LEADING Home | People | LEADING Fellows | Application | Outputs
The 2022 cohort included 26 fellows. Fellows engaged in data science education at Drexel University and completed a data science project working with LEADING project mentors across the U.S.
Negeen Aghassibake, Data Visualization Librarian, University of Washington Libraries
LEADING Site: LYRASIS
Negeen Aghassibake is the Data Visualization Librarian at the University of Washington Libraries. She received her MSIS (2018) from the University of Texas at Austin. Her interests include inclusive data practices and accessible visualizations. Negeen is excited to be a part of the LEADING program and bring back what she learns to support library users at the University of Washington.
Eiman Ahmed, PhD Student, School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University
LEADING Site: Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio, Temple University Libraries
Eiman Ahmed is a second-year Ph.D. student at the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University. She is interested in human-computer interaction research. Primarily, she is interested in improving the relationship between individuals/society and information and communication technologies such as social media. I am excited about LEADING since it will allow me to combine my passion for computing with my passion for research. I am also excited about LEADING since it allows me to be a part of a community of scholars whose work I greatly admire.
Anastasia Bennett, PhD Student, Hamilton Library, University of University of Washington
LEADING Site: Dryad
Anastasia Bennett is an Information Science PhD student at the University of Washington and holds an MLIS from there as well. Her research interests include metadata standards, interoperability, community practices of maintenance, and temporality. She is honored to be a part of the LEADING program and is excited for the opportunity to learn and connect with others.
Justin Blair, MSIS, University of Tennessee
LEADING Site: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libraries
Justin Blair recently earned his MS in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in Knowledge Organization. He holds a BA in Classics and graduated top of his class in the Humanities. His research interests are digitized collections of primary source material at cultural heritage and research institutions. He is excited to learn more about how computational tools and methods can be leveraged in the service of scholarship.
Olivia Given Castello, Head of Business, Social Sciences, and Education, Temple University Libraries
LEADING Site: LYRASIS
Olivia holds an MLIS with a concentration in Digital Libraries from Drexel University College of Computing & Informatics and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Geospatial Data Science at Temple University. Her research interests include user experience, research and data services, and data curation. She is excited to be part of the LEADING program and hopes to deepen her understanding of how data science can be applied in libraries to build access and connections that benefit library users.
Evgenia Diakonenko, Digital Assistant Librarian, Harvard Law School Library
LEADING Site: California Digital Library, University of California, Office of the President
Evgenia graduated with a Master of Information and Library Science in 2020 and has worked on several digital humanities projects in the Boston area. At her current position in Harvard Law School Library, she is involved in creating digital objects, metadata creation and enrichment, processing and digitizing modern manuscript collections.
Hebah Emara, Emerging Technologies Librarian, Teaneck Public Library
LEADING Site: AI-Collaboratory, University of Maryland iSchool
Hebah earned a Master of Library Science in 2020 and currently works as an Emerging Technologies Librarian. She is interested in the intersections between libraries, technology, and data and hopes to learn more about the overlap of information science and data science. She is excited to participate as a LEADING Fellow and for the opportunity to grow and strengthen her skills through practical applications.
Kat Forrest, Collections Database Administrator, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
LEADING Site: Smithsonian Libraries
Kat Forrest received her MSIS degree with a portfolio in Museum Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Bachelor’s in Art History from the University of Texas Arlington. She is currently Database Administrator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor) where she helps develop standards in the collections database for cataloging art objects and supporting museum workflows. Her research interests include the formation of standards in information systems, information infrastructures, and increasing access to cultural heritage data. She is thrilled to join the LEADING program to work on enhancing cultural heritage data repositories through linked data and interoperability.
Dom Jebbia, Digital Collections Associate, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries
LEADING Site: Tulane University
Dom is the Digital Collection Specialist at Carnegie Mellon University Libraries. They received an MSI (2022) from Drexel University College of Computing and Informatics with a specialization in applied data science. Dom is thrilled to engage, support, and grow with other LEADING Fellows as they explore the intersections of information science, data science, and natural science.
