Three students have been selected for the 2021 CCI Student Leadership Awards. Sara Collins, Laura-Kate Huse, and Shannon Williams have all been selected based on their outstanding contributions to the University. Honorees will be honored at the Scholars and Stars Donor Engagement Virtual Event on November 16th, 2021. Keep reading to learn more about honoree Shannon Williams.

Shannon Williams – School of Information

Shannon Williams is a current doctoral student in the School of Information. After joining the iSchool, Williams served as a Volunteer Student Technical Assistant for the Women for FSU Virtual Meet-and-Greet. Additionally, she has served as a host for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Students Speak virtual panel discussion held by the CCI Student Leadership Council, as well as a panel member for the FSU American Library Association Student Chapter in March 2021 for the LIS Employment and Opportunities Talks. Most recently, she has volunteered to serve as the Ph.D. Student Representative on the CCI Ph.D. Subcommittee. Williams told CCI, “The leadership opportunities I’ve had here at FSU have given me the presentation skills and confidence I need to succeed with my future goals, and I look forward to finding more opportunities to serve while here.”

Williams has many goals for her future after she completes her graduate degree, one of which is becoming a productive member of the LIS research community, teaching in LIS and remaining active in DEI-related committees, and developing courses in LIS that focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She would also like to continue her volunteer efforts, focusing on people recently released from prisons and how to manage the overwhelming amount of information they are presented with upon release. In her current volunteer role, Williams works with them to teach them about misinformation and disinformation, along with how to use and be safe on social media.

Williams credits the award with giving her access to new opportunities in the field. “The Student Leadership Award has afforded me the opportunity to attend my first in-person conference as a doctoral student. I was recently able to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Annual ASIS&T Conference where I was able to meet professionals in the field, attend many conferences sessions and observe the poster sessions. Attending this conference gave me new ideas and helped me streamline my next steps in the program as a doctoral student.”