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We are proud to announce that Dr. Sarah Evans has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Evans is the Director for the Children’s and Young Adult Librarianship program and the Storytelling program, and Co-Director of the Multiple Literacies Lab. Her research examines the uses of narrative and the development of multiple literacies cultivated through self-directed learning experiences.

Dr. Evans reflected candidly on reaching this career milestone:

“Academia is a strange thing. I feel like I’ve been on a cross-country run since the day I started my graduate studies. Getting tenure feels like crossing the finish line. Now I need to recuperate and reorient myself to the next stage. I am grateful to be working in such a collegial department and college as I move into the next part of my career!”

Also promoted to Associate Professor with tenure is Dr. Lingzi Hong. Dr. Hong is the Director of the Bachelor of Science in Data Science program and leads the Human-Centered Computing Lab. Her research focuses on developing AI methods and AI-powered systems that are responsive to diverse and evolving information needs.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Hong shared:

“Looking back to when I first started at UNT, I realize how much I have grown. At the beginning, I was quite inexperienced. Thank you all for your tolerance and support. Throughout this journey, I have learned so much from all of you. Your guidance and support have shaped who I am today, and for that, I am sincerely thankful. I feel incredibly fortunate to have come to UNT and work with such thoughtful and inspiring colleagues. The past six years have been a rewarding journey, now marked by this milestone of tenure. But the pursuit of meaning in life and work never ends. I always remember these words: ‘For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.’ I hope to continue my efforts in a way that not everything turns into dust, even if small.”

These promotions represent not only significant personal and professional milestones but also embody the Department’s broader mission: to deliver and support outstanding resources, research, and service in education and leadership within the fields of information science, library science, and data science. They also underscore our commitment to preparing top-tier information professionals ready to serve vital and evolving roles at the state, national, and global levels.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Evans and Dr. Hong on this extraordinary accomplishment and the exciting journey ahead.