Kinnary Shah
This award recipient began the PhD program in Library and Information Science at the School of Communication here at Rutgers in September 2018. They have made measurable impact on the department. They are currently the president of the Doctoral Student Association, elected by their peers; in this role, they were responsible for collecting and integrating PhD student feedback into the new faculty hiring process. They have also worked as a research assistant for two faculty members in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, and have taught two classes as the instructor of record in two of the programs at the School of Communication and Information. They were also an instructional assistant for two other classes, both in the master’s program. They have has also organized and bargained for doctoral student office space and other necessities, and is active in the union on campus. They have made significant contributions both the Rutgers community and elsewhere; in June 2019, they assisted in the organization and management of the international conference “Consortium for the Science of Sociotechnical Systems Researchers,” held at Rutgers. They are also actively involved in their church community in Long Island. This recipient holds degrees in three fields (sociology, library and information science, and history), is currently completing coursework in Library and Information Science with a minor concentration in Media Studies, and is working on publications to be sent to journals in both of these fields. They plan to become a faculty member at a research institution where they can integrate archival and historical curricula and methods. In their life and work, this recipient practices the principles to which Paul Robeson devoted his life: their research is rooted in activist principles and they work directly with community archives producing grassroots historical counternarratives in order to advocate for local archives and the inclusion of Black perspectives in published historical narratives. Their work and contributions exemplify the inclusive approach to diversity celebrated by Rutgers: as a Black/Latina instructor, they bring a necessary perspective into the classroom, connecting with their diverse undergraduate students. It is clear that this recipient exemplifies the qualities embodied by this award: their work is interdisciplinary, and they possesses talent, energy, and a commitment to both advocacy and an inclusive approach to diversity.
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