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>> [Background Music] Stand.
[ Music ]
[ Applause ]
>> Welcome everyone.
Why don't you be seated?
Okay. I'm Doctor Sandy Hirsh, and it is my privilege to serve as professor and director
of the School of Library and Information Science and to preside over to this convocation
to celebrate you and your accomplishments.
Today represents the culmination of all your hard work and I would
like welcome you and your families.
Before we begin, I'd like to ask you all to make sure your cellphones are turned off
and all of the names of our graduates will be read out today including the names of those
who are not able to join us and we're also recording everything
and that will be available upon our convocation website.
So today, we are gathered for a convocation which is a calling together.
We are here today to celebrate your accomplishments which you accomplished
with the love and support of the people who are closest to you, your parents, your siblings,
your partners, and children, some of whom maybe even sharing this special event with you today.
This is the school's 46th Convocation since we achieved accreditation.
Our mission is to educate professionals and develop leaders who organize, manage,
and enable the effective use of information and ideas to contribute
to the well-being of our global communities.
And there is so much to celebrate in our school.
We're the largest school of library and information science in the world
with almost 2,000 graduate students in 46 states and in 17 countries.
We have a large graduating class this year.
There is over 550 students that are graduating.
Our graduates today represent a good cross section of the overall student body
with our graduates coming from 41 states
and several countries including Canada, Bermuda, and Japan.
In addition to our nationally ranked and accredited MLIS degree,
we offer several other online programs including a Teacher Librarian Program,
a Masters in Archives and Records Administration Degree, Gateway PhD Program in partnership
with the Queensland University of Technology, and Post-Master's Certificate in Library
and Information Science Program which was just launched last spring.
And I'm very pleased today to celebrate our first individuals
to complete the Post-Master's Certificate and also our very first individuals
and doctoral students to graduate from the San Jose Gateway PhD Program,
let's give them a round of applause.
It was exciting.
[ Applause ]
We offer our students a broad range of courses enabling them to design their curriculum
to best meet their needs and interests.
As an example, our courses range from the history of books to mobile devices,
services and applications to cyber security.
Our school has launched new initiatives
such as our highly successful Virtual Library 2.0 Conferences
that we have co-chaired since 2011.
As new alumni, it is my hope that you will participate
in the upcoming Library 2.013 Conference in October to build your professional connections,
share your knowledge with others, and continue your lifelong learning.
Another new initiative, we are launching in the fall is a MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course.
Dr. Michael Stevens will teach about hyperlinked library in this MOOC format.
And this is another way that you can continue your professional development and connection
with the school after you graduate.
We are very fortunate to have exceptional award-winning faculty and students
who are influencing the future of the profession.
This year, five of our faculty were awarded for their teaching excellence
in our partnership with other online schools.
I would like to acknowledge our faculty who are before you on the stage and also our staff
who are working very hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly today,
so let's give them a big round of applause.
[ Applause ]
We all work to support you in your education and as you enter into the professional world.
To help you on your way, as a graduation gift from SLIS, I'm very pleased to announce
that we are giving each graduate this year a complementary one-year membership extension
to the San Jose State University Career Center.
So this membership includes access to resources such as resume workshops, interview workshops
as part of jobs-- online job search database and more.
It is our hope that this gift coupled with the skills and knowledge you gain during your time
in the SLIS program will position you well to launch your successful career.
I highly encourage you to let our school know when you land that job after graduation,
and that you continue to stay in touch with us in the future
as you progress throughout your career.
To help you to do that, last week,
we just launched a new initiative called the Alumni Career Spotlights.
On our website, you can fill out a form that explains about your career
and also gives you the opportunity to make yourself available to talk
with future students about your work.
I hope that you will let us know about your exciting careers so that we can celebrate
with you, celebrate your accomplishments and also share the excitement of your new position.
As San Jose State University graduates, you bear the responsibility today and tomorrow
for demonstrating the impact that librarians and information professionals have on the well-being
of their communities, whether it's in a college or university environment,
governmental environment, school environment,
public library environment, or in corporate environments.
Congratulations to all of you.
You've done it.
You should be-- I'm very proud of your accomplishments
and I can tell you that we are very proud of you.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
So, I'd like to now introduce our Dean, 'cause we are supported in our work
by the larger university, and I'm very pleased to introduce a very dear friend of our school,
our Dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Art, Dr. Charlie Bullock.
[ Applause ]
Good afternoon everyone.
On behalf of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts
and the San Jose State University, I welcome you today.
It's a privilege to be part of this 2013 commencement ceremony to stand before a group
of students, present physically and some later virtually, who have completed their requirements
for master's degree in Library and Information Science.
You've been challenged, tested, and stretched.
And I know our curriculum and professors have inspired so many of you to perform at your peak.
Maybe sometimes you thought beyond your peak.
I hope that our program will adapt to your expectations.
During your time as a student at San Jose State University, while you studied
and learned online, you saw bold, creative, and innovative ideas put forth
by your faculty and your fellow students.
You may even have experienced a few bumps on the road but I'm sure
that you've learned from those as well.
The School of Library and Information Science and the outstanding faculty have provided you
with a rich and contemporary intercultural knowledge that has expanded your understanding
of the complex ways individuals interact with and within systems.
You have acquired the intellectual sophistication to be successful
in the dynamic field of information.
