Dr. Jacqulyn Williams

Specialization

Undergraduate information literacy education; user-centered services and programming in academic libraries in international settings; scholarly publishing.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Higher Education: Research, Evaluation and Enhancement
Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, UK, 2021

Higher Education Management Certificate, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University, 2014

Master of Library and Information Sciences, School of Communication and Library Studies, Rutgers University, 2005

Bachelor of Arts in English, Douglass College, Rutgers University, 1994

Teacher of English Certification, State of NJ, 1994

Biography

Dr. Williams is an experienced information professional, educator, and scholar.

As the Head of Teaching, Learning, and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Williams provides leadership and strategic direction for VCUarts Qatar Libraries’ teaching and learning programming and outreach initiatives. She oversees undergraduate information literacy education; information services; the Art and Design Library’s learning spaces; and the assessment of educational programming.

As the lead teaching and learning librarian at Georgetown University in Qatar from 2011 to 2017, Jacqulyn was responsible for building relationships with campus partners and academic support offices to enhance and support faculty research and teaching and advance undergraduate scholarship. In that role, she supported a team of user-focused staff to develop and execute new services and programming to meet the needs of the GUQ community.

Dr. Williams is deeply committed to promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive publishing practices in library science through her role as Co-Editor for Communications in Information Literacy, a leading, open-access, peer-reviewed journal devoted to the advancement of information literacy research, theory, and practice in higher education.

Jacqulyn has served in a leadership capacity on several university and college-level committees, including VCU’s REAL (Relevant, Experiential, and Applied Learning) Curriculum Committee and the Education City-wide Qatar Teaching and Learning Forum. She has also been active in service to the profession at the national and regional levels.

Research Interests

Library leadership; the role of academic libraries in advancing high-impact practices in undergraduate education; collaboration models in support of cultural heritage; and the future role of academic libraries.

Awards

Faculty Award for Distinguished Service awarded by the Dean of VCUarts Qatar, October 2021
Most Valuable Member of the REAL Council, awarded by the Assistant Vice Provost of VCU, May 2021

Courses Taught

ARTH 292: Writing for Art History, Co-taught with Director of Art History, VCUarts Qatar, Sp. 2019
Introduction to Basic Research Essentials, Community Education program, Georgetown in Qatar, Sp. 2016

Publications (select)

Hollister, C., Hosier, A., & Williams, J.A. (2023). Author perceptions of library and information science journal editor behaviors.Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(3).

Williams, J. A., & Schiwietz, C. (2020). Current understandings of global competency in shaping globally engaged citizens. In Leadership strategies for promoting social responsibility in higher education. Emerald Publishing Limited.

Williams, J. A. (2018). Information literacy and writing studies in conversation: Re-envisioning library-writing program connections [Review of Information literacy and writing studies in conversation: Re-envisioning library writing program connections, by A. Baer]. Communications in Information Literacy, 12(2), 230–234.

Martin, J., Johnston, N., Guilmartin, L., and Williams, J.A. (2015) Sustainable and effective professional development for diverse libraries: Current status and best practice. Paper presented at International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) WLIC, Cape Town, SA.

Presentations, Lectures, and Panels (select)

Baer, A., Hicks, A., Hollister, C., Westbury, M., Williams, J. (2022). Prioritizing inclusion and equity in information literacy scholarship: A panel conversation with the editors of CIL and JIL Panel, LILAC Conference, organized by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), Manchester, UK. 

Best Practices and Emerging Trends in Teaching and Learning in International Higher Education. Presentation to two cohorts (ranging in size from 20-25 staff members) enrolled in the Certificate in Higher Education Management program at Georgetown University in Qatar, October 2022.

Curtis, S. and Williams, J.A. (April, 2020). Maintaining engagement in an online environment. Moderator for open Zoom session for faculty and staff of partner institutions in Education City, hosted by the Qatar Teaching and Learning Forum (QTLF). More than 85 faculty and staff attended this session.

Barth, H.K., Hodges, A., LaMay, C., Larson, A., Mitchell, T., and Williams, J. (2019). Encouraging authenticity in student writing. Panelist at the Qatar Teaching and Learning Forum (QTLF) Education City Panel Discussion, NUQ, Doha, Qatar.

Williams, J. (2019, October). Current understandings of global learning at an international branch campus: A case study of students’ intercultural maturity and development. Poster session presented at the Global Citizenship for Campus, Community and Careers Conference, Association of American Colleges and Universities, San Antonio, TX.

