The Information Without Borders (IWB) Executive Committee is comprised of nine members: one returning member and eight incoming members. Members typically sit on the IWB Committee for a two-year term. All committee members are current candidates in Dalhousie University’s Master of Information program, within the Department of Information Science.
Co-Chairs
The Co-Chairs are in charge of leading, supporting, and assisting the IWB Committee in their roles. Furthermore, the Co-Chairs report to the Faculty and the Department of Information Science Students’ Association (ISSA) on the progress and actions of the IWB Committee.
Emily Ritonja
Emily (she/her) is a second year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. Originally from Ottawa, she holds a BAH and a MA in Religious Studies from Queen’s University, with her research looking at repatriation requests surrounding Indigenous cultural heritage held by the Catholic Church. She is an aspiring health librarian, with a key interest in supporting evidence synthesis projects and interdisciplinary health research. In her spare time, she can be found reading, creating new recipes, or hiking.
Zia Shirtliffe
Zia (any pronouns) is a second-year Dalhousie MI student working on a thesis around subject headings and regional representation. Originally from Treaty 6 Territory, in Saskatoon, she came to Kjipuktuk/Halifax for an undergraduate degree in Early Modern Studies and English at the University of King’s College. She is interested in cataloguing, archives, metadata, and academic libraries. She enjoys reading, knitting, and printmaking
Tal Oren
Tal is in her first year of the Master of Information program at Dalhousie University. She graduated from the concurrent education program at the University of Toronto and OISE with a BA and a B.Ed, majoring in how to teach French as a second language and minoring in English and education. After teaching for 8 years, she is ready for a career change! Tal enjoys travelling, baking, gardening, playing boardgames, and spending time with friends and family.
Programming
The Programming Chair is responsible for researching, contacting, and liaising with potential and confirmed individuals speaking at the IWB conference.
Taylor Brown
Taylor Brown (she/her) is a second-year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Her interests vary widely, from scholarly communications to library instruction to community archiving. She enjoys long walks and a good ghost story.
Hannah McCarty
Hannah (she/her) is a first year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She holds a Bachelor in Science in Mental Health Counseling from Metropolitan State University in Colorado. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys reading, jumping her horse Blondie, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Fundraising & Finance
The Fundraising & Finance Chair is responsible for managing the bank account. This includes creating and maintaining the budget, keeping organized records, and working with the other chairs on monetary matters. The Fundraising & Finance Chair can raise money through a variety of means including, but not limited to, fundraising campaigns and applying for grants.
Morgan Carter
Morgan (she/her) is a first year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Mathematics Education at the University of Calgary. While initially drawn to library work, she has since developed interests in many different areas of the information field. Born and raised in Calgary, Morgan loves hiking in the mountains but has also fallen in love with Nova Scotia’s coastline and all the great nature and camping the province has to offer. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, and travelling.
Stephen MacMillan
Stephen (he/him) is a second year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. He completed his undergraduate at Saint Mary’s University with a major in History and minor in Classics. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing video games, taking photos, chilling with his cat, and hanging out with friends.
Logistics
The Logistics Chair is responsible for arranging the online venue and platform for the day of the conference. In addition, Logistics will conduct careful planning in coordination with the programming committee to logistically plan out the sessions, as well as other features of the conference. Logistics is also responsible for addressing any technical issues during the conference.
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter (she/her) is a first-year MI student from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Graduating from the University of King’s College, she studied History, Spanish, and English, and wrote her thesis on the economic and political impacts of 17th-century Spanish miracles! Outside of school, she enjoys reading, baking, knitting, and general grandma hobbies.
Ella
Bio
Registration
The Registration Chair is responsible for researching and implementing a web-based registration system, as well as attending to the needs of all registrants before and during the online conference. The Registration Chair is also available to assist attendees with any questions or concerns prior to and on the day of the conference.
Rebecca
Bio
Doyle Stone
Doyle (she/they) is a first-year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, she holds a BA from Memorial University in sociology and political science. Outside of school, Doyle loves knitting, playing trumpet, and trying new recipes.
Web & Communications
The Web & Communications Chair is responsible for developing and updating the IWB website and maintaining social media accounts. The Web & Communications Chair also develops marketing strategies and advertising materials.
Natalie Liza Barte
Natalie Liza is a second-year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Passionate about health and community, she strives to become a leader in health librarianship and information systems one day, with goals to improve research and patient care. Outside of school, she loves to read, watch movies, and play video games in her spare time.
Emma Sewell
Emma (she/her) is a first-year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She is originally from Whitby, Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Religious Studies from Queen’s University. Before beginning the MI program, Emma spent five years working as a graphic and web designer. She returned to graduate school to deepen her knowledge of data science and information management.
Outside of her studies, Emma continues to work as a freelance graphic and web designer. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and trying new recipes.
Administration
The Administration Chair is responsible for keeping the committee organized, including meeting minutes.
Grace Edwards
Grace Edwards (she/her) is a first year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. She completed her BAH in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Gender studies at Dalhousie Univeristy. Grace aspires to work in a public library, doing outreach or focusing on teen programing. In her (very) spare time, she loves to indulge herself with a romance novel or curl up with her adorable cats, Brennan & Dale.
Networking
The Networking Chair is responsible for planning the structured networking activities for the day.
Veronica
Bio
Committee Members-at-Large
Ellen Sawatzky
Ellen (she/her) is a second year Master of Information student at Dalhousie University. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, she graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelors of Honors in English Literature. She is also Academic Co-Chair of the Information Science Student Association (ISSA). Through her studies, Ellen is exploring metadata, literacy instruction, and community led practices.
Sarah Johnson
Sarah is a 2nd year MI student. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from University of King’s College (’24). Her passion is in public library work and access to information. Outside of school, Sarah enjoys playing video games, crafting, and reading.
Lisa Taylor
Lisa (she/her) is a Master of Information student at Dalhousie University with several years of experience in education and libraries. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Family and Social Relations from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Education from Western University. A former teacher-librarian, public library worker, and columnist on children’s literature, Lisa is committed to teaching and learning, literacy, and youth psychosocial development. Her research focuses on teen reading, book discovery, and supporting youth agency in digital and community spaces.
Summer Wilson
I am a student in the Dalhousie Master of Information Sciences program. I have a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University where I majored in Philosophy and minored in Economics. Currently, I am interested in bibliometrics – specifically in measuring the uptake of interdisciplinary research
Amelia
Bio