I have confidence that each of you in your own way will contribute significantly
to your profession.
Ultimately, the relevance and value of your education will be determined
by how well you convert your learning into action and service.
Continue to make us proud as you make your professional
and personal mark throughout your future.
Commencement is the most important celebration that takes place at a university.
It's a sign of what we do, what we're all about, a real highlight of the year.
So be as proud of your education as we are of you.
You have every reason to be proud.
You're part of the first and only fully virtual program at San Jose State University.
You're graduating from San Jose State School of Library and Information Science
which is an award-winning program that has one
of the most innovative curricula in the entire university.
As you know, it is a program that is technologically at the forefront of education.
It is the largest program of its kind in the world, and once again,
it is ranked among the top programs in the field
by US News & World Report and many other rankings.
And it is number one in the area of E-Learning.
Your family and friends, your faculty advisers and mentors are all extremely proud of you
and your accomplishments and the education you've worked so hard to earn.
And I, indeed, share in that pride.
So graduates, on behalf of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts,
I extend my very best wishes to each of you and congratulate you as San Jose State graduates.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
>> Thank you.
Thank you very much.
So each year, the faculty invites a student who best exhibits the academic leadership
and professional characteristics reflective of our students
and program to address the convocation.
This student receives the Ken Haycock Award for Exceptional Professional Practice,
and is asked the service the graduation speaker.
This year's speaker is Shelli Owens.
I am very pleased that Shelli was elected as this year's graduation speaker.
She demonstrates how versatile a degree in Library and Information Science is.
As focused her coursework on special libraries and information literacy,
she's interested in applying her new degree by working in academic libraries.
She will be aided in this pursuit by how actively she participated in the school
and the profession while she was a student in the program.
Here are some examples of her leadership and professional accomplishments.
She served as the Student Social Media Manager for SLISConnect,
the school's student/alumni group and will change roles after graduation
to become the Alumni Social Media Manager.
She served two years with the Bay Area Chapter
of the Special Library Association as the Academic Relations chair.
She actively volunteers her time, for example,
with the Borders without Horizons program at the Oakland Public Library.
And she has also been a member of several professional associations including ALA, SLA,
and the California Library Association.
I look forward to the great things that Shelli will accomplish
with her MLIS degree from our program.
And again, I'm very pleased that Shelli will continue her connection
with SLIS through SLISConnect.
Today, she represents all of our graduates here.
It's my pleasure to present Shelli Owens.
[ Applause ]
>> So, I have a quick bit of organizational duties.
Could everyone smile?
[laughter] You guys, too.
[laughter].
Okay, thank you Dr. Hirsh for that introduction and I'd also like to thank the faculty
for the honor of this award, and the anxiety and pressure of now living up to it.
[laughter] Thanks so much.
Before we start, I have a quick note to aside.
Giving a speech is a funny thing and not something I've done before.
I've gotten suggestions on how to manage the anxiety and how to be funny,
and a lot of request for things that people would like to see included sort
of like a little secret nod to-- in their direction, even faculty who I won't name.
Dr. Bernier.
[laughter] And for that nothing is off limits, I tried to include everything
but there were a few non sequiturs that just couldn't be worked in.
Instead, I decided the best way to handle this so that everyone would feel included is
to just list the things that didn't quite fit in my speech.
To that extent, ***.
[laughter] Baba booey.
If we don't, the overlords win.
And finally, for the amazing support from the ePortfolio phase group, commando.
[laughter] I want to welcome you all to this momentous ceremony.
Faculty, family, and friends and the happiest of all, graduates,
or as we should actually now call ourselves, the liberated.
[laughter] You guys have been through at all, multiple projects all due on the same day,
five pounds of PDF that you took everywhere hoping for an extra 10 minutes reading,
days and hours of sleep given up in service of your education.
At the same time, you're working full-time jobs doing internships,
volunteering, caring for family and children.
During my three years at SLIS, I've seen my peers get married and have babies,
move across the country and around the world,
fight life threatening illnesses, and bury loved ones.
Through all of that, you still show up for your education.
Everyone of you has worked unbelievably hard to get here today
and I congratulate you on an achievement well earned.
Why is it that all of us have worked this hard to enter this profession,
to be able to call ourselves librarians?
I'm sure it is not for the million dollar signing bonus.
[laughter] And while I wouldn't mind one of those, we do it for something deeper,
it's more like a calling, a vocation, and once you've heeded
that call, there's not turning back.
It's really about passion.
I've always loved the library but I am coming to this profession after many years and another.
And so, my idea is about what opportunities existed for me were pretty basic, yet,
as I moved to my classes, each course was a revelation, I felt the depth and breadth
of what the profession encompasses was being like a kid
in a candy store, every class was something new.
Information literacy, yes, this is it, this is what I'm going to do.
Wait, hang on, instructional design?
Okay, that's for me.
Hold the door, cataloging?
[laughter] No, really, hold the door, I'm getting off here.
[laughter] But, I was lucky enough to take a class
with Dr. Robert Elliott who we sadly lost this year.
Dear lovely, funny Dr. Bob, how you made me love the frustrations of AACR 2
and the Dewey Decimal System, I don't understand.
It takes a professor of uncommon charm and passion to do such a thing.
But that's what I found with every class and every professor at SLIS, passion.
And the more librarians I meet of every type, it's the same thing,
a deep sense of passion and commitment.
