News & Notes from FIMS Alumni

Have alumni news you'd like to share in a future issue of the FIMS Alumni Newsletter? Email: fims-alumninewsletter@uwo.ca.

A number of MLIS alumni visited campus on February 15, 2018, to assist with the MLIS Career Day, organized through Graduate Student Services. Returning alumni included Melanie Campbell Mills (MLIS’03), Colleen Burgess (MLIS’14), Sarah Dashow (MLIS’15), Shifa Redmond (MLIS’18), Kristen Caschera (MLIS’11), Stephanie Park (MLIS’16), and Kelly Thoreson (MLIS’17).

Two FIMS alumni participated in Western Alumni’s Twitter Takeover initiative during the 2018 winter term. Alex Paterson, BA’08 (MPI), took on the role in February, while Ann Lamanes, BA’00 (MIT), participated in March.

In Memoriam: Doreen McKenzie Sanders, an early journalism graduate who trail-blazed in a male-dominated profession and enjoyed a successful career that included a stint as an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Journalism, passed away at age 96 on November 11, 2017 in Vancouver. McKenzie Sanders received her BA (Hon) from Western in 1961. She is memorialized in the Globe and Mail article “Doreen McKenzie Sanders, 96, business journalist who mentored other women.”

Henry Svec, MA’08, PhD’13 (Media Studies) published the book American Folk Music as Tactical Media. Svec is currently an Assistant Professor of Communications Studies at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. 

A new episode of The Nature of Things titled "Jumbo: The Life of an Elephant Superstar" aired on CBC on Sunday, January 7. The episode was produced by Dugald Maudsley, MA'86 (Journalism) through Infield Fly Productions. It was written and directed by Christine Nielsen, MA'86 (Journalism).

Julianne Hazlewood, MA'10 (Journalism), has taken on the role of morning host at CBC London as of January 29. Hazlewood is taking over for usual host Rebecca Zandbergen for the coming year.

Estee Fresco, PhD’15 (Media Studies), recently accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position in the Communication Studies Department at York University, starting in July 2018. Fresco was supervised by Professor Daniel Robinson during her doctoral studies.

Judy McAlpine, MA'83 (Journalism), was appointed president of the USC Radio Group. USC Radio owns 12 stations in the United States.

Colin Evans, MLIS’14, took on the role as Branch Manager for the Weyburn Public Library in February 2018. A profile of Evans and his vision for the library was published in the Weyburn Review article “New librarian hopes to continue programs, services,” published on March 1.

Sarah Edgar, MLIS’17, served as Guest Editor for Voices: Topics in Canadian Librarianship. Vol. 2 No. 1, published in February. Edgar authored two pieces for the issue. Her Guest Editorial was titled "Breaking the Silence" and an additional contribution was titled "Research Study: Mental Health and Wellness in Young Adults in Public Libraries." 

Other FIMS alumni also contributed to the issue, including Caleigh Monk (MLIS'16) and Preethi Rao (MLIS'18):

Monk authored an article titled "Lonely librarianship: Combating Isolation and Mental Stress in Information Work," while Rao co-authored an article titled "Promoting Mental Health through Student Engagement: Students Helping Students."

Rachel Samulack, MLIS'11, was profiled on Librarianship.ca in an article titled "Beyond the Stacks: Rachel Samulack & Aaron's Butterfly Run for Roger Neilson House" on October 27.

Nadia Danyluk, MLIS’06, was featured in an Owen Sound Sun Times article titled "Danyluk named deputy chief librarian" on December 7.

Florence Hwang, MLIS’06, appeared in a CBC.ca/radio news item titled "A shy Regina librarian gets a pep talk from the women of Baroness von Sketch Show" on December 9.

Joe Zelwietro, MLIS’96, is featured in an article from The Northern View, titled "Heart of Our City - Joe Zelwietro sees the library for more than its books" published on March 4.

Madeline McNair, MA'13 (Journalism), was part of a team from CTV who were recognized with a Canadian Screen Award, receiving the Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research for the W5 episode "Making a Terrorist".

Heather Hiscox, MA'87 (Journalism), was recognized with a Canadian Screen Award for Best News Anchor, National, for her work on the CBC News Network with Heather Hiscox.