Heather Howard, a graduate of the IU School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI, was recently awarded the Up and Comers Award by ATG Media, a subsidiary of Against the Grain, LLC. Howard, who received her Master of Library Science (MLS) degree in 2014, was recognized as a newcomer to the library profession for her passion in her field of expertise.
Against the Grain links publishers, vendors, and librarians by reporting on the issues, literature, and people that impact the world of books and journals.
Howard is one of the first recipients of the new award intended for librarians, library staff, vendors, publishers, MLIS students, instructors, consultants, and researchers who are new to their field or are in the early years of the profession. She is currently employed as an Assistant Professor and Business Information Specialist at the Parrish Library of Management and Economics at Purdue University.
“The Master of Library Science program at IUPUI was instrumental in getting my career as an academic librarian off the ground,” Howard said. “Librarianship was a second career for me, and the hybrid program allowed me the flexibility to take courses in the evening and online while continuing to work full-time. The connections I made with both faculty and other students have been invaluable to me in this new career, in particular the mentorship of Dr. Andrea Copeland.”
Copeland, chair of the Department of Library and Information Science (LIS), said, “It’s exciting for me to watch the impact that someone as talented as Heather is having on our field. The award is apt given that she is only getting started—I look forward to seeing what’s next for her.”
The MLS degree program is available 100 percent online. Students can add a specialization to their MLS degree or combine it with a graduate degree in another field. The LIS Department also offers P-12 Teacher of Library Media and public librarian certification courses.
Photo courtesy of Purdue University/Mark Simons
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
jebehele@iu.edu
317-278-9208