However, as I librarians, we have an interesting path walk in this digital age.
What we are passionate about is often reduced to an archaic view of our profession.
I know you've all encountered this at least once since starting grad school.
"Oh, so you're going to be a librarian, you must really love books."
Okay, the rest of the conversation often goes like this, "Yup, books, love them, also."
[laughter] "Oh, hey, you [inaudible] me, that's really, no, no gee."
[laughter] That reductive idea barely began [inaudible] our passion for librarianship.
While it is a good bet that most of us do love books, it's less about the book itself
and more what the book represents, which is information.
Librarianship is about information, the preservation, the collection, sharing,
access to an organization of information.
We've just spent 43 credit hours immersed in a new paradigm of education putting us
at the vanguard of yet another technological innovation in this information age,
and we emerged not only as librarians but as information professionals passionate
about the enduring and involving-- evolving mission of librarianship.
It's this shared passion that excites me
to see what roads my peers will forge in the years ahead.
I know several people will end up at the Library of Congress continuing its legacy
of furthering the progress of knowledge and creativity
for the benefit of the American people.
Some will find themselves in school libraries helping our children discover their love
of reading and learning, and academic libraries guiding students through research
and developing the critical thinking skills that are necessary part of an informed democracy.
And still, others will find themselves in special libraries like law
and medicine furthering the study of the human condition.
And some will take a nontraditional path, ending up in business, technology,
and knowledge management, expanding the field of librarianship far beyond the library walls.
Yet, everyone of us, no matter where our career paths may take us and our time at SLIS--
and our time at SLIS instilled with a passion from committed and dedicated professors
to enhance the learning and ensure access to information for all.
This is the mission of the American Library Association and by extension, it's our mission,
and I leave SLIS today knowing full well each and everyone of us will embody this promise
in every aspect of our professional lives.
I'd like to thank you all for being a part of one of the most transformal-- transforma--
excuse me, transformative experiences of my life.
I feel so lucky to have been a part of SLIS and I can't wait
to see what comes next for everyone.
I'd also like to thank my parents who have the grace to continue
to tell their 44-year-old daughter that she can be anything she wants to be.
[laughter] So, now is when I would normally jump up and down with excitement
or do a 32nd dance party to show my excitement for what's going on here today,
but my mom is here with her iPhone and she wants nothing more than to have a video go viral
on YouTube, so instead, like a grown up, I offer my heartfelt congratulations
to the class of 2013 on a job very well done.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you.
Thank you, Shelli.
That was great.
I'm very pleased now to introduce to you our Convocation Speaker, Donna Scheeder,
she is the Deputy Chief Information Officer at the Congressional Research Service
at the Library of Congress and I'm thrilled that she has agreed to speak with you today.
I believe that her background career and leadership at the Library of Congress
and in several major professional associations including the International Federation
of Library Associations and Institutions, IFLA, and the Special Libraries Association, SLA,
will help inspire you as you move forward into the workforce and launch your career.
Donna has held a range of positions at the Library of Congress
in both the Congressional Research Service where she now serves and also has served previously
as the Director of Law Library Services at the Law Library of the Library of Congress.
She has a global perspective and broad international experience that connects well
to our global school of Library and Information Science.
She has been especially active in IFLA where she currently serves as the treasure
and on the governing board and is also running for president.
She has conducted workshops for the Global Center for ICT and Parliaments
and has presented papers and conducted workshops in Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Canada.
She has also been very active in the Special Libraries Association having served
as their president and treasurer for that association.
For her extensive contributions to SLA, she has been named SLA fellow.
She was inducted into the SLA Hall of Fame and she received the John Cotton Dana Award
in recognition of her outstanding contributions into the field of special librarianship.
Donna contributes her vast experience, international perspectives,
and professional leadership to our school as well as a member
of our school's International Advisory Board.
Donna has a broad perspective of what it means to be an information professional,
and I am very pleased that she agreed to join us today
to share her thoughts and perspectives with you.
It is my great honor to introduce Dona Scheeder.
[ Applause ]
>> I want to thank you, Dr. Hirsh, for that great introduction and Dean Bullock,
distinguished faculty members, graduates, family, and friends.
I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be here, it is a real honor to be asked to speak
at this occasion and today will be a milestone in my life as well as yours.
It is a particular honor to be here at San Jose State University, an institution that notes
in its mission statement-- I think I'm going to take this off if you don't mind.
I'm an animated speaker and that felt to me like balancing a plate
on my head while speaking at the same time.
So, it is an honor to be here at San Jose State University, an institution that notes
in its mission statements, it's "distinctive character forged by its history, its location,
and its vision, a blend of the old and the new, the traditional and the innovative."
So, except for the location part, I think the same can be said
about the profession that you are entering today.
It is also a tremendous honor to be asked to speak by a school that is leading the way
in educating library and information professionals for the future.
I spent the last two days at the Faculty Institute and I was truly inspired
by the passion and the creativity of the faculty and the new ground
that is continually being broken here in library and information science education.
Quality matters is alive here in more ways than one.
I, for one, want to hire graduates that had been through this program
because you had been prepared to think and create solutions
for the information issues of today and tomorrow.
And to all of the graduates who will view this later that can't be with us
in person today, I salute you as well.
You are pioneers, all of you, in virtual learning.
Wherever you are, I want to say, welcome to the profession.
