Tami Oliphant

Tami Oliphant is an Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education. She also serves as Graduate Coordinator for the MLIS program. Holding a PhD from the University of Western Ontario and an MLIS from the University of Alberta, her research focuses on epistemic justice, feminist anti-violence theory, and the intersection of libraries with social justice. Notable projects include CIHR-funded work on women and heart disease, and SSHRC-funded research on patron-perpetrated sexual harassment (PPSH) interventions in libraries. Her teaching spans courses on research methods, human information interaction, and publishing. She actively collaborates with scholars like Dr. Tanya Berry, Dr. Colleen Norris, and Dr. Danielle Allard to address systemic inequities in LIS education and institutions.

Education:

• PhD, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario
• MLIS, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta
• BA (degree unspecified)

Research Interests:

Dr. Oliphant examines how libraries and LIS institutions can advance social, epistemic, and informational justice. Her work interrogates issues like sexual harassment in libraries, the role of public libraries in community cohesion, and the integration of feminist methodologies into LIS practice. Recent efforts prioritize actionable policy frameworks to mitigate PPSH and center marginalized voices in knowledge production.

Awards & Funding:

Recipient of grants from CIHR (2019–2022) and SSHRC (2024–2027). Collaborations include multi-institutional projects addressing gender-based violence in healthcare and workplace safety.

Labs/Teams:

Leads interdisciplinary teams focused on PPSH prevention and social justice in LIS, often partnering with public libraries and academic institutions to implement evidence-based interventions.