Sanfilippo to Receive Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award
The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) is pleased to announce Madelyn Rose Sanfilippo as the winner of the 2026 ASIS&T Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award. Since 1980, this annual award has honored the unique teaching contributions of exceptional teachers of information science.
Sanfilippo is an Assistant Professor at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the faculty of the School of Information Sciences in 2020 and has compiled an impressive record of contributions to teaching information science at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels since that time. Her teaching responsibilities encompass two established required courses (IS 202 Social Aspects of Information Technology for BS in Information Sciences students and IS 504 Sociotechnical Information Systems for MS in Information Management students) and two elective courses that she designed and introduced into the curriculum (IS 390 Principles and Practice of Data Governance for undergraduate students and IS 524 Data Governance for graduate students).
In her nomination letter, Linda C. Smith, Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, echoed a PhD alumnus who said, “Professor Sanfilippo’s record reflects the core values of this award: excellence, innovation, sustained impact, and leadership in information science education. Her contributions have shaped students, advanced scholarship, and strengthened the broader academic community.” Another PhD student stated that “despite having over ten years of professional experience as a knowledge manager in international development, Dr. Sanfilippo’s teaching enabled me to identify critical gaps and new opportunities in how information science engages collaboration across universities, communities, governments, and international development sectors.”
Upon learning of her selection as the 2026 ASIS&T Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award winner, Sanfilippo said, “This means so much, and it is humbling to be included with the illustrious list of past recipients! I care deeply for our students and spend a lot of time and energy trying to help them grow as creative and critical thinkers, future professionals, and engaged members of a society that is increasingly sociotechnical. I am so grateful to have that impact acknowledged and that the students support this recognition.”
Sanfilippo was selected as the winner from among a pool of outstanding candidates who were judged based on these criteria: evidence of sustained and unique contributions to teaching information science; impact on students, colleagues, and institutions; innovative and imaginative teaching materials and methods; professional association activities related to teaching excellence; research activities related to teaching excellence; and previous teaching awards.
Sanfilippo will receive the award during the 2026 meeting of ASIS&T which will be held 6-10 November 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
About ASIS&T
The Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) is the only professional association that bridges the gap between information science practice and research. For nearly 90 years, ASIS&T has been leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information.