Now, this is a day to pause and to celebrate the past and to envision the future.
For parents, it is a celebration of accomplishments, both their own and that
of you, their successful offspring.
For professors and administrators, it is a day to be proud of a job well done.
And for graduates, it is a celebration
of reaching a milestone, the completion of your degree.
On this day, you become a member of a profession with a distinctive character forged
by its history and one that blends the old and the new, the traditional and the innovative.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Well, today is not, however, is the end of the need to learn, to grow, and to change.
So for each of you, this is also a new beginning.
Now, I really envy you, I wish I was at this place and in the world
in your age and starting out my career.
At the risk of sounding like a fossil, I will admit [laughs] that when I was at this point
in my life, it was BC, before computers were used in libraries.
[laughter] I spent 40 years at the Library of Congress and, of course, at this point,
you're supposed to look at each other and whisper, "She doesn't look that old."
[laughter] And most of it at the Congressional Research Service
and that's the department that works for Congress only.
So when I started doing research for Congress, in fact, going to card catalogs,
the reader's guide to periodical literature, and an extensive collection of reference books.
The main reading room featured the largest reference collection in the world
and among other things contained a collection of phonebooks from all over the world.
So when you were really desperate, you always could get on the phone, find some experts
and hope that they would help you.
To obtain information on current events, you consulted the extensive collection
of clipping files that were added to everyday by the bibliographers,
and our innovative services including sending three by five cards of citations
to public policy literature to clients who would select and return the cards for us
to provide the hard copies of the articles that they wanted.
Needless to say, we no longer offer that service.
[laughter] Our world change with the introduction
of bibliographic databases and that was just the beginning.
Our professional associations told us that information revolution was coming and we needed
to be ready and come it has at a furious pace.
So at CRS, we innovated and put our services on our client's desktop, and now,
thanks to mobile technology, CRS can place its services in a member's pocket.
I was reminded of how much change there has been when I visited the Computer History Museum.
And as I walked through the exhibit, I pointed at artifact after artifact saying,
"Oh, I used that and I used that."
[laughter] And then I thought I'd better stop before they put me in the museum as well.
[laughter] There has never been a more exciting time to start in a Library
and Information Science profession.
The world really needs your knowledge and skills that you have learned at this school
and the possibilities are endless.
And having heard that your education includes such courses as virtually a broad
and hyperlinked library, I am sure you are ready.
There are myriad of opportunities arising from the fact
that we live in a rapidly changing world.
Our profession continues to evolve in new directions.
There is a world of-- this is a world of instant information,
the pace of technological change continues to accelerate as users become more mobile,
content comes in many different kinds of containers, and the globalization
of the profession presents new and professional challenges.
You have already faced some of them in your classes where you had to collaborate
across national boundaries and time zones.
What you now face is the fact that libraries and librarians are continually challenged
to transform, to innovate, and to engage their communities, and this is nothing new.
The same situation existed in the library profession
at the beginning of the 20th century as well.
I discovered that change was our tradition.
When I became president of SLA and decided to do some research on the SLA founding father,
John Cotton Dana, he and others founded the Special Libraries Association
to provide a network for those who were responding to the needs
of 20th century businesses who needed to put knowledge to work.
This required innovative practices different from what was the norm of the time.
And it was similar to the demands that continue to be placed on our profession today.
It was controversy surrounding some of their new methods and yet, they forged ahead.
They split from the American Library Association, a revolutionary act at the time,
and broke new ground with the practice of special librarianship.
The addition of alignment with business
to your school's strategic priorities recognizes business needs library and information sciences
to help them work smarter, just as they did 100 years ago.
When I look around today, I see the same thing happening and though many might refer
to digital curators, web analytics managers, information architects,
emerging technology librarians to name the new of the many and varied job titles that are
out there as nontraditional librarianship, I challenge them to look at this in other way.
As you enter this profession, you are entering it at a point in time on a continuum
of change, evolution, and transformation.
Change is the tradition of library and information science and I challenge it
to make you-- challenge you to make it your personal tradition as well.
Why? Because I want you all to be successful and happy,
[laughs] and this philosophy has worked for me.
When people asked me how long I have been a librarian, I usually respond longer than I care
to admit I'm old, but I will admit to you that I have been in this profession for over 40 years
and it changed my methods of practice several times
or as others might say, I have reinvented myself.
What I would say is this, I wanted to remain relevant.
Nevertheless, it is a willingness to embrace the new that has brought me to this stage today.
And I would like to spend just a few minutes sharing what has worked for me.
Dealing successfully with change is the key to your future success.
Hilary Clinton advises that challenges of change are always hard.
It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize
that we each have a role that requires us to change
and become more responsible for shaping our own future.
I also find irony in the fact that the author of Peter Pan,
a character who is essence is remaining the same forever, put it more bluntly,
James Berry stated, "The most useless are those who never change through the years."
Resistance to change is feudal.
So, if you take one piece of advice from this speech, take this one.
It is better to shape the change that is occurring
in your professional world than to get ran over by it.
You have the power to control your own faith but it takes some dedication and some work.
Now, there are many things you can do to stay ahead of the curb and to be prepared
to shape the change that confronts you everyday.
First, invest.
You must invest in yourself and commit to continual learning.
There are endless opportunities through professional associations, webinars,
conferences to acquire the knowledge and skills you will need
to reinvent your practices and yourself.
