The Information School is proud to celebrate three PhD students named recipients of the iSchool Graduate Student Teaching Award. As Lecturer Student Assistants, each of them has shown a commitment to inclusive, engaging teaching that meets students where they are and prepares them for a rapidly evolving information landscape.
Xiang Zheng PhDx’26
As instructor of LIS 407: Data Storytelling with Visualization, Xiang’s commitment to excellence in teaching is clear through his development of new assignments specifically designed to support learners from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that students are appropriately challenged and supported by the materials. A proactive and engaged instructor, Xiang proactively updates course materials to keep pace with new developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Through Xiang’s work, the course remains cutting-edge and highly relevant to current industry standards.
Caitlin Tobin PhDx’27
Through her teaching in courses including LIS 629: Multicultural Literature and Resources for Children and Youth, LIS 622: Children’s Literature, and LIS 640: Services to Diverse Populations, Caitlin has revitalized key courses in the MA Library and Information Studies curriculum. Her teaching integrates foundational approaches as well as up-to-date materials, keeping her courses current and relevant to professional librarianship. Across her courses, Caitlin’s commitment to excellent teaching shines in her attention to course accessibility which fosters an inclusive learning environment for all students.
Layla Coleman PhDx’28
As the instructor of LIS 202: Informational Divides and Differences in a Multicultural Society and LIS 639: Pedagogical Theory and Practice for Information Professionals, Layla’s commitment to excellence in teaching is evident in her own instruction and in her approach to teaching pedagogical practice to library and information professionals. Layla’s excellence in teaching is evident in her approach to teaching LIS 202 in the Summer Collegiate Experience program, in which she developed a thoughtful, well-designed course that encouraged student learning and peer-to-peer engagement. Layla fosters in-depth engagements with course materials through deliberate instructional choices, and her instruction is characterized by humanistic approaches to pedagogy that create a sense of community in her classes.
The iSchool congratulates all of the 2026 Graduate Student Teaching Award winners. Explore more about our PhD in Information.