Nine University Library Instructors were named in the University of Illinois List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students for Fall 2024. This list is released each semester, and results are based on the ratings from the Instructor and Course Evaluation System (ICES) maintained by Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Only those instructors who gave out ICES forms during the semester and who released their data for publication are included in the list.

The Library is central to the University of Illinois’ mission of teaching, research, and public service. It is one campus unit that serves all academic disciplines. Therefore, Library faculty and staff serve as instructors across a wide variety of departments.

Faculty and instructors ranked on this list include:

• Merinda Hensley*
• Lisa Janick Hinchliffe
• Pia Hunter
• Travis McDade
• Cat Segota
• Yoo-Seong Song*
• Jennifer Teper
• Nolan Vallier

*Hensley and Song were recognized as “outstanding.”

Lynne M. Thomas, Head of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library at the University Library, is a finalist for the 2025 Hugo Awards for her work as co-editor-in-chief and co-publisher of Uncanny Magazine. She is a finalist for two awards: Best Editor (Short Form) and Best Semiprozine, alongside the editorial staff and fellow co-editor-in-chief and co-publisher, Michael Damian Thomas. Uncanny Magazine is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine that features fiction, poetry, gorgeous prose, and nonfiction. With eleven Hugo Award wins, Thomas is tied with Connie Willis for most wins among women, and sixth all-time for most wins amongst all Hugo Award winners.

The 2025 Hugo Awards will be presented on August 16, 2025, at a formal ceremony at Seattle Worldcon 2025, the 83rd World Science Fiction Convention. The Hugo Award is “the leading award for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy.” Since 1955, the Hugo Awards have been awarded annually by the World Science Fiction Society.