However, in today's world, you cannot wait for you employer to fund these opportunities.
It is up to you to value your own career enough to invest in it
and I guarantee you, it will payoff in the future.
When I first started to work, there was no such thing as a CIO.
But when the opportunity came, thanks to the money I expend on seminars,
professional conferences, association dues, I was ready,
and you will be too if you follow that advice.
Second, connect.
Continue to grow your network.
Other people can be your best resource and source of inspiration and advice.
One of the best ways to do this is to join, if you had not already, a professional association.
Without my membership in SLA and later IFLA, I would not have been able to meet people all
around world who have shared their best practices, successes, and have failures
and have made me a much smarter person.
There has also been a lot of fun and some great dance parties along the way.
The longer you work as a professional, the more valuable your network will become
but this is not something that gets build over night.
Effective networks are built on trust and strong relationships and that takes time.
So, if you've not already started networking, start today.
Start at the tea as soon as this is over.
Third, lead.
Be a leader.
You do not have to be a manager to be a leader.
But if you are respected for your knowledge and your skills and build relationships,
you will be able to work with and influence others to get the right thing done,
and that is what professional leadership is all about.
Fourth, and this is so important.
Always be able to find the joy in what you do.
Life is too short to spend time working at something that brings no joy and sense
of satisfaction, and I know many of you have come here as having had a first career.
So you -- I know that you know that that-- you have great faith that you're entering something
that you have a passion for and you really want to do.
Changing jobs can be scary but it can also be energizing and can free you from baggage
that you may have built up over time.
When I change jobs one time, I thought, why did I take so long to do this and it was one
of the best things that ever happened to me.
And finally, I'm going to share some advice I heard from Michael Stephens this Thursday.
Be human, be yourself, and bring yourself to what you do.
That is so important to building trust and finding happiness in your work.
But while change may be a constant in your life, you've also entered a profession
that has traditional values that should not change.
These values are the foundation of our practice.
As the American Library Association reminds us, the foundation of modern librarianship rests
on an essential set of core values which guide us in the practice of our profession.
Confidentiality and privacy, freedom of access to information for all, intellectual freedom,
and service to others are the cornerstone principles
of our profession and in formal practice.
Sometimes, these values, they seem like they're in conflict, like privacy
and freedom of access to information.
It is important to remember that while there are ongoing ships in the way we do business,
it is these values that earn us the trust of our patrons and the respect of our communities.
Some of you may find yourselves in positions
where you are publicly called upon to defend these values.
And actually, I heard that some of you have actually role played these situations in class
which will probably be a great preparation.
While the choices you will have to make will not always be easy, you can take comfort in knowing
that an entire profession shares these values and stands with you.
Now, the news has been filled the past few weeks of the news of other commencement addresses,
President Obama at Ohio State and President Clinton at Howard University
and both men urged the graduates to choose their work wisely
and to be of service to their fellowmen.
Well, pat yourselves on the back because you have done that already.
You have wisely chosen to be part of a profession with a long
and storied history of service to others.
We have the power to change people's lives when we connect them to the knowledge that they need.
Or as the Canadian author, Naomi Klein, stated, information, your stock
and trade ranks just below fuel as the most precious commodity coursing
through the global economy.
And I was never more aware of this than I was last week.
I had the good fortune to attend the awards ceremonies at the national medals from Museums
and Library Services that were presented at the White House.
Each recipient was accompanied by an individual with a story
about how the librarian had changed their lives
and those stories literally brought tears to the eyes of the audience.
Mrs. Obama concluded the ceremony by thanking us for what we quietly
but also effectively do everyday to change people's lives.
And also, don't forget that service to others means helping your fellow professionals.
Don't forget what it was like to be a student.
Remember to do some mentoring and to give back a little in return for all of the advice
and the support you have received along the way.
So, change will be your tradition, too.
And as you think ahead and ask yourself, what will the libraries and librarians
of the future, what will they be like?
Realize that you have the power to create the answers to that question.
The future is in your hands.
You are part of a lasting tradition of change and you are also very special.
No one but you has come to just this place and time with just these precise circumstances
and with the same choices that greet you.
You have the power to choose and to act.
Take this opportunity and be determined to act, to transform, and to create the libraries
of the future, both physical and virtual.
Be leaders in your profession and you will shape our future and your own in ways
that will bring you great joy and happiness, and that is my hope
and wish for you today and forever.
Thank you very much.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you so much, Donna.
That was great.
That was really inspirational.
So now, we're going to move into calling you guys up.
And so, we're going to-- names are going to be called by me for the Gateway PhD Program
as the-- I'm their coordinator and by Dr. Pat Franks, she is the MARA Coordinator,
and by Dr. Linda Main as the SLIS Associate Director, and also by Dr. Mary Ann Harlan
as the Teacher Librarian Coordinator.
And today, it will be an honor to be hooded by Donna Scheeder as you come across the stage.
So, I am going to open this with the doctoral students.
Okay. Okay.
So, I would like-- so this is for our Gateway PhD Program.
These are our very first graduates.
I'm so excited to see these students complete the program.
So, our first one is Mary Ann Harlan.
[ Applause ]
[ Inaudible Remark & Laughter ]
>> There you go.
You're ready.
[laughter]
[ Applause & Cheering ]
Congratulations.
