Clinical Assistant Professor Ericka Patillo has been both an administrator and teacher of information sciences, and will be serving in both capacities at SIS as she takes on the role of Director of Graduate Studies. 

“I think my combined experiences have equipped me for moving out of the practice and into an arena where I can make contributions to the information professions broadly writ,” she said.

Patillo earned both her doctorate and her master’s degrees in library science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in music history from Old Dominion University. She comes to SIS from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where she served as a User Experience Librarian and prior to that, as University Libraries’ associate dean for public services and engagement. As associate dean, she oversaw the development of the University Libraries Diversity & Inclusion Plan, which became a campus-wide model. 

“I think cultural competence is a very important skill that all of our students and graduates need to have, and our faculty, too. Especially because, for me, it’s not all about diversity and your numbers, it’s about inclusion and cultural competence,” she said. 

Patillo said she’s excited to make a return to teaching and to broaden her experience in online teaching.

“I have missed being in the classroom, even if we are talking about a virtual space. I’m really looking forward to learning more about online collaboration and honing my skills,” she said.