Dr. Marcia A. Mardis, Professor in FSU School of Information and Associate Dean for Research at the College of Communication and Information, will also serve as Director of the Information Institute, effective immediately.
“Dr. Mardis has played a central role at the Information Institute since her arrival at FSU, leading projects in rural broadband expansion, information technology workforce development, and crisis informatics,” said Dr. Kathleen Burnett, Director of FSU iSchool.
Mardis succeeds Dr. Charles R. McClure, Krafft Professor of Information Studies and current Director of the Information Institute, who retires on January 8, 2021. McClure and Mardis have brought many research opportunities to CCI, as well as achieving a phenomenal amount of scholarly output.
Mardis has an exceptional record of research and ongoing funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the State of Michigan. From 2010-2015, she was a Distinguished Research Fellow at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) National Science Digital Library and President’s Fellow at Internet2. She is currently PI on five federal research projects focused on rural community resiliency. Additional information about Mardis’ background and experience can be found here.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Mardis accept the role as Director of the Information Institute and are excited to work with her to continue and expand the great work of the Institute,” said Dr. Larry Dennis, Dean of FSU College of Communication and Information.
McClure, outgoing Director of the Information Institute, is very pleased Mardis has agreed to follow him as Director. In this new position, Mardis will take a leadership role in identifying and pursuing a range of new Institute initiatives that include exploring a range of external funding opportunities, networking with other information professional researchers, collaborating with other information professionals at FSU and elsewhere on research opportunities, and representing the Information Institute in various academic communities.
Mardis has had continuous federal research funding since 1999, has a national and international reputation for excellence, and is well known in digital learning and information science circles. McClure said, “she is an exceptionally high quality individual who will continue to move the Information Institute forward in research, technology planning and development, program evaluation, policy analysis, and education and training.”