Okay. And then, Tina Inzerilla.
[Applause] Great.
Okay. Congratulations.
There you go.
>> Thank you.
[ Pause ]
>> Okay. [Applause] And our next one is Cheryl Stenstrom.
Cheryl Stenstrom.
I called on Cheryl Stenstrom.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
Great and Virginia Tucker.
[ Applause ]
Okay, congratulations.
And Diana Wakimoto but she's-- that's it.
[ Applause ]
I will now read the names of the MARA graduates.
Cherity Bacon, Melissa Brown, Summer Espinoza Palacios, Laura Gaasemyr, Erick Hawkins.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Stormie Holguin.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
Samantha Marotta.
[Applause] Ryan Wadleigh.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
This concludes the MARA graduates, and now I'll be announcing the beginning
of the MLIS graduates.
Stephanie Abajian, LeAnne Acox, Dana Adams.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Zada Addison, Esteban Aguilar, Hillary Ake, Mary Alexander.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Karoline Almanzar.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Jennifer Alva.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Patricia Alvarado.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Dudenka Anaya, Kelly Anderson, Anthony Andora who is also the Jean Wichers Award
for Professional Practice Recipient.
[Applause] Carol Andredesz.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Heather Andrews, Lori Angulo, Christina Antipa, Jeanne Archambault,
Nicole Ardelean, Megan Arlett, Elizabeth Atlas.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Lori Austin.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jefferson Baker, Marlena Barber, Jacob Barillaro, Laura Barnes, Margaret Barrera.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Laughter & Applause ]
Jennifer Barton, Sasha Baugess, Erin Beard, Jessica Becker, Susan Beckmeyer.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Angela Bernard, Scott Biegen, Sarah Bishopp, Terra Black, Monica Blanco.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Lisa Blank, Melanie Boerner.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Elizabeth Borghi-Potluri.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Theresa Boware.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jessica Bowers, Bonnie Bowes, Anne Marie Bowie, Jennifer Bowman, Alma Brand,
Rachel Brandt-Fisher, Sandra Brautigam-Strader.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Cerstin Breslin, Sarah Bresniker, Lise Bretton, Amy Brinkley, John Brockman, Katja Broddesson.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Lorie Broumand, Aaron Brown, Ceora Brown.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Sarah Brown.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Roseann Broz, Evelyn Bruneau.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
Sherri Bryan, Kiersten Bryant, Joe Burch, Jodi Burgess, Anthony Burik, Kimberly Busschaert,
Jessica Cadiente, Carolyn Campbell, Jennifer Campbell, Amy Cannon, Jessica Canty,
Evan Carlson who is also the recipient of the Award for the Outstanding Thesis.
[Applause] Matthew Carmichael and Christine Carnevale.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Cammi Carpenter, Michelle Carvellas, Kaela Casey.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Jeffrey Castel De Oro, Diana Castro, Miguel Castro, Angela Chadbourne.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Charlama Chaffee, Jennifer Chapman, Xu He Chen, Ya-Ping Chen, Yu Chen,
Thereza Cheng, Barbara Childers, Sara Chin, Rose Chou, Karyn Cipresso, Michelle Clark.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Joanne Clymer.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Katherine Coffey, Kevin Coleman, Rose Coley,
Erin Collins, Matthew Collins, Jodi Collova.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Karlin Colobella.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Sara Coney.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Diane Conrad, Stephanie Conrad.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Taylor Cornwell, Mara Cota, Ellen Cothran, Daniel Cottrell, Lexie Cowgill.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Sharon ***, Casandria Crane, Jessica Creighton, Charles Crumpacker,
Patricia D'Cruz who is also the recipient of the Shirley Hopkinson Award
in the Organization of Information.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Stephen Danley, Katherine Dart, Sallie Davis, Jessica Deckert, Zayda Delgado.
[ Applause ]
>> Congratulations.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
>> Jessica Dewey-Hoffman.
[ Applause ]
>> Congratulations, Jessica.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
>> Robyn Dexter, Jennifer Dieffenbacher, Sara Doehring, Deidre Dolce, Stephanie Donnelly,
John Doran, Gladys Dormido, Tiffany Duck.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Angela Duncan, Elise Dunn, Susan Dunn.
[ Applause ]
>> Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
>> Linda Duong.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Lisa Durkin, Iris Eichenlaub, Katherine Eisenstein, Melissa Eleftherion Carr.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Katherine Emigh, Sarah Emmerson, Sally Engelfried, John Esquivel, Danea Famatid,
Bret Fearrien, Lisa Ferneau-Haynes, Helen Fischer, Deloris Flowers, Michelle Formoso.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Callie Foust, Laura Francabandera, Anya Franklin,
Christopher Fuller, Raymond Fwu, Diana Garcia.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Phillip Garcia, Robert Gardner.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
James Ghormley, Gina Giang, Catherine Gildea, Anne Gillingham,
Lindy Giusta, Felice Gomez-Spencer.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Maria Gonzalez, Marissa Gonzalez, Elizabeth Goode, who is also the recipient
of the Leslie Janke Award in Teacher-Librarianship.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Adrianna Gould.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Dena Gould.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause ]
Adrienne Graham.
