professor Emeritus Carole Palmer University of Illinois that hits home with Michelle. “I’m incredibly touched because last year’s winner was my first teaching mentor in my doctoral program,” she recalled. “The list of prior winners include many people I’ve had the joy of learning from in some way during the past 20 years,” she said. “I’m honored to join their ranks.”

Kazmer will accept her award at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting on November 4th.