We are pleased to announce career milestones for two iSchool professors, both of whom are leaders in their fields and highly valued members of our campus community. Dr. Min Kyung Lee has been recommended for tenure and promotion to associate professor, and Sarah Norris has been recommended for promotion to associate professor of practice.
"Min and Sarah’s promotions are richly deserved, and the iSchool is fortunate to have such talented and dedicated faculty members", says Interim Dean and Chair Designate Ken Fleischmann.
Prof. Lee has been an assistant professor at the iSchool since January 2020. She is an innovator in the field of participatory artificial intelligence. Her current research activities include a grant from the National Science Foundation to explore community-driven design of fair, urban air mobility transportation management systems and a grant from the Ford Foundation and the Omidyar Network examining the relationship between responsible generative AI practices and financial performance.
“Min is a leading scholar of human-AI interaction with an impressive international reputation and outstanding publication and funding records,” Fleischmann says. “Her work shines a critical light on the importance of ensuring that AI systems are designed, deployed, and governed in a human-centered manner, and she has been a key contributor to Good Systems, Ethical AI at UT Austin. Her research is incredibly timely and practically relevant, demonstrating the leadership role of the iSchool in leveraging information technologies to benefit society."
Prof. Norris has been an assistant professor of practice in library and archives conservation and preservation at the iSchool since September 2020. She also earned a master’s degree in library and information studies from the iSchool in 2009. She worked in the field as a conservator with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for over 11 years. In addition to teaching a popular course on Disaster Planning and Response, Norris has launched a series of efforts aimed at educating the public on conservation issues and helping memory institutions better prepare for natural disasters.
“Sarah is leading the way in conservation education and practice, including exploring how advances in technology can help to improve conservation efforts in libraries and archives,” Fleischmann says. “Her work is exemplary in demonstrating how the iSchool innovates in information technology through our continuing commitment to libraries and archives.”