[ Applause ]
>> Congratulations
>> Thank you.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jessica Greene, Jennifer Greenwood, Rory Grennan, Mary Griffin.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Stephanie Gritz, Hilda Guerrero.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Jennifer Gulassa, Anjali Gulati, Mary Guthmiller, Isabel Guzman.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
>> And we're going to change readers now and so you're going to get a different piece.
But, however, we'll continue happily.
Keithley Hale, Jayme Hall, Anne Halpenny.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Lindsey Halsell.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jessica Hansen, Stephanie Hardy, Crystal Harrison, Coleen Hathaway-Rosa.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Robynn Haycock, Grant Hayslip, Amanda Heath, Angela Heath,
Kathleen Hebert, Cheryl Heid, Monica Hein.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Llyr Heller, Jessica Henry.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Michael Herman, Alyssa Hernandez, Andrew Hernandez, Ernesto Hernandez.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Nicole Hester, Jason Hill, Nora Hill-Luna, Sarita Hinojos,
Larry Hoeckelmann, Matthew Hoehamer, Sarah Holian.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Virginia Holman, Tahni Holmes, Celeste Holz, Catherine Hong.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Sara Hopkins, Paul Hottinger, Peter Howard, Sandra Hoyer.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kenneth Hoyt, Lisa Hubbell.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Margaret Huff, Katherine Hug, Ashleigh Hvinden, Kristen Hylton.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Celia Jackson.
Dawn Jackson.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Iris Jahng, Genna James.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Mervin Jensen, Kelly Jin, Jamie Johnson, Marita Johnson, Michael Johnson--
we've another Johnson [laughter], Roger Johnson, Aida Jones.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
David Jose, Veronica Juarez-Carrillo, Kathy Jung.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jennifer Kanter, Tina Katz.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jocelyn Kehr, Shawn Kelley, Sarah Kern, Kate Kiebala, Rosemary Kiladitis, Laura Kirkland,
Carrie Kitchen, Brenda-- I'm sorry, Brenna Klassen.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Sofia Kolinnidas, Jennifer Konkle.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Christopher Kowalczyk.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Maric Kramer, BJ Krikorian, Jessica Krill, Godhai Krishnan,
Brian Krueper, Rebecca Kuhn, Rebecca Kwong.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Katrina Lacerna, Sara LaFever, Karen Lancelle, Cindy Larsen, Kathryn LaSala, Silvia Laurean.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Barbara Lawrence, Jeffrey Lawrence, Kathryn Leach, Kelsey Lee, Kitty Lee.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Madeleine Lee, Salina Lee.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Patricia Lehar, Kathryn Levenson.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Silvia Lew, Erika Lewis, Lee-Ann Liles, Jessica Lind, Heather Linstaedt, Holly Lipschultz,
Jeffrey Lipschultz, Dana Litchman.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Lynne Litjen.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Roxanne Livingston, Hadas Livnat who is also the Edna B. Anthony Awarder--
Award recipient for Reference and Information Services.
[ Applause ]
Sarah Logan.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Cynthia Lott, Holli Lovich, Jewell Ludwigsen, Lee Luniewski, Julie Luplow.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Melissa Luttrell-Hill, John Lyman, Christina Lymath, Patricia Maass, Rebecca Machetta.
[ Applause ]
[ Applause ]
[Applause] Angie Macias-Mendez.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Barbara Mack, Allison Mackey, Phoebe Magallanes, Tammy Magid, Minhthao Mai, Carina Maldonado.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Diane Malmstrom.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kirstin Mandalay.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause]
Stephanie Mantz, Christopher Mapa, Gina Marin, Robin Markel, Armine Markosyan.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
Rubina Markosyan
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Ann Marks, Allison Marquez.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Maudeen Martin, Michael Mastrangelo, Jae Mauthe, Genevieve Maxwell, Catherine Mayfield,
Rebecca Mays, Theresa McArthur, Allyson McAuley.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Julianne McCall-Bramley, Teresita McCarthy.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Nadine McCaughan, Devin McClain, Eric Mcclelland, Edward McCoy,
Michael McCurdy, Kathleen McDonald.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Matthew McDonell, Ashley McDonnell, Daphne McKinney.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Thomas McMahon, Brian McManus, Ryan McMurray, Emily McNaughton, Jessica Medrano, Sara Meldrum,
Michael Mendenhall, Eleanor Mercer, April Merritt, Elyse Meyers,
Stephanie Milner, Patricia Miranda.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jennifer Mitchell, Madeleine Mitchell,Sharon Mizota, Kristy Moldrem, Maximilian Montez.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Raminta Moore, Shiloh Moore.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Antoinette Morales, Cindy Moran, Mary Morrill.
[ Applause]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Lauren Mulkern, Kathleen Mullesch.
[ Applause ]
>> Kathleen, congratulations.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kathryn Munn, Rosemarie Murray, Robin Myers, Elisa Nascimento,
Judy Neeb, Melanie Nef, Peggy Nielsen.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Michelle Norris.
>> Michelle, congratulations.
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Staci Novak, Mercedith Nuesca and now we're going to change readers again,
I'm going to pass it over to Dr. Harlan.
[ Applause ]
>> It's very exciting getting this [inaudible] that it's difficult, isn't it?
Okay, Eileen O'Neill, Pat Oey.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Caitlin Oiye, Lisa Old, Franklin Oliveira.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Janet Oliver, Briana Olson, Carmen Olson, Allison Ortiz, Reid Otsuji, sorry.
