Catherine Brooks
Interim Dean
Dr. Catherine Brooks is the interim dean of the College of Information Science at the University of Arizona. In her role, Dr. Brooks’ primary focus is bringing information scientists (e.g., librarians, data scientists, game developers, information managers, cyber operations specialists, ethicists) from across academic fields and applied sectors together in order that they function as a "faculty of one" without separate academic departments. In this role, Dr. Brooks also represents the college in the iSchools consortium, a worldwide association of information institutions of higher education.
With a background in communication studies and education, Dr. Brooks is a scholar who focuses on inclusive communication, curricular design, innovative instruction and social behavior in an increasingly digital world. She has multiple research articles on these topics, while she has also contributed to wider global debates as a public intellectual. Some of her more public pieces have appeared in highly circulated outlets, such as Wired and Scientific American, while also contributing to global conversations in interviews with outlets, such as The Guardian. Prior to serving as interim dean, Dr. Brooks served as director of the School of Information, founded its Center for Digital Society and Data Studies, and has been heavily involved in developing curricular programs and research infrastructure. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Arizona, Dr. Brooks was a tenure-track faculty member at California State University, Long Beach in its Department of Communication Studies, serving for a short time as associate chair.
In her role as interim dean of the college, Dr. Brooks is leading a rapidly growing academic unit and providing an important intellectual nodal point for U of A’s growing commitment to research and teaching on our highly complex information society. She helps guide the college’s globally recognized Knowledge River Scholars Program, which has earned recognition for preparing librarians and other information specialists to address the information needs of underrepresented populations. Even as the college develops cutting-edge research and academic programs that tackle some of the world’s most challenging problems, such as living in a world with AI, Dr. Brooks continues to also ground the college in its core values by developing programs that increase accessibility and break down barriers for learners who want to make important contributions to our digital futures.
Dr. Brooks earned the MA in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She then maintained her focus on online communication, digital instruction and curriculum as she earned her PhD in Education from the University of California, Riverside.