معرفی
Laura Saunders serves as Professor and Associate Dean at Simmons University's School of Library and Information Science (SLIS), where she teaches and conducts research at the intersection of information services and societal impact.
Her academic credentials include:
- PhD from Simmons University
- MSLIS from Simmons University
- BA from Boston University
Professor Saunders' research centers on information literacy as a social justice imperative, examining how equitable information access empowers marginalized communities. She investigates the societal consequences of mis- and disinformation while advancing reference service methodologies and assessment frameworks in academic libraries. Her work bridges theoretical scholarship with practical applications in intellectual freedom and user instruction.
Her distinguished recognition includes:
- Simmons University’s Provost Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching (2019)
- Reference Services Press Award (2014)
- ACRL/NEC Best Paper Award (2014)
- Jean Tague-Sutcliffe Award for Doctoral Research (2010)
As co-creator of LIS Pedagogy Chat, she leads a bi-monthly community of practice for library science educators. She serves as Trustee for Somerville Public Library and contributes to Simmons University's newly established Center for Information Literacy through a Mellon Foundation grant. Her professional engagement spans the American Library Association, Association of College & Research Libraries, and Association for Library and Information Science Education, where she advocates for information access and academic freedom.