Kiley Jolicoeur, Metadata Strategies Librarian, Syracuse University
LEADING Site: Movement Alliance Project
Kiley Jolicoeur is the Metadata Strategies Librarian in the Department of Digital Stewardship at Syracuse University Libraries where she works primarily with digitized and born-digital archival content. Outside of her regularly scheduled metadata enthusiasm, she also volunteers for Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online (SUCHO). Her research interests include knowledge organization, questions of ethics surrounding metadata in digital archival collections, and metadata’s role in the stewardship of cultural heritage. She received her MLIS from the Syracuse University School of Information Studies.
Jamaica Jones, PhD Student, School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh
LEADING Site: National Science Foundation, Public Access Repository
Jamaica Jones is a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information. She holds an MA from New York University, a BA from Antioch College and, having worked previously on open access and open science initiatives, pursues research interests in the sociology of science, intellectual property and computational research methods. She is thrilled to be a LEADING fellow, and is looking forward to strengthening the data science skills necessary to meaningfully contribute to the future of library and information science.
Hannah Jones, Circulation and Patron Services Librarian, Dominican Theological Library
LEADING Site: University of North Texas Libraries
Hannah Jones is the Circulation and Patron Services Librarian at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. She graduated in 2020 from the Catholic University of America with an M.S. in Library and Information Science and an M.A. in Medieval and Early Modern History. She is particularly interested in bringing digital technologies to bear on the study of rare books and other historical collections, and is excited to continue studying this intersection of the old and the new as part of the LEADING program.
Kate Kargozari, PhD Student, University of North Texas
LEADING Site: OCLC—Research and Development
Kate Kargozari is the Data Science PhD Student at the University of North Texas. Her research interests include Machine learning and Natural Language processing as well as big data, data science and data analysis. Kate is enthusiastic to join LEADING program as the intersection of library science and data science provides her the broader view to deal with the information, find connection between information and explore the hidden sides of the data.
Alicia Krzton, Research Data Management Librarian, Auburn University
LEADING Site: Dryad
Ali Krzton is the Research Data Management Librarian at Auburn University. She received her MLIS in 2017. Prior to becoming a librarian, she earned an MA in Anthropology. She is thrilled to be in the LEADING program learning data science techniques that will allow her to improve the description and synthesis of information, and also to use new methodologies for understanding how concepts and behavior interact with data infrastructure.
Kay P Maye, Scholarly Engagement Librarian for Social Sciences and Data, Tulane University
LEADING Site: University of New Mexico w/ Montana State University Library
Kay P Maye entered academic librarianship as an ACRL Diversity Alliance Resident at Clemson University. Maye received his Master of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. He currently serves as the Scholarly Engagement Librarian for Social Sciences and Data at Tulane University. Maye’s research interest include data acquisition and storage in academic libraries, critical metadata practices, and library assessment. He is excited to build his professional network through participating in the LEADING program.
Scott McClellan, PhD Student, Drexel University College of Computing and Informatics
LEADING Site: Research Data Alliance—United States
Scott McClellan is a first-year doctoral student at Drexel University studying ontologies in the materials science space. Prior to entering the doctoral program, he earned his MSI-LIS at Drexel and completed an MA in American literature at George Mason University.
Allison Olsen, Digital Archivist, University of Pennsylvania
LEADING Site: Movement Alliance Project
Allison Olsen works as a Digital Archivist where she is responsible for collecting, analyzing, preserving, and providing access to born digital archival collections. She has expertise in Architecture and Urban Design materials and digital public history projects, especially in preserving and understanding design files like AutoCAD and GIS. Allison holds an Msc in Information Management from the University of the West of England, and an MA in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a concentration in Historic Preservation from the University of Delaware. Through the LEADING fellowship, she plans to explore new ways to apply data science techniques in managing and describing archival collections.
Pietro Santachiara, PhD Student, Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
LEADING Site: Digital Humanities Department, Haverford College
Pietro Santachiara is the Bernard and Martin Breslauer Fellow and a PhD student in the department of Information Studies at UCLA. His research deals with knowledge organization and modeling, classification of cultural heritage artifacts, and digital humanities. He holds a MSc from University of Lugano (Switzerland).
