SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY FALL 2006 VOL. 9, NO. 2 School of Information Studies THE ORIGINAL INFORMATION SCHOOL® Alumna Donates $1 Million to Support School, Honor Mother KRISTEN BLAKE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER s a library science student at small number of jobs available Syracuse University during the and the lengths they would go Great Depression, Estelle Wil- to get them. One friend who helm ’38, ’39 was no stranger to hoped to work as a dietician the world of financial difficulty told Wilhelm how she was Aplaguing the nation. Often unable to afford forced to work two years with- books for her classes, Wilhelm would hole up out pay before she could begin in the Carnegie Library and study the Univ- collecting her salary. ersity’s copies of her texts until a janitor kicked But despite the challenges her out at closing time. She listened to friends facing her and the potential who had graduated tell horror stories about the hardships to come, Wilhelm says she never wavered about the importance of completing her education. She attributes her determination to her mother, Katherine Katchmar, who impressed upon her children the importance of excelling academically. “She was a great believ- er in education,” Wilhelm says. “With her, it was always ‘study, study, study.’” Nearly 70 years later, Wilhelm has made a $1 million donation to the School of Informa- tion Studies in memory of the mother who put six children through college during the height of the Depression. Wilhelm’s donation will be used to support the school’s Technology Endowment Campaign for Hinds Hall Estelle K.Wilhelm at check presentation ceremony (TECHH) Fund, which contributes to the October 30, 2006. (Inset) Estelle Katchmar from maintenance of technology equipment with- 1937 Onondagan. Carnegie Library in 1937 in classrooms and labs. In appreciation of her gift, Wilhelm has been given the opportunity to name the Katherine Katchmar Learning SCHOLARSHIP IN ACTION: Center, an approximately 2,000 square foot combined classroom and computer lab in The Role of Doctoral Education Hinds Hall. In addition to her mother, Wilhelm’s dona- in a Great University tion also pays tribute to Dean Wharton Miller, director of the School of Library Science ERIC F.SPINA, INTERIM VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY during her years at SU. A favorite instructor, Miller made an impression on Wilhelm Editor’s note:The following is an edited version of Interim That phrase served us well in its time, and it helped because, like her mother, he possessed a belief us to find the focus and commitment we needed to Vice Chancellor Eric F. Spina’s remarks to faculty and in education, as well as a playful sense of ensure that all of our students were getting a first-rate staff members and doctoral students at the School of humor. Wilhelm recalls one April Fool’s Day education. I think it’s safe to say we successfully met Information Studies Convocation on September 8, 2006. when Miller, after seeing her running late for the challenges that gave rise to that phrase, and now his class, announced upon her arrival that she want to speak briefly today about the role of we’re ready to address new challenges. Of course, just would be giving a class presentation about scholarship and doctoral education in a great because we no longer actively use this catchphrase does business librarianship, a topic she knew noth- university and the important role of the School not mean we are any less concerned with students or I ing about. Rushed and frazzled, Wilhelm stood of Information Studies at Syracuse University. their success. Student success remains paramount; it’s in shock for a minute before realizing that her There have been a lot of changes recently through- simply time to address that demand from a different “presentation” was a put-on. out the University, and I know some people are won- perspective. Miller’s professional recommendations dering if we are still a “Student-Centered Research In effect, that is exactly what we are doing with our later helped Wilhelm embark on her career University.” That phrase conveyed an important mes- call for “Scholarship in Action.” By recasting our insti- as a librarian during a time when jobs were sage for us at a difficult time in the University’s history. tutional mandate in these terms, we are placing an scarce. She says she has always been grateful We needed that phrase to emphasize—perhaps more emphasis on faculty excellence and scholarly distinc- for his encouragement and aid. “I always want- internally than externally—that our students (under- tion. This may not be the most direct way to attract ed to say thank you to Dean Miller, and I never graduate students in particular) are our lifeblood and undergraduate students, but it certainly is the best