Kelly Rausch

Kelly Rausch is a Lecturer and ISDA Special Session Program Coordinator at the San José State University School of Information. She specializes in immersive media production and information science, with a focus on virtual reality for cultural heritage preservation and educational initiatives.

• Master of Library and Information Science, San José State University, 2025
• Advanced Certificate in Strategic Management of Digital Assets, San José State University, 2025
• Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (Photography), San Francisco State University, 2001

Her research centers on the intersection of emerging technologies, information accessibility, and cultural heritage preservation. She has led innovative VR projects with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Ukrainian libraries, preserving endangered cultural knowledge and wartime experiences. Her work emphasizes storytelling, digital curation, and intellectual freedom, particularly through her nationally recognized 'Freedom to Read' project, which promotes access to banned books.

Kelly’s expertise in XR technologies, usability, and digital literacy informs both her teaching and practice. She has developed digital literacy curricula for elementary education and teaches ISDA 150: Introduction to XR Technologies. Her professional background in broadcast and digital media production enriches her academic contributions.

• Virtual Reality Producer, San José State University School of Information (2023–2025)
• Instructional Library Specialist, Bass Lake Unified School District (2021–2025)
• Freelance Producer, Writer & Reporter for MTV, HGTV, McClatchy Corp., Fair Trade (2016–2020)
• Supervising Producer, Showtime, BBC America, Lifetime, TNT (2011–2016)
• Producer and Production Coordinator for various networks (2005–2011)

Scientific Awards:

• National recognition for the 'Freedom to Read' project

Kelly Rausch serves as an advisor and program coordinator, contributing to curriculum development and student engagement in information science and data analytics. She has not been associated with formal grant funding in the provided text. She leads initiatives integrating immersive technologies into library and educational contexts and is actively involved in digital curation and preservation projects.

Kelly is part of the SJSU School of Information faculty, contributing to the ISDA program and fostering innovation in XR and digital storytelling. Her work bridges academic research and real-world applications in cultural preservation and information access.