Four new members have been appointed to the UMSI Advisory Board, effective July 1. Over the next three years, they will help to advance the mission and shape the vision of the School of Information by lending their expertise to UMSI leadership, engaging with students and alumni, and providing philanthropic support. 

Valeda Dent (MILS ‘92), Marta Rey-Babarro (MSI ‘05), Kate Donovan (MSI ‘10) and Nikki Roda (MSI ‘13) bring collective experience innovating in industry and furthering the study of information and technology.

Valeda Dent is the inaugural vice provost of libraries and museum at Emory University, where she works to conserve the university’s collections while expanding access and community engagement. A lifelong researcher, Dent has published extensively on interests that include the impact of chronic poverty on rural development, rural libraries in Africa and related literacy and reading habits, and emerging data technologies. She is on the boards of the Friends of African Village Libraries and the Global Village Project and a trustee for the Center for the Advancement of the Study of International Education. Dent holds a PhD in information science from Long Island University and an MSW and MILS from the University of Michigan. 

A leader in UX, Marta Rey-Babarro is vice president of research and insights at Zillow. She formerly worked at Google as global head of research and insights for ChromeOS and Chromebooks. Throughout her career, Rey-Babarro has been invested in building and empowering teams. As co-founder of the Design Sprint Academy at Google, she helped more than 50 teams define new products and processes. She holds a PhD in audiovisual communication from Complutense University of Madrid and an MSI from UMSI.

Kate Donovan is a fervent advocate for broader access to archives and special collections. She is the James D. Hart Director of The Bancroft Library and the inaugural associate university librarian for special collections at the UC Berkeley Library. Previously, Donovan worked at Harvard University as curator of the Harry Elkins Widener Collection and associate librarian for public services at Houghton Library, which houses rare books and manuscripts. Donovan is committed to building diverse collections and increasing public engagement. She holds an MA in history from the University of Iowa and an MSI from UMSI.

Nikki Roda is an interaction designer and founder of the design consulting firm Deduce Designs. She is passionate about expanding data literacy to inform better decision making. Roda has worked on interface solutions for government agencies, financial institutions and global development aid organizations. She holds an MSI from UMSI, where a 2013 student impact award was established in her name, in recognition of the immense contributions she made to the school. 

The newly appointed board members will use their industry and research expertise to help guide strategic decisions and curriculum development, while supporting students directly through mentorship opportunities. Along with existing board members, they will play a vital role in shaping the future of UMSI.