School of Library and Information Science Alumnae/i
Simmons SLIS graduates join a professional community that spans the globe. SLIS alumnae/i work in libraries, schools, museums, technology, higher education, government, corporate libraries, special collections, and many other institutions.
Our alums are innovators, challengers of the status quo, and champions of the right to information. As such, they are our most powerful ambassadors in the world of LIS.
Accomplished Alums
Simmons SLIS is proud to boast some leaders in the LIS field among our graduates, including Maria McCauley ’16PhD, Director ot the Cambridge Public Library and the 2026 president of the ALA; David Ferriero ’74MS, 10th Archivist of the United States; Robert Hudson ’77MS, Boston University Librarian; and Sarah Thomas ’73MS, Director of the Harvard Libraries.
The SLIS Alumnae/i board sponsors awards for outstanding alums. The most recent Simmons Alumnae/i Achievement Award recipient is Tam Ha ’08MS, Senior Academic Librarian at VinFin University in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Get Involved as a SLIS Alum
Donate
Consider donating to a specific scholarship or fellowship for SLIS and know your support will resonate with future LIS professionals.
Share Your News
We are proud of our alumnae/i accomplishments and want to promote your work. Have you received a promotion, been hired for a new position, engaged in meaningful volunteer work, published an article or book chapter, or received an award?
Please let us know. To be included in SLIS social media and the Simmons news feed, submit your news.
Join the Honors Society
The Beta Beta Chapter of Beta Phi Mu invites eligible graduates each year to join the official LIS honor society, which is devoted to ideals of scholarship and service.
SLIS Alumnae/i in the News
Sharing the Untold Stories at Queer History Boston
Mik Hamilton '24MS ‘24MA is the archivist at Queer History Boston, a community archive dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich LGBTQ+ histories of Boston and New England. Hamilton shares how the dual degree in LIS: archives management and history at Simmons prepared them for a dream job just before graduation.
SLIS Alumnae/i Named Movers & Shakers
Jessica Chapel ’19MS and Katelyn Duncan ’16MS were selected for the 2026 Movers & Shakers by Library Journal.
Dual Degree Alumnus Found His Voice at Simmons
Alec Chunn '15MA/MS reflects on how the Children's Literature & Library Science dual degree has informed his work as a reviewer of children's literature, a jurist for literary prizes, and a Youth Librarian at Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon.
SLIS Alumna Honored with ‘I Love My Librarian’ Award
Joanne Doucette ’01MS is a 2026 honoree of the "I Love My Librarian" Award. She is one of ten honorees selected from more than 1,300 nominations from library users nationwide.
Alumna Author Talks Writing Process and Guiding Students
Jo Knowles ’92, ’95MA graduated from Simmons with a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing and returned to Simmons for her master’s degree in children’s literature. While teaching at a low-residency MFA program, Knowles continues to write young adult fiction.
Finding Inspiration in Taiwan’s Night Markets
Children’s Literature and Writing for Children graduate Emily Sun Li ’24MA/MFA reflects on her road to becoming a published author and how Simmons supported her career path.
Alumna Embraces Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature
Since completing her master of arts in children’s literature at Simmons, Amber Weinstock ’24MA has begun her doctoral studies at the University of Connecticut. We caught up with Weinstock, winner of the 2024 Graduate Student Essay Award, to ask how Simmons prepared her for her current studies.
The Transformative Power of Children’s Literature
Cassie Sheets-Kavanagh ’18MA, who earned her master of arts in children’s literature at Simmons, is pursuing a PhD in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University.