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Sarah E. Ryan

Title: Associate Professor

Department: Information Science

College: College of Information

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae Link

Education

  • JD, Quinnipiac School of Law, 2017
    Major: Law
    Specialization: General Law/Health Law
  • MLS, Texas Woman's University, 2012
    Major: Library Science
    Specialization: Internship at the University of Texas at El Paso library; Practicum in UTEP Special Collections (C. Rivers, supervisor)
  • PhD, Ohio University, 2006
    Major: Rhetorical Criticism
    Specialization: Communication
    Dissertation: An absence of debate: An investigation of rhetorical democracy in media coverage of abstinence and welfare from 1992-2000
  • Certificate, Ohio University, 2005
    Major: Women's Studies
  • MA, Ohio University, 2001
    Major: Interpersonal Communication
  • BA, Capital University, 1997
    Major: Organizational Communication/Spanish

Current Scheduled Teaching

INFO 6950.710Doctoral DissertationSpring 2025
INFO 5366.401Law Library ManagementSpring 2025
INFO 6660.043Readings in Information ScienceSpring 2025
INFO 5900.407Special ProblemsSpring 2025
INFO 6900.034Special ProblemsSpring 2025
INFO 6910.031Special ProblemsSpring 2025

Previous Scheduled Teaching

INFO 5000.020Information and Knowledge ProfessionsFall 2024 SPOT
INFO 5647.401Legal Information and Access ServicesFall 2024 SPOT
INFO 6660.034Readings in Information ScienceFall 2024
INFO 6900.034Special ProblemsFall 2024
INFO 5025.001Legal and Ethical Issues in Health InformaticsSummer 5W1 2024 SPOT
INFO 5900.701Special ProblemsSummer 5W1 2024
INFO 5366.001Law Library ManagementSpring 2024 SPOT
INFO 5080.020Research Methods and AnalysisSpring 2024 SPOT
INFO 6900.034Special ProblemsSpring 2024
INFO 5000.020Information and Knowledge ProfessionsFall 2023 SPOT
INFO 5647.001Legal Information and Access ServicesFall 2023 SPOT
INFO 5900.704Special ProblemsFall 2023
INFO 6900.034Special ProblemsFall 2023
INFO 5709.020Data Visualization and CommunicationSpring 2023 SPOT
INFO 5366.001Law Library ManagementSpring 2023 SPOT
INFO 4080.020Research Methods and EvaluationSpring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
INFO 6900.034Special ProblemsSpring 2023
INFO 5000.002Information and Knowledge ProfessionsFall 2022 SPOT
INFO 5900.704Special ProblemsFall 2022
INFO 5000.002Information and Knowledge ProfessionsSpring 2022 SPOT
INFO 6900.704Special ProblemsSpring 2022
INFO 5000.003Information and Knowledge ProfessionsFall 2021 SPOT
INFO 5000.005Information and Knowledge ProfessionsFall 2021 SPOT

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Ryan, S. (2022). Empirical Legal Research Services. University of North Texas Libraries.
  • Rohrleitner, M.C., Ryan, S.E. (2013). Dialogues Across Diasporas: Women Writers, Scholars, and Activists of Africana and Latina Descent in Conversation. Lexington Books.
  • Book Chapter

