The most surprising thing I learned when I joined the program is how multi-faceted the opportunities are in the field of library and information science.

“The most surprising thing I learned when I joined the program is how multi-faceted the opportunities are in the field of library and information science.” – Allia McCoy, MLIS ‘20

Allia McCoy is a social sciences librarian for the Wayne State University Library System. She graduated from the School of Information Sciences (SIS) in May 2020 with a Master of Library and Information Science degree with a focus on library services and academic libraries. McCoy is a native Detroiter who earned her bachelor's degree in media arts and studies from WSU in 2015. She chose to enroll in Wayne State's MLIS program after working at the Detroit Public Library.  

As a student, McCoy was active in the Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity (FLID) student group and served as the organization’s president. FLID aims to expose SIS students to issues surrounding diverse cultures, lifestyles, physical abilities, and religious beliefs within the LIS field.

“My involvement in FLID helped me to think of myself as a leader,” McCoy said. She says she would encourage someone entering the program to be active in the school's student organizations in order to make connections with other students.

McCoy was the Diversity Outreach Graduate Student Assistant (Diversity GSA) while at Wayne State. The Diversity GSA position connects with and recruits students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and completes special projects aimed to increase information career and education awareness on and off campus.

“I feel like the program prepared me for a career in the information profession," McCoy said. "I am so happy and proud to be back working at my alma mater and within my community. As an academic librarian I am looking forward to all the amazing possibilities in the future!"