Leslie Lanae Tabor

Leslie Lanae Tabor
M.S. Library & Information Science ‘10
CAS Information Security Management ‘10
Shawnee, OK (Hometown)

If someone had told me that I would end up far away from my Oklahoma home getting a Masters degree at Syracuse University, I would’ve thought they were crazy. But here I am, receiving my MSLIS after two crazy years in Syracuse.

There were lots of things to consider when choosing a program: school ranking and reputation, location, financials, and basketball (just kidding, sort of). I was lucky enough to become a part of the NSF-sponsored Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which provides unique opportunities for students interested in information security and government work. As part of this program I also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Information Security Management in addition to my MSLIS.

I had the honor of interning at the Library of Congress between my first and second years. As a 2009 LOC Junior Fellow I was able to work with the incomparable collection and staff of the world’s greatest library. My time at the Library is something I will always treasure and remember as part of my graduate studies.

However, what has come to mean the most are the new friendships I’ve gained. I had a difficult time adjusting to the Central New York weather (snow!), but I got by with a little help from my friends. I will never forget the fun of weekend road trips, Thursday night trivia, dance parties, movies, and dinners that my cohort and I shared in between studying and job searching. I am certain that the class of 2010 will become leaders in our fields and that we will continue to support each other personally and professionally.

I encourage students to remember that graduate school is about more than just grades and projects. It’s about challenging yourself and making meaningful connections. Anyone is welcome to contact me at lanae130@hotmail.com in regards to my experiences at Syracuse University’s iSchool.

- Leslie