  • Ryan, S.E., Evans, S.A., Hawamdeh, S.M. (2023). Public Libraries as Key Knowledge Infrastructure Needed to Empower Communities, Promote Economic Development, and Foster Social Justice. Public Libraries as Key Knowledge Infrastructure Needed to Empower Communities, Promote Economic Development, and Foster Social Justice. 53 203-218. Leeds, England, Emerald Publishing Limited.
  • Ryan, S. (2016). Reconciliation via compulsory communal labor: Opportunities and challenges facing post-colonial Rwanda. In P.M. Kellett & T.G. Maytok (eds.) Communication and conflict transformation: Local to global engagements. Lanham, MD, Lexington Books.
  • Ryan, S.E., Murta, M.S. (2013). In M. Rohrleitner & S. Ryan (eds.) Constrained activism: National agendas versus local activities in non-governmental organizations serving diasporic women. Dialogues across Diasporas Women Writers, Scholars, and Activists of Africana and Latina Descent in Conversation. Lexington Books.
  • Ryan, S. (2013). Introduction: Dialogues across diasporas: Africana? Chicana? Latina? No, Afro-Latina!. In M. Rohrleitner & S. Ryan (eds.) Constrained activism: National agendas versus local activities in non-governmental organizations serving diasporic women. Lanham, MD, Lexington Books.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2011). The matatus take you everywhere: Reflections on the value of international/intercultural communication training from the Rwanda Research Group. Topical problems of communication and culture. 264-279. Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University.
  • Ryan, S.E., Balocating, A. (2010). We snuck up on the roof: The widows of Duhozanye rebuild their community. Collaborative Answers to community problems in Save, Rwanda. Social Justice Wisdom Series. 1-8. University of Texas at El Paso.
  • Schwartz, R., Williams, D.W., Ryan, S.E. (2007). The New York Police Officer: Democratic and Moral Accountability in Conflict. Accountability Cases. American Society for Public Administration.
  • Book Review

  • Ryan, S. (2021). The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching. Other. 7 (1) National Association of Communication Centers.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2009). Reclaiming the relevance of journalism: The case of the Clarion-Ledger. Review of Communication. 9 (2) 172-175.
  • Conference Proceeding

  • Ryan, S.E. (2024). Interrupting generative AI in LIS: Using analog, project-based, in-class team work to validate core research competency learning.. Proceedings of the ALISE Annual Conference. University of Illinois. https://iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/aliseacp/article/view/1685
  • Mohotarema, R., Hong, L., Ryan, S.E. (2023). A brief survey of financial misinformation: Typologies, theories, and detection methods. Proceedings of the Multi-disciplinary Information Research Symposium at the University of North Texas.
  • Ryan, S.E., Rashid, M. (2023). A systematic review of diversity and curriculum improvement case studies: Lessons for inclusion and research instruction in Library and Information Science programs. ALISE (Association of Library and Information Science Educators).
  • Ryan, S. (2007). Child malnutrition in Africa: Opportunities for communication and social change. 186 pp. New York, NY, City University of New York.
  • Critical Review

  • Ryan, S.E. (2009). Born into brothels: Calcutta’s red light kids. Films for the Feminist Classroom. 1 (1)
  • Ryan, S.E. (2009). Quincea\~nera. Films for the Feminist Classroom. 1 (1)
  • Encyclopedia Article

  • Ryan, S. (2013). Childcare. Encyclopedia of Undocumented Immigrants. Greenwood, CT, ABC CLIO.
  • Ryan, S. (2013). Children. Encyclopedia of Undocumented Immigrants. Greenwood, CT, ABC CLIO.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2013). Children’s malnutrition as a women’s issue. The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World , Second Edition. Sage.
  • Ryan, S. (2013). Human rights activism. The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today’s World. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage.
  • Instructor's Manual

  • Ryan, S. (2014). Finding & using data and statistics. 22nd National Legal Research Teach-in Training Kit. 24pp.. Chicago, IL, American Association of Law Librarians.
  • Ryan, S. (2003). Public Administration in modern society: An exploration of primary texts through a debate centered curriculum. 170pp. New York, NY, Baruch College.
  • Ryan, S. (2003). Think college now: College preparation program for 9th graders. 63pp. New York, NY, Baruch College.
  • Journal Article

