Melissa Thompson, GIL Express Library Assistant at Reese Library and Valdosta State University student, wins the Master of Library and Information Studies George Gaumond Award. This honor is bestowed upon a VSU MLIS student who excels in scholarship and has made significant contributions to the profession through service. During her time at Valdosta State, Melissa has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has been inducted into their chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an honors society for educators. She has also been elected to serve as President of the Student Organization of Library and Information Science (SOLIS) for the 2021-2022 term, previously serving as the Communications Officer of SOLIS. She has been published in Diamond Bookshelf and Booklist’s Guide to Graphic Novels in Libraries, discussing her inventive programming and access initiatives surrounding graphic novels in the academic library space. She currently serves Augusta University Libraries on our Web Committee, Black History Month Committee, and the Marketing & Branding Committee, where she serves as a Social Media Coordinator. She has served on the American Library Association’s Best Graphic Novels for Adults Committee, which aims to increase awareness of the graphic novel medium and seeks to elevate the voices of diverse creators. Awarded the Augusta University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Staff Small Grant, Melissa was able to continue her membership in the ALA and attend the conference.
Always the first to laugh at a joke or some other library mischief, Melissa is a joy to her library colleagues. Her enthusiasm for libraries, access, and equity is contagious, and if you have the chance to see her at the front desk, congratulate her on this honor. Melissa’s upcoming program, Free Comic Book Day, is on May 9 in the JSAC and Greenblatt Library from 11am -1pm, so come check it out. It’s always a hit!
