Innovation, Imagination and Resilience: Celebrating the InfoSci Class of 2024

On December 19, the College of Information Science held its Fall 2024 Convocation at Crowder Hall. The milestone event was not a celebration only of InfoSci graduates, but also of the interdisciplinary spirit that defines our community of faculty, students and alumni.

Though we are a new college at the University of Arizona, we have a rich institutional history of bridging fields as varied as data science, game design, library science and virtual reality. Our mission to explore these diverse intersections of people, data and technology is reflected in the accomplishments of this semester’s 170 PhD, master’s and bachelor’s graduates—each of whom pursued degrees that are as innovative as they are impactful. From harnessing artificial intelligence to preserving information heritage, we prepare students to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected digital world. This ethos of interdisciplinarity was woven throughout the convocation ceremony, as speakers shared their visions for applying their education to create a more equitable, informed and imaginative future for all​​.
 

The Power of Imagination: Keynote Address

Jennifer Nichols, keynote speaker and director of U of A’s CATalyst Studios, delivered a poignant and thought-provoking address. A two-time U of A alumna with degrees in East Asian Studies and Information Resources and Library Science, Nichols traced her journey from librarian to leader of cutting-edge makerspaces. Her speech emphasized the transformative power of imagination, urging graduates to create, innovate and connect.

“Imagination is yours and yours alone,” Nichols declared. “A computer cannot imagine as you can. You can make a computer do amazing things if you use your imagination. You can foster imagination in others; you can support the creative endeavors of others. You can create opportunities for curiosity to be appreciated, to be rewarded, to be encouraged.” Reflecting on her work designing spaces like CATalyst Studios—where technologies such as 3D printers and laser cutters coexist with VR headsets and sewing machines—Nichols illustrated the immense value of fostering creativity in diverse communities.

She also shared personal insights about the importance of stepping away from screens to reconnect with the physical world: “Fostering imagination requires being off the screen…. Your perception is unique; you cannot access your unique content if you are always only on the receiving end.”

As the graduates prepare to embark on their own paths, Nichols’ words serve as both a rallying cry and a reminder of the responsibility they carry: to use their knowledge not just for technological progress, but for meaningful, ethical impact​.
 

Spotlight on Achievements

Convocation not only celebrated the graduates as a whole but also highlighted several outstanding students, beginning with the semester’s sole participating PhD graduate.

Dr. Anna Leach: PhD Excellence

Recognition of graduates began with the hooding of Dr. Anna Leach. Selected as the Outstanding PhD Student, Anna’s dissertation is A Study of the Interaction Patterns of Online Learners: Highlighting the Usefulness of Linking Social Network Analysis and Qualitative Research. Her leading, transdisciplinary research underscores the college’s mission to empower innovation at the intersection of technology and humanity.
 

JoeAna Payte: Mastering Resilience

Among the master’s graduates, Master of Arts in Library and Information Science student JoeAna Payte stood out not only for earning the Outstanding Graduate Student Award but also for her stirring speech. A Latina mother of five who returned to school after 17 years, Payte described her educational journey as a testament to perseverance, inspiring but also challenging. “At the age of 35 I will be starting my career. It will be a couple years before my family truly feels the financial difference. It will be many years before my children truly understand what this degree means not just to me but to them and their children, as well. The important thing is those will now be realities and no longer just dreams,” she told the audience to heartfelt applause​​.
 

Olivia Fernflores: Undergraduate Achievement

The undergraduate class speaker, Olivia Fernflores, represented the next generation of changemakers with grace and determination. A triple major in Information Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Bioinformatics, Olivia received the Outstanding Senior Award. In her speech, she celebrated the unique paths of her fellow graduates and emphasized their shared mission: to use their education to create a more inclusive, equitable world. “The potential for each and every one of you to make an impact is huge,” she said, expressing confidence in her peers’ abilities to make a difference​​.
 

Fall 2024 Student Awards

Other Fall 2024 award-winners are Jesus Villabos, MLIS, Outstanding Master’s Student Award; Erika Kirkpatrick, Master of Science in Data Science, Graduate Teaching Award; Lindsay Parker Willmarth, Bachelor of Arts in Information Science and eSociety, Leadership and Community Engagement Award; Saudra Alvarez, BA IS&ES, Student Success Award; and Kailey Hurley, BSIS, Merit Award.
 

A Celebration of Community

Interim Dean Catherine Brooks captured the spirit of the day with her opening remarks. “Graduates, I’ve seen the work you’ve done and the resilience you’ve shown. You’re not just part of this college—you’re part of its legacy and its future,” she said. Dean Brooks encouraged the graduates to remain connected to the college, promising an ongoing relationship built on shared purpose and mutual support​.

The event also honored the many people behind the graduates’ success, from faculty and staff to families and friends, whose support helped these students reach their goals. As Payte noted in her student speech, “To those who encouraged us along the way, we are your contribution to the world. None of us got here alone.”
 

The Journey Ahead

With their tassels turned and degrees conferred, the Fall 2024 graduates of the College of Information Science join the ranks of the InfoSci alumni family, now more than 5,000 members strong. They leave not only with technical expertise and an intimate understanding of the power of information, but also with the charge to use their innovation, imagination and resilience to forge a better, more connected world.
 

View a recording of the College of Information Science Fall 2024 Convocation (start at the 19-minute mark).