Fiona Coughlin ’26MS conducted an independent research project on building social media literacy skills for undergraduate students. To make this possible, she secured International Review Board approval to conduct interviews with the General Education faculty at Simmons, and grant funding from the Simmons Center for Information Literacy.

• Community Engagement
• Research
• Senior Profile

Zachary Newell ’26PhD shares a bit about his research involving how we can make library learning more creative and engaging for students, as well as the mentorship he received while a student at Simmons.

• Mentorship
• Research
• Senior Profile

Through a new partnership, undergraduate library and information science students at UMA will be able to fast track their graduate education at Simmons.

Graduate student Ryan Harrington ’27MS recently returned from an exchange program at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. We spoke with him about this unique opportunity, the superb training at Simmons, and the importance of historical memory.

• Study Abroad

SLIS alumnus Matthew Connor Sullivan ’14MS, ’24PhD is a Librarian for Collection Development and Assessment at Harvard University’s Widener Library. We spoke with him about his interdisciplinary approach to library and information science (LIS) research and the formative mentorship he received at Simmons.

• Careers and Internships

School of Library and Information Science Professor and Associate Dean Laura Saunders published an article on “The Chilling Impact of Censorship in Higher Education."

According to the American Library Association, Freedom of Information Day (March 16), “promotes the public’s right to know and access to information.” To honor Freedom of Information Day 2025, Simmons News has compiled stories of faculty and student research, University initiatives, and alumnae/i accomplishments published over the last calendar year that advance access, reliability, and inclusivity regarding public information.

With funding from the Mellon Foundation, Simmons will establish the Center for Information Literacy, which aims to promote informed decision-making and nurture civic participation.

• Awards and Honors

Professor and Associate Dean of SLIS Laura Saunders has been selected the 2024 Winner of the Award for Professional Contribution to Library and Information Science Education granted annually by the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE).

• Awards and Honors

Professor Laura Saunders was quoted in the Singapore edition of The Straits Times, sharing how public libraries in the U.S. are assisting in building community during politically polarizing times.

• Simmons in the News
• Social Justice & Advocacy