Dr. Jennifer Steele joins the School of Library and Information Science faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi after having served as the Electronic Resources Librarian for three years at Mississippi College, located in Clinton, Mississippi. She received her Master of Library and Information Studies degree in 2013, followed by her Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences in 2017, both from The University of Alabama.
Dr. Steeleās research focuses on censorship, information accessibility, and intellectual freedom. Her dissertation is titled Censorship in Public Libraries: An Analysis Using Gatekeeping Theory. Her research agenda also includes the role of academic libraries in online education, as well the information literacy skills of first-year college students.
Dr. Steele is involved in multiple professional organizations, including the American Library Association (ALA), Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), as well as the Association of Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), and has served on numerous committees in various leadership positions. As part of ALA, she currently serves on the Resolutions Committee, as well as the Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds Committee. As part of ACRL, she currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee, and is also a member of the Professional Values Committee. As part of ALISE, she currently serves as the 2019-2020 Chair for the Connie Van Fleet Award for Research Excellence in Public Library Services to Adults Committee. Dr. Steele is also a member of the Beta Phi Mu International Library and Information Studies Honor Society.
Dr. Steele is thrilled to be joining the School of Library and Information Science faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi!