Professional and Student Organizations

A computer animation depicting a virtual meeting with several faces on a computer screen. Get involved! Joining a student organization is a great way to connect with peers and build relationships outside of the classroom. All School of Information Sciences students are invited to become involved with our student-led groups as well as local and international professional associations.

Most SIS student organization meetings are virtual (via MS Teams or Zoom) and held monthly. Meeting dates and times are shared via the SISINF student listserv and on social media. All students are invited to attend meetings with no obligation to join.

Learn More

Click on the slideshow to learn more about the SIS student orgs and how to connect with representatives from the WSU student chapters of the American Library Association, National Digital Stewardship Alliance, Society of American Archivists, Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity, the Association for Information Science and Technology and The Information Warrior Student Journal Committee.

Student organizations

American Library Association (ALA)

The mission of the WSU student chapter of ALA is: to facilitate and encourage participation in the ALA; to increase the awareness and use of resources of the ALA, including publications, promotional materials, scholarships, and conferences; to provide a local forum for the exchange of ideas and information about trends, issues, and opportunities in the profession; to develop skills and relationships that will enable students to have a creative impact on the profession; to promote involvement in professional activities; and to increase awareness of the national issues on Library and Information Science.

ALA will host meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. ET via Zoom. Register here to attend upcoming meetings.

President: Amie Fuentes
Vice President: Joshua Spaman
Secretary: Daniel Folk
Social Media Coordinator: Megan Gragg
Volunteer Coordinator: Tiffany Dinwiddie
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Gustafson

A headshot of SIS student Grace Moore. She has wavy red hair and is smiling at the camera.

"Student organizations and clubs will be your best resource going through the program, and joining doesn't have to be a huge commitment. It is often just showing up to one hour-long Zoom meeting a month during the school year. The meetings are often full of really helpful content, like talks on how to present at conferences." SIS student Grace Moore

Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)

The Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) is unique in its focus on the interdisciplinary nature of information science. It brings together professionals from diverse fields such as computer science, library and information science, communication, and more, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across these disciplines. ASIS&T plays a pivotal role in shaping the evolving landscape of information science, making it distinctive in its ability to bridge gaps between various domains and facilitate a holistic understanding of information-related issues.

Faculty advisor: Bin Li

Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity (FLID)

Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity (FLID) provides a safe space for up and coming library and information science (LIS) professionals to gain a better understanding of diversity within the profession and underserved populations. In preparation for working with individuals from these groups, FLID's mission will be to expose SIS students to issues surrounding diverse cultures, lifestyles, physical abilities, and religious beliefs within the LIS field.

This purpose shall be effectuated through promoting awareness by organizing on and off-campus events (social, educational or otherwise) for SIS students to learn about, exchange ideas, and perhaps resolve issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in LIS.

FLID will host meetings on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. ET via Zoom. Register here to attend upcoming meetings.

Follow the group on Instagram.

President: Camille Moore
Vice President: Amie Fuentes
Secretary: Griffin Barkdoll
Social Media Coordinator: Luke Kurfess
Faculty advisor: Dr. Kafi Kumasi

SIS student Selena Aguilera has long straight brown hair with a blonde streak in the front. She is taking a selfie with green plants in the background.

"The highlight of my time in the program was working with FLID. I got to meet amazing people who care about the things that I care about. I know I'll maintain relationships with my fellow officers long after I graduate." Selena Aguilera, MLIS 2022, FLID past president

National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA)

The National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) has agreed to partner with Wayne State University's School of Information Sciences for their first ever student chapter. Students joining this group delve into the issues of Digital Preservation, assist in the development of outreach education for these fragile formats, create educational videos and provide input to the NDSA Wiki. There is also a potential for further research in the arena and assisting to develop standards.

President: Carolyn Alam
Vice President: Kelsey Rudy
Secretary: Allison Westfall
Communications and Outreach Chairs: Jean Panyand and Steven Kays
Research Chair: Ginny Schneider
Faculty Advisor: Kim Schroeder

"Student organizations provide ample opportunities to work collaboratively which is often emphasized in this field and build relationships with fellow students. Taking part in a student organization also allows for students to help each other in the program and provide pathways to possible professional opportunities." SIS student Robert Browning

Society of American Archivists (SAA)

The Society of American Archivists student chapter strives to enhance the education of students interested in archival studies by providing practical resources, networking opportunities and hands-on events, whether they be tours, workshops or the like. This group is active, dynamic and dedicated to the archival profession. In general we are Master's students in the Library and History programs, but we are all in this field to preserve the present day's records for future generations' use.

SAA will host meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. ET via Zoom. Register here to attend future meetings.

President: Amie Fuentes
Vice President: Victoria Barrett
Secretary: Katherine Sherry
Volunteer Coordinator: Alexandra Friedman
Social Media Coordinator: Camille Moore
Faculty Advisor: Louis Jones

The Information Warrior Student Journal Committee

This is a committee of student volunteers that collaborates with faculty and staff on The Information Warrior Journal, an open-access, peer-reviewed student journal. The publication nurtures and encourages students to publish their research papers and literature reviews. Students who are new to the program and/or academic publishing are encouraged to join.

The first issue of the journal was published in February 2024 on Wayne State University's Digital Commons.

"The launch of The Information Warrior Journal is a significant achievement for the School of Information Sciences. It provides an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their work globally in an open access venue that reflects the values of the profession,” said Paul Bracke, dean of the Wayne State University Library System and School of Information Sciences.

Interested volunteers for the digital journal (to be hosted on the libraries' Digital Commons) should contact Faculty Advisor Kim Schroeder at ag1797@wayne.edu. You will be added to the TEAMS site which holds the group's meeting announcements and files.

"You get to work with a group of people who are interesting and hardworking, and it's just a great time. It's one of the main pieces of advice that I give to the students I work with. I tell them to not just be a member of an organization, but to really get involved and do the work. That's how you get to know people and that's how you become more competitive in the workforce." Jill Turner, MLIS 2005, past president of the Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association and Metropolitan Detroit Medical Libraries Group

Other groups

Metropolitan Detroit Medical Library Group (MDMLG)

Members of MDMLG include information professionals and experts, paraprofessionals, and students who work or are interested in biomedical or health sciences libraries or medical informatics. The current membership represents hospital, academic, and special libraries, or resources centers, from Southeastern Michigan and beyond.

MDMLG now offers a free membership to all School of Information Sciences students! Complete the membership form here to join.

Students will benefit from:

Networking with professional health sciences/medical librarians and informationists in the field
The MDMLG mentoring program
Employment and internship opportunities
Annual student scholarships

Follow the group on Instagram.