Valerie Tagoe, Media Specialist, Dallas ISD
LEADING Site: UC San Diego Library
Valerie Tagoe is a high school librarian in Texas. She’s a winner of the S. Janice Kee Award from Texas Woman’s University, and a past president of the Dallas Association of School Librarians. Valerie has 20 years of experience in education and libraries. She holds a bachelor’s in French, with a minor in History, from the University of Oklahoma; a Master’s of Bilingual Education from Southern Methodist University; and an MLS from Texas Woman’s University. Valerie is also involved in the American Library Association and the Texas Library Association. I am excited to learn more about Data Science through the LEADING Fellowship and plan to apply what I learn to my work as a school librarian. I also plan to share Data Science concepts from the LEADING Fellowship with colleagues through professional development sessions, and with students via instruction in Advanced Placement program classes such as AP Seminar and AP Research.
Kate Topham, Digital Humanities Archivist, Michigan State University
LEADING Site: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libraries
Kate Topham is the Digital Humanities Archivist at Michigan State University, where she supports and collaborates on DH research projects involving metadata, digital preservation, and digital collections. She holds a Masters in Information from the University of Michigan. She serves as the Digital Archivist at the American Religious Sounds Project and wrangles comics metadata the Graphic Possibilities Research Workshop’s Wikidata initiative.
Jonathan Torres, Business and Data Services Librarian, Rutgers University-Newark
LEADING Site: University of Rochester
Jonathan is the Business and Data Services Librarian, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University-Newark, where he specializes in teaching data and information literacy and statistical and data visualization software. Mr. Torres received an M.S. in Library and Information Science and an M.A. and B.A. in Labor Studies and Employment Relations from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. His research interest includes bibliometrics, altmetrics, open access (OA), and organizational governance in academic libraries. Jonathan is thrilled to learn and collaborate with fellow peers who have a shared interest and passion for data science in the LEADING program.
Pelle Tracey, PhD Student, School of Information, University of Michigan
LEADING Site: Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio, Temple University Libraries
Pelle Tracey is a second-year PhD student in the School of Information at University of Michigan. His research explores how automated decision making impacts public institutions and the people they serve. He looks forward to the LEADING fellowship as an opportunity to make new connections and learn new methodologies.
Haining Wang, PhD Student, Indiana University Bloomington
LEADING Site: Montana State University Libraries
Haining Wang (he/him/his) is a third-year doctoral student in Information Science at Indiana University Bloomington. He received a master’s degree in Archival Studies from Wuhan University and a dual bachelor’s from Shanxi University. His current focus is on innovating responsible artificial intelligence that one can rely on to communicate with natural language in public channels without identity concerns. I am thrilled to join the LEADING program and work on the “TL;DR it” project with scholars from Montana State University Libraries. I believe automatic text summarization and style simplification is a promising approach of promoting science for laypeople and combating mis/disinformation.
Xiaohan Yan, PhD Student, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
LEADING Site: UC San Diego Library
Xiaohan is currently a PhD student in Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and is also a holder of MLIS degree. As an early-stage dissertator interested in open research data reuse and information retrieval, the LEADING program opens doors to potential research questions for his dissertation and actively engages him in projects in data science, which furthers him into becoming a research data expert supporting open science, and knowledge sharing.
Hassan Zamir, Associate Professor, School of Information Studies, Dominican University
LEADING Site: Fellow of Practice, LYRASIS
Zamir has completed a PhD in Information Science focusing on social media research. His research interest revolves around understanding public opinions and information sharing behavior related to misinformation and digital protests on social media. I am excited to be part of the LEADING program because it can help me gain an immersive experience of learning and applying Data Science concepts in Library and Information Science topics.
Deanna Zarrillo, PhD Student, Drexel University College of Computing and Informatics
LEADING Site: Montana State University Library
Deanna Zarrillo is an Information Science PhD student at Drexel University. She holds her MSLIS from Syracuse University’s iSchool. Her research interests include information behavior, policy, and ethics, scholarly communication, and citizen science which she critically studies through the lenses of intersectional feminism and queer theory. I am delighted to be part of the 2022 LEADING program and to use my passion for library and data science to help make scholarship more accessible.