way did,” Wilhelm says. “I am happy to be giving must come first in everything we did as a University. continued on page 7 this gift while I’m still alive and can witness continued on page 7 FALL 2006 SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES HOME2 PAGE Inside this Issue Feature Articles Alumna Donates $1 Million to Support School, Honor Mother 1 Scholarship in Action: DOUGLAS LLOYD PHOTOGRAPHY DOUGLAS LLOYD Eric Spina, formerly the engineering dean, The Role of Doctoral Education was appointed interim provost (that’s my boss in a Great University 1 and the Chancellor’s deputy).What great news Web Site Allows Researchers to for us. He understands us through our collabo- Connect with Test Subjects 5 rations with L.C. Smith College of Engineering Yearlong Lecture Series Focuses on and Computer Science (ECS) for the past few Information Age Collaboration 6 years. He had some great things to say about Meredith Award Enables Prof. Small us at his recent speech during our school-wide to Expand E*LIT Project 6 convocation this September (Cover story). Eric Documenting Civil Rights History 9 Believe It or Not: Collaborative made a terrific appointment by naming Shiu-Kai Study Explores Web Site Chin to be the interim dean of ECS. He’s been Credibility Issues 9 one of the school’s best friends since long Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian before I got here. Program Awards More Than ECS and the School of Information Studies $1 Million to Support Library kicked off a “Year of Exploration” this past spring Studies at SU 13 with Dan Atkins, formerly dean of the School of Improving Patient Care Through DEAN’S ith my intended departure Information at Michigan, and now director of More Effective Record Keeping 16 from the deanship this the National Science Foundation’s Office of School News August, you’d think we’d Cyberinfrastructure (see page 6). Other speak- Dean’s Column 2 be slowing down.The fact ers are lined up for this academic year, and each Faculty Column 3 Wis, we’re dancing faster than ever. I guess it’s the is brought to campus jointly by the two colleges Faculty News 3 feeling that anything set aside this year will be set to help us find common ground.The Whitman Staff News 4 aside forever—at least under my watch. I went School of Management’s recently appointed School Begins Search for a to Beijing this past May to give out 50 certificates dean, Mel Stith, has also become a supporter of New Dean 8 to Chinese digital librarians who were taught collaboration between our two schools.We’ll Student Profile over two years by our professor Jian Qin (see have much to announce about this cooperative Jeffrey Golden ’06 8 page 3).We were invited back to keynote an venture in a coming issue of Home Page. Development Forum 14 all-China conference on information education I’m delighted about all of the great things List of Donors 15 in Wuhan in October. Always need to show the that are happening here.We’re number one in Alumni News COLUMN flag.This May, I’ll meet a cohort of students from information systems and number two in digital From the Director 10 Europe in an executive master’s degree program libraries.Wow! This is becoming a great last year Class Notes 10 on e-governance we co-sponsor with the Swiss as the dean, and hopefully a banner year for the Alumni Profiles Federal Institute of Technology. school, which now has its largest graduate enroll- Margaret Miller G’98 11 Hinds Hall continues to be on the build. ment in its history. I think the world is getting the Robert Diamond ’01 12 By spring we’ll have the entire first floor (third message.We’re all at the top of our game! SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY of four) reconstructed for our exclusive use. Dedication is April 20, so mark your calendar. We’ll have special lectures and panels, and a re- PAGE naming building dedication by our Chancellor. In School of Information Studies November,the school celebrated the receipt of a Raymond F. von Dran THE ORIGINAL INFORMATION SCHOOL® million dollar gift by Mrs. Estelle Wilhelm ’38,’39 Dean Home Page is published twice a year to sponsor the Katherine Katchmar Learning by the School of Information Studies, Center (Cover story). Hinds Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244, 315-443-2911; ist.syr.edu; [email protected]. Raymond F. von Dran, Dean Executive Editor: Homecoming Barbara Settel G’73, G’76 [email protected] 2006 Editor: Events Bring Together Margaret Costello, [email protected] Contributing Writers: Alumni, Students, Kristen Blake G’07 Tammy DiDomenico and Faculty Aimee Hammill Dozens of students and staff Carol Kim G’01 turned out for the 2006 David Marc Homecoming Alumni Panel, Christine Mattheis ’07 featuring the following recent Kayleigh Minicozzi ’08 alumni of the school (from left to Design and Production: right):