Faculty Profiles

With a background in federal investigations and a passion for exploring the social-technical nexus, Lecturer Sarah Young says the College of Information Science is “the perfect place”—a community where students can dig into cutting-edge research and the societal dimensions that shape it. Read more about Dr. Young’s path, perspective and advice for InfoSci students in this faculty profile.

Jialu Li joined the College of Information Science in Fall 2025 as an assistant professor after spending time at Carnegie Mellon University’s Language Technologies Institute. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In this profile, she discusses her interdisciplinary research, passions outside of academia, advice for current InfoSci students and more.

A US Army veteran with two decades of service and a PhD in Cyber Defense from Dakota State University, Paul Wagner brings deep expertise in cyber defense, workforce development and applied learning to the U of A’s top-ranked Cyber Operations program. As a professor of practice, he combines military, industry and research experience to prepare students for real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Associate Professor Dr. Xiao Hu joined the College of Information Science in 2025 after advancing her research and teaching at the University of Hong Kong. In this profile, she opens up about her cutting-edge research on how AI can enhance human learning and wellbeing, the project-based approach that brings students directly into her teaching and her passions for exploring the outdoors—plus much more.

Associate Professor Brenton Stewart, who joined the college in 2025, studies information behaviors and practices, particularly information avoidance, needs, use and trust across disparate social-cultural contexts, institutions and artifacts. As a former academic librarian, he is especially interested in information behaviors of college students and the information ecology of academic libraries.

Ann Shivers-McNair, a new College of Information Science associate professor, brings a passion for collaboration, communication and belonging in design—values that shape her research, teaching and mentorship across disciplines and communities. Learn more about Dr. Shivers-McNair in this profile, including her sage advice for InfoSci students.

Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies Michael MicKisson is an award-winning visual journalist and educator who joined the college in 2023. He works with InfoSci students on uncrewed aerial vehicle data collection, visual storytelling, user-centered design, product development and entrepreneurship.

At the U of A and beyond, Associate Professor Peter Jansen is redefining how machines engage with science. As a researcher at the prestigious Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2), Jansen sits at the cutting edge of a field long viewed as a distant dream: automated scientific discovery. His latest project in concert with other Ai2 researchers, DiscoveryWorld, blends the charm of a video game with the rigor of scientific exploration.

Jennifer Rochelle joined the college in 2022 as an assistant professor of practice and faculty advisor for the Master's in Library and Information Science. Holding a law degree from CUNY and her U of A MLIS degree, her community work includes humanitarian aid on the U.S.-Mexico border, while her teaching covers copyright and intellectual property and ethics.

Dr. P. Bryan Heidorn directs the Center for Digital Society and Data Studies in addition to his roles as professor and associate dean for research and graduate academic affairs. With a diverse background in iSchools leadership and information science research, he is passionate about getting information to scientists, policymakers and general citizens worldwide to make informed decisions about our environment.

Dr. Nitika Sharma, an assistant professor of practice, joined the college in Fall 2024 following two postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA. Her research bridges ecology, evolution, mathematics and data. Learn more about Professor Sharma, including her advice to students about data science and public interest.

Dr. Liangming Pan, who holds a PhD in Computer Science from the National University of Singapore, joined the college in fall 2024. His primary research focuses on natural language processing and machine learning—artificial intelligence—and specifically how to build large language models that are logical, truthful and safe. Learn more about our newest assistant professor in this profile.

Dr. Marie Saldaña, an assistant professor with a PhD in Architecture, joined the College of Information Science in fall 2024 because of its transdisciplinary approaches. Her research focuses on cultural heritage informatics, and she is currently serving a fellowship with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Tyler Millhouse, who joined the college in 2023, specializes in the philosophy of science, with an emphasis on the philosophy of data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Learn more about his interests in AI, ethics and astronomy in this faculty profile.

Dr. Andrew Kemp-Wilcox joined the college in 2022 after a successful career as a video game content writer and designer. He teaches students in the BA in Games and Behavior and BS in Game Design and Development programs.