Jessica Ballard-Lawrence, Archivist for Multicultural Collections and Services, has received the Ebony Excellence Award (faculty category) from the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) on the University of Illinois campus.

According to the University Archives’ Out of the Vault newsletter, “The annual awards celebrate faculty, staff, students, student organizations, and campus departments for their outstanding work to promote Black excellence.” BNAACC states that the Faculty Member of the Year Award recognizes work that “furthers [student] interests in learning and opportunities through culturally relevant pedagogies and by fostering a culture of care.”

Lynne M. Thomas, head of The Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is a finalist for a Hugo Award—science fiction’s most prestigious award. She is a nominee for the award for Best Semiprozine for her work in Uncanny Magazine. Thomas serves as the co-editor-in-chief and co-publisher along with her husband, Michael Damian Thomas. The nomination also includes Managing/Poetry Editor Chimedum Ohaegbu; Managing Editor Monte Lin; Nonfiction Editor Meg Elison; and Podcast Producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, Professor & Coordinator for Research and Teaching Professional Development, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP).

This award, created in 2003, is given to an SSP member for his or her work over an extended period (3 or more years) on behalf of SSP and the field of scholarly communication.

Sara Benson has been recognized with the Campus Excellence in Public Engagement Faculty & Staff – Emerging Award for her wide-ranging work in helping people understand the intricacies of copyright.

Benson serves as the University Library’s Copyright Librarian, but her efforts extend far beyond campus and its academic personnel. She has appeared before the U.S. Copyright Office, advised Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, worked on international copyright matters, reached thousands with her Copyright Chat podcast and YouTube channel, and advocated for and protected librarians across the nation through her invitation-only role as a member of the American Library Association Policy Corps.