ANN ARBOR—Working as an editor in Nicaragua, as a young adult librarian in New York, or as an information technologist in Southeast Michigan are far-flung jobs with a common link: all have ties to the University of Michigan School of Information.

The students in these jobs are part of the Community Information Corps (CIC), a group dedicated to launching careers as public-interest informationists. Associate Prof. Paul Resnick has announced five new recipients of CIC fellowships. Fellows are eligible for up to $5,000 a year for five years and professional development assistance once they complete their Master of Science in Information.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is funding this year’s fellows. One fellow was named last year, with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through its support of the Alliance for Community Technology at the School.

This year’s recipients are:

•Daryl D. Fisher of Hillsdale, Mich.. Fisher, who graduated in August 1999 with a specialization in information economics, management, and policy, is an information technology and work-force development specialist for the Institute for Community and Regional Development (ICARD) at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. He did research for a regional environmental scan on work-force and economic development and served as an information professional in many other ways, including providing technology instruction and serving as a webmaster.

•Stephen Herrick of Mason, Mich. Herrick, an April 2001 degree candidate, has worked at SI on the Community Connector Web site and on the Web infrastructure team for the Knowledge Worksites project of the Alliance for Community Technology. He hopes to work from Nicaragua as editor of “CEPAD Report,” a newsletter published by the Council of Evangelical Churches of Nicaragua. He is also a Green Party activist and can frequently be found on the front lines of protest activities.

•Karen Scheuerer of Ithaca, N.Y. A December 2000 graduate, Scheuerer was a research assistant to Prof. Joan C. Durrance on the “Help-Seeking in an Electronic World” study, a research project that examined the roles of libraries in providing access to community information. Before graduate school, she spent time in rural Poland teaching English. She also served as an Americorps team leader for an anti-hunger project in Los Angeles. After finishing her degree, Scheuerer assisted Prof. Durrance on the “How Libraries and Librarians Help” study. She recently accepted a position as director of neighborhood information services with the Citizens Committee for New York City.

•Jenny Lind Smith of Annapolis, Md. Smith is completing her first year of studies at SI. Before enrolling, she worked at the Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers and the Council for a Livable World Education Fund. Her dream job after graduation is to work at the Benton Foundation as part of its communications policy and practice program; she’ll be working there as an intern this summer.

•Todd White of Grand Rapids, Mich. White is an April 2001 degree candidate. Before enrolling at SI, he was the Internet training coordinator for the Northland Library Cooperative in Alpena, Michigan. He also developed the Web site for the Ubuntu Network, the scholars network for peace building in Africa. Last summer, he promoted e-commerce while part of an SI delegation to the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. He hopes to join the Peace Corps on an information technology assignment. In the longer term, White hopes to promote information technology in Africa.

The five fellowship recipients join last year’s fellow, Laurel Sandor of Bay City, Mich., who is an April 2001 degree candidate. While at SI, she has worked on two youth and technology programs through the Flint Public Library and the Detroit Public Library. She co-authored a report, with CIC fellow Karen Scheuerer, on information flows in the community technology center movement. She has accepted a position as a young adult librarian with the Queens Borough Public Library in New York and looks forward to continuing that library system’s community outreach efforts.

Additional information about the Community Information Corps and the School of Information is available by calling (734) 763-2285 or by visiting si.umich.edu.

School of InformationCommunity Information CorpsDavid and Lucile Packard FoundationStephen HerrickKaren ScheuererJenny Lind SmithTodd White