Sanda Erdelez
Dean, School of Library and Information Science
Dr. Sanda Erdelez is Professor and Dean of the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University. She received her LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from the University of Osijek Faculty of Law in Croatia and her Ph.D. in information transfer from Syracuse University. Before joining Simmons University, she held faculty positions at the University of Missouri, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Osijek.
Dr. Erdelez is a former Fulbright Scholar and a two-time Fulbright Specialist, serving in Croatia in 2023 and Vietnam in 2025. She is the recipient of the 2026 Association for Information Science and Technology Award for Research in Information Science, the 2024 Croatian Women of Influence Award, the Texas Excellence Teaching Award, and the ALISE Pratt-Severn Faculty Innovation Award.
Her research focuses on human information behavior, human-computer interaction, and usability evaluation in online environments. She is internationally recognized for her pioneering research on information encountering and the opportunistic discovery of information. Her research has received funding from corporate and government sources, including Dell Inc., SBC Communications, the State of Texas, the National Science Foundation, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Dr. Erdelez has held numerous leadership roles in the Association for Information Science and Technology, including chair of the Special Interest Group on Information Seeking and Use and member of the ASIS&T Board of Directors. In 2015, she received the Outstanding Contribution to Information Behavior Research Award from SIG USE and was inducted into the SIG USE Academy of Fellows. She also served as Chair of the iSchools Organization.
Sanda Erdelez in the News
Simmons Celebrates Reunion 2026
Over 220 members of the Simmons community gathered on campus June 5–7 to “reflect, reconnect, and reignite” at Simmons University’s 2026 Reunion, with a special celebration for the 50th Reunion Milestone Class of 1976.
SLIS Celebrates National Library Week with Virtual Event
In honor of National Library Week, Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) hosted a virtual award ceremony and alumnae/i panel discussion, “Building a Career in LIS: Lessons, Milestones, and Whatever Comes Next in the Age of AI.”
SLIS Deans Discusses Serendipity for NHPR
Dr. Sanda Erdelez, dean of Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science, was recently featured in New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) for a segment on serendipity.
Strengthening Information Literacy in Divided Times
Generative AI, rapid information exchange, and political polarization have reshaped the way we interact with information. A few faculty weigh in on the risks involved in using and the importance of detecting AI in the information we consume.
SLIS Forms Partnership with University of Maine at Augusta
Through a new partnership, undergraduate library and information science students at UMA will be able to fast track their graduate education at Simmons.
The Simmons Six: Meet the Deans
Meet the new deans of Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science; School of Sciences and Health Professions; Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences; School of Social Work; School of Management; and School of Nursing.
Recognizing Freedom of Information Day 2025
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.
Simmons Receives Mellon Grant for Information Literacy
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.