Kent man honored by KSU School of Library and Information Science

The School of Library and Information Science celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) program on Nov. 29 at a reception at the University Library. The event included honoring IAKM founder and former program director Thomas J. Froehlich, Ph.D., a longtime Kent resident, “for providing inspiration and leadership in the creation and oversight of the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program.” An annual award was created in Froehlich’s name to recognize an outstanding student in the program. (The first honoree will be named next year.)

The Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program takes a holistic approach to how knowledge is managed, interpreted and retained through the graduate program’s three concentrations: knowledge management, user experience design (which encompasses information use, usability and information architecture) and health informatics, a new concentration that started this year. Administered by the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS), the program provides students with 21st-century information skills that will help them find career opportunities in fields that are relatively new, yet growing and highly in demand.

Don A. Wicks, Ph.D., SLIS interim director, told guests at the anniversary celebration, "The success of the IAKM program is due in large measure to the sturdy foundation on which it was built 10 years ago. About that time, a group of Kent State faculty from various disciplines recognized the need to create an academic program that would address the growing demand for a new kind of information professional. Among those visionaries was Dr. Tom Froehlich, a professor in the School of Library and Information Science.

"Tom’s own interdisciplinary background can somewhat account for what has allowed IAKM the flexibility and durability required for its growth and maturation. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, a master’s and a Ph.D. in philosophy and a master’s in information science. No wonder, then, that IAKM gives its students a breadth and depth of learning beyond what is offered in similar programs around the country."

Froehlich's research interests include curriculum development in information science and emerging roles for information professionals and a philosophical framework for relevance research. The majority of his published work is concerned with ethical considerations in the information professions, evolving in part from his philosophy background. He teaches courses in information science, ethics, network and software resources, online searching and user interface design. He has provided workshops, training, seminars and presentations in 23 countries, primarily in the areas of online searching and ethical concerns of information professionals.

In 2006 Froehlich was named a Quantum InfoStar by Dialog. He is active in the American Society for Information Science and Technology, the Information Architecture Summit, the Association for Library and Information Science Education, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and the Special Libraries Association, which honored him earlier this year for his work on the development of ethical guidelines for the organization.

According to Froehlich, being at the leading edge of such a pioneering program at Kent State has been challenging and rewarding. “One of the greatest pleasures of the program is to see how many graduates have found successful and prestigious jobs, mainly because they were creative, energetic and hard-working persons,” he said. “The program became a vehicle for them to shine, making the program look good and attracting more employers. 

"A program is known by its graduates, and if the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program sparkles, it is due to the aura created by its graduates.”

The graduates – along with Froehlich – were the focus of the 10th anniversary celebration reception, said Wicks. “It was an honor to recognize Tom's leadership, without which IAKM might not exist. And we were delighted to welcome back some of our alums."

For more information about the IAKM program, visit http://iakm.kent.edu.