Staffing Developments at the Information Institute

To enhance the overall strength of ongoing research efforts and in the development of future proposals and research, the Information Use Management and Policy Institute of the School of Information Studies at Florida State University would like to announce several key personnel changes and a change of location for the Institute offices. These changes, effective May 2004, include the creation of two new positions in the Institute staff and the expansion of the Usability Lab staff.

Susan Thomas has been promoted to Coordinator, Research Programs/Services. Her new position assists with negotiation, preparation and submission of research proposals, participation in research and writing for projects, and she serves as project manager for selected funded research projects. Susan will continue to supervise Institute staff, and manage fiscal and administrative operations and the Institute's web site.

Paul T. Jaeger, J.D., has been named Manager for Research Development at the Institute. In this new capacity, Paul's duties now include serving as lead researcher on certain Institute projects, managing and providing quality control over the research activities of Institute staff, identifying and assessing potential research project and funding opportunities, and coordinating Institute research collaborations with members of the faculty. Paul will also work with Institute graduate assistants in enhancing their writing and research skills. In addition, Paul will continue to serve as a senior researcher, developing proposals, conducting research, and writing Institute reports and publications.

Dr. Peter Jorgensen will serve as the new Director of the Institute's Usability Lab, and Anthony Chow has been named Assistant Director for Experiential Learning of the Usability Lab. Peter will oversee the research conducted through the Usability Lab and will be responsible for finding research grants to support the Lab. In his new capacity, Anthony will concentrate his efforts by working with students on usability testing and will oversee small-scale, applied research projects through the Lab.

Another major change for the Institute is the move to its new suite of offices. Susan, Paul, and the rest of the Institute staff will be located in the newly renovated Suite 010 of the Louis Shores Building beginning May 15. This new suite provides the Institute staff with offices all in one location for the first time. The main Institute phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

Over the past several years, the Institute has been very successful at developing innovative research in the field of Information Studies and bringing grant funds to the School of Information Studies at Florida State University. These new positions are intended to facilitate the success of the Institute in the future.