The School of Information Studies is delighted to announce that one of our faculty has been appointed to serve on the New York State Board of Regents Advisory Council on Libraries (RAC). Beginning her five year term, Dr. Beth Patin joins five iSchool alumni and associates also serving on this prestigious council. With her impressive resume, Dr. Patin will be an integral addition to the committee.
Prof. Beth Patin
While working as an Assistant Professor at the iSchool, Dr. Patin’s research revolves around equity of information. Her research delves into questions surrounding crisis informatics and cultural competence, and how information problems arise within the contexts of crisis and disaster. Her latest work studying epistemicide (the killing of knowledge systems) has her curating and preserving stories from the Civil Rights Movement in Huntsville, Alabama. This work is funded by a grant awarded by the Alabama Humanities Alliance. In addition, Dr. Patin also serves on the Advisory Board for the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.
Dr. Patin has received many awards during her career, most recently she has been recognized for teaching excellence with the Meredith Teaching Award in Early Excellence from Syracuse University (2021), and in the same year she received an Early Career Research Development Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Dr. Patin is also the co-founder of a research group called Library Information Investigative Team.
The Regents Advisory Council on Libraries works directly with the officers of the State Education Department and its mission is made up of three main goals. First, the council monitors education policies, both on state and federal levels, and advises the Education Department accordingly. The next goal of the RAC is to work with the New York State Research Library, and the Division of Library Development, to strengthen programs and services wherever possible. Finally, the RAC aims to aid and ensure effective communication between the Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Education, and the greater library community, as well as acting as an advocate for libraries, library staff, and library trustees.
The other iSchool alum and associates that Dr. Patin with be joining on the RAC are: Meg Backus (Vice Chair) – MSLIS 2009, Susan Kowalski – MSLIS School Media 2003, Susan Polos – MSLIS School Media 1998, Juan Rivera – MSLIS School Media 2016, and Sandra Echols – MSLIS School Media (completion date TBD).