  • Ali, I., Ryan, S.E. (2024). The law and policy of library development: A legal text analysis of Indonesian library bills. Other.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2023). From Humble Standpoint to Research and Back: Measuring, Assessing, and Improving How We Teach Diversity. Other. 42 (3/4) 253-271. Legal Reference Services Quarterly.
  • Ryan, S.E., Rashid, M., Ali, I. (2023). Data-Driven Empirical Research Costing: Using Scholarly Literature, Open Government Data, and Formative Case Studies to Plan Projects. Other. 115 (2) 227-253.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2023). The courts, Congress, and the Bureau of Prisons: Using the First Step Act as an impetus for accountability and legal reform of the federal carceral system.. Other. 36 (4) 783-826.
  • Ryan, S.E., Hong, L., Rashid, M. (2023). From Corpus Creation to Formative Discovery: The Power of Big Data-Rhetoric Teams and Methods. Review of Communication. 23 (1) National Communication Association.
  • Sovacool, B.K., Ryan, S.E. (2016). The geography of energy and education: Leaders, laggards, and lessons for achieving primary and secondary school electrification. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 58 107-123.
  • Ryan, S., Ryan, S., Stern, P., Janda, K., Rochlin, G., Spreng, D., Pasqualetti, M., Wilhite, H., Lutzenhiser, L. (2015). Integrating social science in energy research. Other. Energy Research & Social Science. 6 95-99.
  • Ryan, S. (2015). Teaching empirical legal study design: Topics & resources. Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing. 23 (2) 152-157.
  • Ryan, S.E., Hebdon, C., Dafoe, J. (2014). Energy research and the contributions of the social sciences: A contemporary examination. Energy Research & Social Science. 1 (3) 186-197.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2014). Rethinking gender and identity in energy studies. Energy Research & Social Science. 1 96-105.
  • Miguel-Stearns, T., Ryan, S.E. (2014). The empirical research law librarian Part 1: Making the case and filling the role. Trends in Law Library Management and Technology. 24 1-6.
  • Ryan, S.E., Miguel-Stearns, T.M. (2014). The empirical research law librarian Part 2: Developing the role. Trends in Law Library Management and Technology. 24 7-12.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2013). Data, statistics, or secondary statistical analysis: Helping students articulate and acquire the numbers they’re (really) seeking. Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing. 22 (1) 30-34.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2013). The challenges of researching African high court opinions: 10 lessons learned from a four-country retrievability survey. Legal Reference Services Quarterly. 32 (4) 294-306. Taylor & Francis.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2012). Assessing diversity in Public Affairs curricula: A model for student-led programmatic self-study. Journal of Public Affairs Education. 18 (4) 757-770.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2011). Heart of a Lion, Mind Full of Pride: The Paradox of Teaching EE as a Heuristic for Homegrown Change in Rwanda. Journal of Development Communication. 22 (2) 1-13.
  • Ryan, S.E., Randell, S. (2011). Re-imagining academic meetings as social justice workshops: Best practices from the International Conference on Gender Centres in Africa. Women & Language. 34 (1) 71-77.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2011). The Dilemmas of Post-identity Organizing: Unmaking feminist Ties in Southern Rwanda. Women & Language. 34 (2) 61-78.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2010). Let's Get Them Out of the Country! Reflecting On the Value of International Immersion Experiences for MPA Students. Journal of Public Affairs Education. 16 (2) 307-312.
  • Ryan, S.E., Balocating, A., Ohno, S., Saju, D., Walker, J. (2009). Peace-building through good governance and capable statehood. Peace Review. 21 (3) 286-295.
  • Hashmi, M., Ryan, S.E. (2009). Reifying binaries: British press coverage of the Bush Administration’s case for war in Iraq. Florida Journal of Communication. 39 (1) 40-54.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2007). Radical pedagogy: Lessons from the" Africa book" project. Journal of Public Affairs Education. 13 (3/4) 487-497.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2006). Arguing toward a More Active Citizenry: Re-envisioning the Introductory Civics Course via Debate-Centered Pedagogy. Journal of Public Affairs Education. 12 (3) 385-395.
  • Ryan, S.E., Sovacool, B. (2006). Uncovering the intellectual diversity of modern policy debate. Contemporary Argumentation & Debate. 27 49-70.
  • Law Review

  • Ryan, S. (2020). Judicial Authority Under the First Step Act: What Congress Conferred Through Section 404. Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal. 52 (3) 67-125.
  • Ryan, S. (2017). Increasing Legal Support for End-of-Life Planning in the United States: How Probate and Family Attorneys Can Contribute to a Culture of Dignified Dying. Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal. 30 (4) 335-357.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2011). Fulfilling the US obligation to prevent exterminationism: a comprehensive approach to regulating hate speech and dismantling systems of genocide. Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. 43 317-356.
  • Magazine/Trade Publication

