Kristen Mattson

Kristen Mattson is an Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois. As the School Library Media Center Director at Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, IL, she focuses on transforming traditional libraries into 21st-century learning hubs. Her expertise spans digital citizenship, information literacy, and media literacy, with a strong emphasis on K-12 integration and educator collaboration.

Research Interests: Kristen’s work centers on equipping secondary students with digital citizenship skills, promoting ethical technology use, and advancing research practices in school libraries. She advocates for librarian-teacher partnerships to enhance classroom innovation and aligns her efforts with the Future Ready Framework.

Notable Contributions: She authored a book on digital citizenship (2024) and contributed to the International Handbook of Media Literacy Education (Routledge, 2017). Her professional activities include hosting site visits, facilitating workshops, moderating the Future Ready Librarians Facebook group, and developing asynchronous PD resources for educators.

Scientific Awards:

• ISTE Making It Happen Award (2024)

Teaching Roles: In Fall 2025, she teaches Digital Citizenship and Ethics (IS581DCE), Instruct Strat for Media Lit (IS581ISM), and Foundations of Media Literacy (IS581MLO). Her courses blend research, practical application, and ethical considerations.