Alumni
Association's Distinguished Service Award
2010: Susan Abler MLS '93 and Keri Botello MLS '88
Congratulations to Susan Abler and Keri Botello, winners of the 2010 UCLA Library & Information Studies Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award.
Comments on Susie, the Information Studies Student Services representative:
Susie's work as the "face" of GSEIS, conducting information sessions for prospective students, and helping collect and process applications. Susie also is a go-to source of information and institutional memory for students trying to navigate the program. Alumni who have gotten to know her during their time in the program remember her warmth and dedication.
Susan is a dedicated employee who is always willing to go above and beyond to help students, faculty and other staff. For the 13 years that Susan has served in the Office of Student Services, she has been of enormous value to prospective students, current students, and alumni. She provides vast amounts of information, assists with countless forms, and serves a liaison when called upon to do so. No task is too big or too small, and she does it with the greatest of attitudes. Susan continues to be a most valuable asset to the GSE&IS community.
Comments on Keri, the Director of the IS Multimedia & Information Technology Lab and the Internship Program Coordinator:
Keri's work with the internship program, which is one of the distinctive strengths of our MLIS degree program. Internships are the first exposure to professional work in information settings for many of our students, and one of the most tangible ways that alumni can give back to the department. Keri's role is vital in maintaining a network of interested alumni and structuring the learning experience for students so that they get the most out of their opportunities. Keri's collaboration with her counterpart at San Jose State on the influential FILL program should also be recognized.
Keri is the consummate information professional, successfully managing the Multimedia and Information Technology Lab and directing the department’s vibrant internship program. Under her leadership, the Lab has become the social and intellectual center for Information Studies students, and her coordination of the internship program has made it an essential part of the IS student experience.
Keri also continually gives back to the profession as noted by her two terms as the Chair of the Librarians’ Association of UCLA, work with the California Library Association, and service on the Library Commission for the city of Torrance. She is as indispensable to the library community in Southern California as she is the Department of Information Studies.
Comments on both:
As first year students in IS 200 we read Bowker and Star's description of infrastructure, the all necessary system of supports that we rely on in order to get things done, but which we often take for granted because it is "invisible." Keri and Susie are a large part of the infrastructure that supports students during their time in the IS department and continues to benefit them after they have graduated and it is appropriate that we recognize their hard work.
Past Recipients
2009: Joyce Pellerano Ludmer MLS '69
2008: Yolanda Retter Vargas MLS '83
2007: Fontayne Holmes MLS '66 and Joan Kapowitz MLS '84
2006: Alison Bunting MLS '70 and Elizabeth Eisenbach MLS '62
2005: Cynthia Mediavilla MLS '77, PhD '00
2004: Marie Waters MLS ’61
