Sean Burns
Sean Burns, Associate Professor for the School of Information Science, was elected to serve as President of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE).
ALISE promotes innovative, high-quality education for information professions internationally through engagement, advocacy, and research.
Dr. Burns has been a member of ALISE since 2009, received the ALISE/Norman Horrocks Leadership Award in 2016, and most recently served as the 2023 Co-Chair of the Conference Programming Planning Committee. He told ALISE in his candidate statement that his motivation to serve as President of ALISE is threefold:
- Promote Ethical Technology Use in LIS Education and LIS: "I aim to serve ALISE and its members in advocating for scholarly research and ethical considerations in the use of technology within our profession and pedagogy. By fostering partnerships, developing resources, and advocating for policies that support these ideals, we can empower our members to be leaders in shaping a more equitable and democratic information society."
- Strengthen Community Engagement and Social Justice: "ALISE can remain at the forefront of addressing social justice issues within our field. This includes diversifying our profession, expanding our membership, and ensuring equitable access to information. By building on our commitment to community engagement, we can develop programs and initiatives that educate about and contribute to social change."
- Innovate Library and Information Science Education: "As we prepare the next generation of professionals, we must continually innovate our educational practices to better accommodate learning variability within the context of the digital age. This includes integrating critical discussions of pedagogy in LIS education that aims to help students to achieve their best selves."
Dr. Burns is committed to working with ALISE with a vision that not only respects their traditions and members but also boldly addresses the challenges and opportunities of the future. You can find Dr. Burns' full candidate statement on ALISE's website.
When asked how his first year as President-Elect has gone, he said:
“I was elected to the ALISE Board in 2024 and have served this first year as President-Elect. My term as President will begin at the conclusion of our 2025 Annual Conference, which will be held in Kansas City, MO, from October 6-8. It has been a privilege this year to work with so many dedicated, collaborative Board members, including the current President, Dr. Vanessa Irvin.
Our professions have faced quite a few challenges this year. At times, the need to respond to these challenges felt urgent, and sometimes it was. But I'm often reminded, especially when I revisit our histories, that ALISE and our professions have repeatedly surmounted obstacles through collective effort, thoughtfulness, a deep commitment to information access, and a shared dedication to prepare the next generation of librarians and information professionals. Some challenges do indeed require immediate action, but our histories remind me that long-term thinking, strategic collaboration, and shared leadership are the surest tools to fulfill our missions and maintain our values.
With that in mind, I'm excited to serve as President, to work with the new Board soon, and as always, our members. My goals include organizing an energetic 2026 annual conference with my program committee and broadening ALISE's mission "to promote innovative, high quality education for the information professions through engagement, advocacy, and research." This may involve re-imagining the scope of the information professions, welcoming a wider range of collaborators into our educational mission, and thinking creatively about what we do together at our annual meetings. I look forward to this work.”