I'm so sorry.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Elizabeth Ott, Amanda Ottaway, Danielle Owens, Jessica Owens, and our speaker, Shelli Owens,
the award winner for the Ken Haycock Award for Exceptional Professional Promise.
[ Applause ]
Heather Oyler, Maria Papanastassiou.
[ Applause ]
She's one of my students more than once and I still [inaudible].
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Natalya Pashkova, Erika Patsy, Brianna Patterson, Andrea Payant, Annie Pena.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Madeline Pena Feliz.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
Elizabeth Perez.
[Applause] Sylvia Perez, Morgan Peterson, Allison Peyton, Dinorah Pinelo,
Martina Podsklanova, Mary Port, Danielle Portway, Camerin Poulson [Applause] Awesome.
[Applause]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kate Pracher, Carolyn Prescott, Sara Proctor, Madeleine Pundyk.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Candice Putnam.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Amira Qattan, Kurt Rankin, Lauren Rasmussen, Emily Ratica, Becky Rech.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Valerie Redfearn, Lauren Regenhardt.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Sarah Reid-Campbell, Casie Reiner, Alicia Reuter,
Melissa Ribeiro, Nicole Rich, Collin Rickman.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Candy Riley, Tina Rinaldi, Cairn Riney, Claudia Rivas, Francisca Rodriguez.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Laura Rodriguez, Russell Roe, Tyler Rogers, Annly Roman.
>> Yeah.
>> Woah.
[ Laughter & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Cheering & Applause ]
Matthew Rose, Eric Rosen, Michelle Rosenberger, Beth Rosenblum.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Theodora Rudolph, Jessica Rumschlag, Dorothy Russell
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Ellen Ryan, Basya Samuels, Michelle Sanchez, Victor Sanchez, Joanna Santos.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Sarah Sault, Keli Schmid, Cori Schmidtbauer, Rachelle Schoo.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kathryn Schramm, Erin Scott.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kaitlin Scott, Sara Scribner, Shannon Sedell, Sean Senti, Laura Serrano, Nicole Settle,
Brenda Sevigny-Killen, Gianina Shafer, Kenna Shapiro, Telia Sherwood, Rebecca Shevy,
David Shiriwastaw, Lauren Sidle, Patrick Siebold, Alexandra Siek,
Lewis Sievers, Kimberly Sinclair, Kelly Sinlao.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Laughter]
>> Are you okay?
>> Mm-hm. [Applause]
Ben Skelton, Laurie Slattengren, Edith Smith, Hilary Smith.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Robert Smith, Lauren Snell.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Hyongsig Song.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Hai-Thom Sota.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jessica Sousa, Lissette St. Michele, Derek Stalcup, Meredith Steiner,
who was the award recipient for the s Stella Bunch Hillis Award in Youth Services.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Judy Stencel.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Alexandra Stockdale, Carrie Stone, Vivian Strabala.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Am Sukitphaiboon.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Linda Sukop, Anne Sullivan.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kathy Swartz.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Hilary Swett.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jennifer Ta.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Natalia Tabisaura, Ross Takasugi, Anna Christine Taloma, Annie Tang.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Eira Tansey.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Elaine Thielstrom, Kimberly Thomas, Melleny Thomasson, Katherine Thompson, Collin Thorman.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
William Thorpe.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Remy Timbrook, Chole Tiscornia.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Lisa Tobin, Steven Tomalin.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[Applause] Kristin Tomasovich, Travis Truong, Tiffany Turner, Rebecca Tuttle,
Jade Valenzuela, Chao Vang, Jenna Varden.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Roxana Vargas.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Emily Vigor, Sarah Vincent, Jeffrey Vogel, Rupali Vora, Tam Vuong, Dillon Wackerman,
Megan Wagner, Susan Wainscott, Kathleen Walker, Stanley ***,
Leta Ward, Tracey Ward, Shawna Warneke.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Erica Watson, Katrina Watson, Christi Weindorf.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jacob Weisfeld, Michael Wentworth, Kristin Whipple, Julie Whitehead,
Theresa Whitehead, Kathryn Whitehouse.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Kate Williamson, Carrie Wilson, Madelyne Wimberley, Heathen--
Heather Witherow, Paul Wolf, Kyla Wong.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Jennifer Wood, Carletta Woods, Kimberly Woolery, Aric Wu, Yuting Wu, Diane Wunsch, Manlia Xiong.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Rachel Yamada, Cheuk Yau, Gena Yoon, Elizabeth Young,
Stephan Young, Linda Zajac, Amelia Zavala.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
[ Pause ]
[ Applause ]
Christopher Zeidel, Roxanne Zielke, Courtney Zwieg.
[ Applause ]
[ Pause ]
So, I open today's ceremony by reminding us that the word convocation means a calling together.
Another word for today's ceremony is commencement which means beginning.
Today represents your new beginning as a graduate of our SLIS program and the beginning
of what we hope will be a very fulfilling and meaningful career in the field
of library and information science.
I look forward to hearing of your accomplishments and contributions in the future.
I hope you will stay in touch with our school, share your accomplishments with us
on the alumni career spotlight page, participate in SLISConnect,
and come to school receptions and online events.
Congratulations everyone again.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
Yehey.
[ Cheering & Applause ]
I now invite you to join us for our reception following the recessional.
Please stand.
[ Noise ]
[ Music ]