  • Ryan, S. (2021). History's Lessons. Time.
  • Ryan, S. (2016). Local-federal definitional divides: Special purpose districts and the challenges of empirical government research. Jurisdocs.
  • Gaultier, S., Miguel-Stearns, T., Ryan, S.E., Wang, F. (2014). More Than a Bunch of Old Books: Perspectives from rare book school. AALL Spectrum. 19 27.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2014). Navigating the human subjects research review process: The rhyme and reason of IRBs.. AALL Spectrum. 18 (3) 30--31.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2013). Digging in to patron data: What I learned from the law school “facebook. AALL Spectrum. 17 (3) 20--21.
  • Ryan, S.E. (2013). Rhyme and Reason of IRBs: Navigating the Human Subjects Research Review Process, The. AALL Spectrum. 18 30.
  • Newspaper

  • Ryan, S. (2020). The Frustrations of Fighting for Compassionate Release Under the First Step Act. The Crime Report.
  • Ryan, S. (2020). Why Justice Still Eludes Crack Offenders. The Crime Report. https://thecrimereport.org/2020/07/07/1003804/
  • Research Report

  • Stock, J., Fusaris, Ryan, S. (2013). Database evaluation report: Testing Casemaker, Fastcase, and Smart Litigator. Hartford, CT, Connecticut Bar Association.
  • Technical Report

  • Ryan, S.E. (2009). Lessons learned from the Communication pilot course at the Centre of Gender, Culture, and Development Studies at The Kigali Institute of Education.. Kigali, Rwanda, Embassy of the United States of America.
  • White Paper

  • Ryan, S.E. (2009). Static Strategy in a Dynamic Age: Nonprofit Web Missioning Throughout the 2000s. New York, NY, The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management.

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Xie, Z. (Co-Principal), Phillips, M.E. (Co-Principal), Ryan, S.E. (Co-Principal), Wittenberg, J. (Co-Principal), "Joint Professional Development Institute To Cultivate Collaborative Library Scholars," sponsored by Institute of Museum and Library Services, Federal, $499966 Funded. (2023).
  • Ryan, S.E., "Collection of Veterans Laws Passed by States, 2010-2020," sponsored by College of Information, Local, $3000 Funded. (2022 - 2022).
  • Ryan, S., "The Construction of Trans- Plaintiff Identities via Early Motion Practice," sponsored by Wesleyan University, Local, $2520 Funded. (2021 - 2021).
  • Ryan, S. (Supporting), "Collaborative Research: Courts and the Globalization of Law," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $436265 Funded. (2015 - 2016).
  • Ryan, S. (Principal), "Rebuilding through Dialogue: A Nation in Transition (Rwanda)," sponsored by Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Local, $9500 Funded. (2008 - 2009).
  • Ryan, S. (Principal), "Mapping the Communication Practices of New York City Nonprofits," sponsored by Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Local, $6000 Funded. (2007 - 2008).
  • Grant - Service

  • Ryan, S.E. (Co-Principal), "Daughters of the Diaspora Conference," sponsored by Humanities Texas, State, $1500 Funded. (2010 - 2010).
  • Grant - Teaching

  • Ryan, S., "Promoting Early Civic Engagement: The Middle School Debate Project," sponsored by Wesleyan University, Local, $4000 Funded. ( - 2021).
  • Ryan, S., Pearl, K., "Saving the Republic: Lessons from Plato for our Time," sponsored by Wesleyan University, Local, $4000 Funded. ( - 2021).
  • Ryan, S., "Legal Advocacy for Disabled Veterans," sponsored by Wesleyan University, Local, $6500 Funded. (2021 - 2021).
  • Ryan, S.E., "Legal Advocacy for Disabled Veterans," sponsored by Wesleyan University, Local, $6500 Funded. (2020 - 2020).
  • Ryan, S. (Supporting), "Enhancing Chinese Language and Culture Instruction," sponsored by U.S. Department of Education, Federal, $120000 Funded. (2011 - 2013).
  • Ryan, S. (Supporting), "Increasing Capacity and Qualifications of Rwandan Women through Higher Education and Research," sponsored by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, International, $36000 Funded. (2010 - 2012).
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Overall
Summative Rating
Challenge and
Engagement Index
Response Rate

out of 5

out of 7
%
of
students responded
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
    • The course as a whole was
    • The course content was
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
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