Communication and information technologies are transforming society, impacting on a cross section of human activity far greater than any innovation since the printing press. Leaders in this nexus of technology and society require interdisciplinary expertise, transcending the individual disciplines from which the underlying technologies and their applications arose.
The Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) PhD program at the University of Hawai'i was established to meet this need.
The CIS office, staffed by Cindy Scheopner, is located in POST 305G; telephone 1-808-956-3493. Spring 2010 office hours are:
Monday: 10:30-noon, 2-4:30 pmTuesday 9-1, 3-4:30 pm
Wednesday 10:30-noon, 2-4:30 pm
Thursday 9-1
Fridays by arrangement (Cindy is on campus but hours vary on Fridays).
The CIS Chair is Dan Suthers; his contact information and office hours are here.
CIS PhD Application Deadlines (Fall 2010)
CIS PhD Program Newsletter (Summer 2009)
John F. Morton, 1997 CIS Alumni - Vice President for Community Colleges, The University of Hawai`i System
Knuth began her work at UH Manoa 2004 as chair of the LIS program, part of UH Mānoa's Department of Information and Computer Science. Her professional accomplishments at the university include building courses in the LIS program and creating its popular elective course in intellectual freedom, a topic on which much of her research focuses. She teaches courses in Traditional Literature and Oral Narration, International Librarianship, and Information Policy. Knuth holds an MA in Special Education and an MLIS. She has authored two books on intellectual freedom and libraries, as well as peer-reviewed scholarly articles and more popular writings.
It is the meaningful content used in her classrooms, her educator-as-learner approach, and her student-centered thinking that prompted LIS student Karen Brown to nominate Knuth for the honor. “Not only is the subject matter fascinating and relevant, but Dr. Knuth seems to enjoy her time with us in each and every class,” says Brown.
Knuth credits much of her success to crafting a syllabus that provokes thought and discussion. “I try to build excitement about librarianship and learning in general. I think many students are interested in ethics, social responsibility, the profession, the broader social climate, and in standing for something,” Knuth says.
“Rebecca Knuth is an inspirational teacher,” noted Library Journal’s Editor-in-Chief Francine Fialkoff. “Her student-centered thinking marries theory and practice to create a challenging environment that pushes both her students and her own research.”
The award comes with a $5000 honorarium from ProQuest and a celebration at the 2010 American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Boston. Read about Knuth in the November 15 issue of Library Journal (www.libraryjournal.com).
[UH-Manoa news release]
