“[Professor Oh] has expended considerable effort and focus into serving her students by employing innovative teaching approaches and making herself more accessible as a professor,” says School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Director Sanda Erdelez. “Professor Oh works to make complex concepts accessible, interesting, and relevant to her students; this is a skill that many professors do not have, and Professor Oh has made a concerted effort to cultivate it for the benefit of her students.”
Doctoral Candidate Deeth Ellis ’06MS shared how instrumental Professor Oh’s guidance was on a research project, despite the topic being outside her area of research.
“As I developed the design of the study over the summer, Professor Oh gave essential critical feedback on my research questions, problem statement, and overall methodology. This resulted in a cohesive, clear, and tightly designed study proposal that was quickly approved by Simmons’ IRB [Institutional Review Board],” Ellis says.
Due in part to Professor Oh’s guidance in approaching data analysis, the resulting research paper, “Investigating Principals’ Perceptions of the Role of School Librarians: A Mixed Methods Study” was published in The Journal of Library Administration.
In addition to praising Professor Oh’s teaching style, Yuko Sato ’24MS describes her as “a leading figure in the field of library and information science … Professor Oh's profound empathy for her students is remarkable. She was always there for her students, offering guidance, extra help, and a warm, welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable asking questions. Her encouragement and belief in her students made all the difference, helping them overcome challenges and feel like they truly belonged. Her contributions are nothing short of remarkable in terms of her achievements and the inspiration she provides to students from underrepresented backgrounds to excel in library and information science.”
Though Professor Oh has pursued excellence in research and scholarship, her dedication to her students makes her especially deserving of this award.
“In spite of her many projects and achieving tenure, Professor Oh has continued to focus on her teaching in a systematic and critical manner,” says Erdelez.