University of Washington Information School

10/29/2026

Professor Jacob O. Wobbrock gave the opening keynote at this week’s conference in Porto, Portugal, hosted by ACM’s Special Interest Group on Accessible Computing. He delivered a speech titled “25 Years, 5 Projects, and 5 Reflections on Accessible Computing.”

Wobbrock was honored with the SIGACCESS Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computing and Accessibility. This lifetime achievement award makes him the 10th recipient in a line of highly accomplished scholars, including fellow UW professor and longtime collaborator Richard Ladner.

Through his work, Wobbrock has sometimes noticed tension between pursuing rigorous research and non-research activism and advocacy. He hopes his experiences will show other academics and researchers that rather than choosing one or the other, rigorous research can directly produce real-world impact.

Learn more in our latest story:

In 2008, Information School Professor Jacob O. Wobbrock and his research team published a paper describing one of the first accessibility tools designed fo...

10/29/2026

As we celebrate 25 years of the UW Information School, we invite you to learn more of the fascinating history behind the school!

Mike Eisenberg’s trademark enthusiasm was on full display. It was Jan. 6, 2001, and the nascent Information School threw a party in the newly opened, sta...

10/27/2026

We’ve been celebrating our transfer student community for , and wanted to share words of wisdom from our students:

Azelya Jade Macaranas, Informatics:

“My advice to transfer students: Try everything once. Whether it’s walking into that first general meeting by yourself, meeting up with people you’ve only met once, or finally visiting that new café or food spot, exposure is key during a big transition. You never know what a single experience might lead to. You’ve already shown your resilience by taking a huge leap. There’s bound to be something great waiting for you; you just have to go find it.

“Looking back on my transition to UW just a year ago, I’m grateful for everything I’ve been exposed to and the challenges that helped me grow. The community and resources at UW are abundant, and it took time to figure out what aligned with me. I navigated not only the iSchool but also events through HDCE, entrepreneurship and business-focused opportunities, and every panel that caught my interest. It was important to me to not be cooped up in one department and find other spaces I felt aligned with. Along the way, I gained knowledge and a sense of community that felt brand new to me.

“Coming from a community college in California and as a first-generation college student, I’ve cleared many hurdles to get here, and it was rarely smooth sailing. But by the end of last school year, I realized these parts of me shouldn’t be hidden; they’re something to be proud of, and embracing them helped me find connection.”

Thank you, Azelya!

10/27/2026

We’ve been celebrating our transfer student community for , and wanted to share words of wisdom from our students:

Joshua Chen, Informatics –

“My journey to the University of Washington started at Seattle Central College, where I completed my associate degree before transferring to UW to study Informatics. One thing I learned from transferring from Seattle Central College to UW is that I don't have to figure everything out on my own. There will always be questions and challenges, big or small. The key is finding the right people who can help you. Don't be afraid to reach out and make use of the resources around you.

"One of the most important things I learned during my transfer journey was to take advantage of the resources around me. Transferring to a university involves many decisions, and there will always be questions and challenges along the way. I realized that I didn't need to have all the answers myself. Sometimes, finding the right person to ask can make a big difference.

"At Seattle Central College, I received valuable support from the Advising Center, TRIO, and MESA. I also benefited from UW's Path to UW program, Transfer Thursday sessions, and the University of Washington's Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. These resources helped me with course planning, application preparation, scholarships, and mental health support.

"One experience I'm especially grateful for was the support I received when looking for scholarships. In my experience, scholarships for transfer students can be more limited and difficult to find. My advisor took the time to understand my situation, helped me identify scholarships that were a good fit for me, and supported me through the application process. This made a difference and greatly reduced my financial burden.

"Since transferring to UW, I've continued exploring new opportunities and gaining experience outside the classroom. This past summer, I completed an internship with the City of Seattle Government's IT Department as an IT Business Intern. It was a great opportunity to apply what I've learned and gain real-world experience.

"For future transfer students, my advice is simple: reach out early, ask questions, and explore the resources available to you. You don't have to navigate the transfer journey alone. There are people and programs that genuinely want to help you succeed.”

Thank you for sharing your advice, Joshua!

10/26/2026

The Information School prepares graduates for many exciting careers! Here are five positions that would be a strong fit for iSchool students and grads:
 
🍁Docusign (Seattle, WA) - Program Management Intern.
Docusign is searching for Program Management Interns to help drive their high-impact technology programs and workstreams, working directly with product, engineering, and cross-functional stakeholders. tinyurl.com/ycxfkw3j
 
🍁University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA) - Systems and Discovery Librarian.
The University of Puget Sound’s Collins Library is seeking an experienced librarian to serve as the primary administrator and strategic coordinator for the integrated library services (ILS) platform. tinyurl.com/t4jbyzde
 
🍁Seattle International Film Festival (Seattle, WA) - Grants and Partnerships Manager.
SIFF is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit dedicated to the creation of vibrant experiences and spaces that champion film discovery and arts education. The Grants & Corporate Partnerships Manager implements the organization’s development strategy to secure philanthropic and sponsored support from corporate, foundation, government and organization sources. tinyurl.com/2medu37u

🍁Nintendo of America (Redmond, WA) - Intern, Sustainability.
As an Intern at Nintendo of America, you will actively be contributing to meaningful projects and gain valuable hands-on work experience with a leading company in the entertainment industry. tinyurl.com/2ju5pja7
 
🍁The University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) - Assistant or Associate Professor.
The Division of Information and Library Science (DILS) in UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Data and Information Sciences UNC School of Data and Information Sciences invites applications for an open-rank, tenure-track faculty position focused on the application of automated methods in cultural heritage and memory institutions. tinyurl.com/55jdxb2c
 
Bonus Tip: Connect with iSchool Career Advisors.
 
Looking for career guidance? iSchool Career Advisors are available to support you with interview preparation, offer negotiations, career exploration, and more!

10/26/2026

Check out this excellent seminar on navigating misinformation in one-on-one patron interactions with UW Information School Research Scientist Stacey Wedlake and Kristen Calvert, Programs and Partnerships Manager at the Dallas Public Library: (recording available)

Learn about why people believe misinformation and leave with approaches you can use during interactions with patrons.

10/21/2026

From the way students are welcomed into the classroom, to the care shown for both learning and the whole person, Dr. Wes Eli King exemplifies teaching excellence. King has earned a 2026 University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award, a first for the Information School. Congratulations!

It’s a volatile time to be a student. Emerging technologies mediate their learning experiences and shape their future career paths faster than institutio...

10/21/2026

Startup spotlight: Rachel Waldron, MLIS ’18, founder and principal at Shelfwright.

Through Shelfwright, Rachel Waldron applies core library and information science practices, including collection development, organization, classification and readers' advisory, in a private-sector context. While the setting differs from a traditional library, the underlying goals remain the same: helping people engage with information and ideas that are meaningful to them.

The knowledge and skills Waldron developed at the University of Washington Information School provided a framework for analyzing user needs, organizing information and building collections — competencies that have enabled her to create a business grounded in the principles of library and information science while serving audiences outside of conventional library environments.

Best of luck with your venture, Rachel! Read more about this impressive entrepreneurial alum: https://ischool.uw.edu/alumni/spotlight/rachel-waldron