Williams, J.A., & Guilmartin, L. (2014). Lessons from the desert: The evolution of the Information Literacy Network of the Gulf (ILN) and its professional development efforts to promote student learning. Presented at the International Relations Round Table (IRRT), American Library Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Williams, J.A. (2014). Assessment and research: Advancing evidence-based learning and teaching in academic libraries. Presented at the Regional Professional Development Conference, Information Literacy Network of the Gulf, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.

Almond, I., Andretta, E., Elgindi, S., Ford, S., Haroon, Y., Michel, T., Pirbhai, R., Rosario, U., Thotawattage, I., and Williams, J. (2013). Social justice community forum. Jesuit Heritage Week, GU-Q, Doha, Qatar.

Williams, J.A. (2013). Using online assessment tools and educational analytics to inform information literacy instruction. Annual Professional Development Conference, Information Literacy Network of the Gulf, GU-Q, Doha, Qatar.

Williams, J.A. (2011). Innovative practices for incorporating multimedia in library instruction. Education City Libraries Annual Conference, GU-Q, Doha, Qatar.

Invited Judge

Humanities and Social Sciences Judge, Media and Research Awards Committee, Northwestern University in Qatar, 2020 – Present.

Contracts, Grants, and Sponsored Research

Qatar Foundation. (2019). Education City Alumni Survey Report: Insights 2019. Lead Consultant. Reported to the senior advisor of the CEO’s Office. Designed survey and oversaw pilot testing in consultation with senior advisor. Conducted analysis and prepared 25+ page report.

Qatar Foundation. (2019). Higher Education Outcomes Study. Consultant. Reported to the senior advisor of CEO’s Office. Advised impact study team about key high-impact practices (HIPs) in higher education. Provided guidance and support to senior advisor and key impact study team members on altmetrics to better understand the social impact of research activity across EC.

Faculty Research Grant, Office of Research, VCUarts Qatar, Spring 2019.

Professional Service

University (Leadership)

Faculty Senate Alternate, VCUarts Qatar, 2022 – 2023

Co-Chair (Elected), REAL (Relevant, Experiential, and Applied Learning) Curriculum Committee, 2022 – 2022

Co-lead, under the Assistant Vice Provost of VCU, a university-level governance committee of 12-15 VCU faculty and staff to review proposals for new REAL courses and curricula and issue decisions.

Managed review of ~35 new course applications and worked collaboratively to streamline online application process.

Member, REAL Curriculum Committee, 2022 – Present

Member, REAL Council, Office of the Provost, VCU, 2020 – Present

College (Leadership)

Chair, (Elected), Faculty Advisory Council, VCUarts Qatar, 2020 – 2021

Led a committee of nine faculty, representing all academic departments (50+ faculty), in monthly meetings and advised the dean on matters related to faculty issues and interdepartmental concerns.

Member, Dean’s Advisory Group, 2020 – 2021

Member, Administrative Advisory Committee, 2020 – 2021

Faculty Representative (Appointed), Qatar Teaching and Learning Forum, 2019 – 2021

Coordinated the delivery of professional development programming focused on teaching and learning in collaboration with six administrators, deans, and faculty representatives across the six U.S. branch campuses in Education City. Select activities and accomplishments:

Encouraging Authenticity in Student Writing (65+ attendees)

Maintaining Engagement in an Online Environment (85+ attendees)

Co-Chair, Research Development Committee, 2019 – 2020

Co-Chair, Teaching and Learning Committee, 2017 – 2019

College (other)

Member, Director of Student Life and Engagement Search Committee, Spring 2023

Member, Teaching and Learning Committee, 2021 – 2023

Member, Faculty Advisory Council, 2021 – 2022

Member, Faculty Research Grants, 2017 – 2019

Service to the Profession, Library Department

Editor-in-Chief, Communications in Information Literacy, 2021 – Present

Co-lead editorial team of 14; oversee all aspects (editorial direction, journal policies, author and reviewer guidelines, and workflow procedures) of semi-annual publication of peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the advancement of research, theory, and practice in the area of information literacy in higher education.

Book Reviews Editor, Communications in Information Literacy, 2018 – 2021

Member, Head of Innovative Media Studios Search Committee, Spring 2020

Chair, Innovative Media Studios Coordinator Search Committee, Fall 2020

Member, Education Committee, Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS), 2018 – 2021

Co-Chair, Professional Development Committee, ILN of the Gulf, 2012– 2014

Member, Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 2011 – Present

Member, American Library Association (ALA), 2011 – Present