Marie L. Radford, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Library and Information Sciences at Rutgers University, and Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University will co-present on the topic of "Discursive and Demographic Dysfunction, Or, Why It Is So Hard To Decide What The Facts Are" on Wednesday, September 27 at 2 p.m. in the 2nd floor Common Area of the Walsh Library. The program is one of a number that will be presented throughout the year under the title of "Critical Issues in Information and Education" sponsored by the Seton Hall University Libraries Speaker Series.

Both speakers will explore how information is disseminated and interpreted in society based on theoretical frameworks for interpersonal communication. While these frameworks have been historically proven through empirical research, they are ever more present in the global age of mass media.

Radford will focus on the difference between conversations that are clear, non-confrontational, and productive and those that are unfocused, awkward, or even threatening. Her talk is adapted from her recent book "Library Conversations: Reclaiming Interpersonal Communication Theory for Understanding Professional Encounters published by the American Library Association," which she co-authored with Gary Radford, Ph.D. She has won multiple national awards for her previous work in this area, and Gary Radford has likewise won numerous awards for his research and publications in Communications – which frequently overlap with library and information science.

Julia Sass Rubin will focus on political-informational fallout in the educational arena. Her research has exposed misinformation on the divisive issue of charter schools and the resulting segregation of school populations. A recent journal article on New Jersey's charter school laws noted that "Rubin has critiqued the current charter school law as needing greater local control components, more transparency, and a means to address an apparent demographic mismatch between charter and district schools." Perhaps the best evidence thus far of the impact of her work has been a complaint lodged against her by the New Jersey Charter Schools Association in 2015. As a longtime Star Ledger reporter wrote on a blog post, "Because charter schools cannot refute the evidence on its merits, they have chosen to try to intimidate those who make the facts available to the public."

Marie Radford
Marie L. Radford, Ph.D. is Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University. In 2017, in addition to publishing "Library Conversations: Reclaiming Interpersonal Communication Theory for Understanding Professional Encounters" with Gary Radford (ALA Editions), she co-authored "Research Methods in Library and Information Science," 6th ed." with Lynn S. Connaway (Libraries Unlimited). Her forthcoming book, "Conducting the Reference Interview," 3rd ed. is co-authored with Catherine Ross & Kirsti Nilsen (ALA Editions). Her research focus is on qualitative research, communication within virtual and traditional library contexts, and postmodern approaches to media stereotypes of librarians/libraries. She is an award-winning, prolific author who gives numerous presentations, workshops, and webinars on topics that include: communication, time management, change management, service excellence, conflict management, and positive approaches to problematic people. She received the 2010 ALA/RUSA Mudge Award for distinguished contributions to reference.

Julia Sass Rubin
Julia Sass Rubin is an Associate Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and a Visiting Associate Professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Her research examines the intersection of education policy, community development, and social justice. Dr. Rubin is also one of the founding members of Save Our Schools NJ, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of parents and other concerned residents who believe that all New Jersey children should have access to a high quality public education. Dr. Rubin earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University, an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School, and an AB with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe College. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Alfred A. Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University and spent a year as a Henry Luce Scholar in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Discursive and Demographic Dysfunction, Or, Why It Is So Hard to Decide What the Facts Are"
When: Wednesday, September 27th from 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Seton Hall University Libraries – Walsh Library, 2nd floor Common Area
Please RSVP to: franceska.osmann@shu.edu