Thalia King, MMLIS ’21, chose to pursue her Master of Management in Library and Information Science degree at USC not only because of the university’s global reputation, but because she knew the program’s management focus would set her apart. She now serves as the student success librarian at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Learn more about what inspired her to pursue a library career and her experiences as an MMLIS student in this alum Q&A.
“I was drawn to the USC Marshall MMLIS program because of USC’s global brand. I needed a degree that would stand out from other LIS graduates, so I went for the extra ‘M,’ - Management!”
I was drawn to the LIS career field because I knew it would offer me the greatest variety in life. Every day is an investigation into a new topic! One day I can explore the land of geology and the next day I am digging through databases trying to find current information on the husbandry of praying manitds.
I was drawn to the USC Marshall MMLIS program because of USC’s global brand. When I applied to the program, my husband and I were still moving across the globe on a two-year rotation. I needed a degree that would stand out from other LIS graduates, so I went for the extra “M,” Management!
I am thankful to USC professors and curriculum developers because I learned how to collaborate with other professionals to develop and present statistical analysis, business proposals and accounting. Each group experience gave me the opportunity to develop leadership skills that kept projects on time and within scope. As I transition into the workforce, I am applying the graphic design and presentation skills I learned at USC in my final interview with a local college library.
My most memorable experience at USC was releasing a statistical survey to my friends and family the day before our nation shut down due to COVID-19. The survey focused on the topic of fake news and its prevalence in media. I could not have been more amazed at the statistical results. I would love to reissue the survey to see if public trust in media has changed.
My degree from USC Marshall’s MMLIS program has influenced my work by creating a safe place for encouragement and mentorship from my favorite professors. As I apply to various university libraries, I am excited to see how I can use my analytical skills to assess past and future student engagement. I am eager to make library exciting for incoming learners though visual media and humor!
I would encourage incoming MMLIS students to try to determine their area of interest in the first semester so that they can consider how they will build their capstone.