In a role that will leverage her decades of experience in cutting-edge information technology education, Liz Liddy, Ph.D., has been named the inaugural Madden Fellow in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The former dean of Syracuse University's School of Information Studies (iSchool), Liddy will play a key role in student engagement and mentoring and will contribute to the continued growth of Madden's undergraduate and graduate technology curriculum.
"This opportunity will allow me to get back to student interaction in a very intentional way," said Liddy. "I've been impressed with the growth of the Madden School over the past decade and this role will give me the chance to contribute to it as a hands-on educator as well as a sounding board for future endeavors."
Liddy was dean of the iSchool from 2008 to 2018 (she served one year during that time as interim vice chancellor and provost). During her time as dean the iSchool became a national leader in information science and technology. She is very familiar with Le Moyne, having served on the board of the Madden School of Business, which led to a 2017 partnership between the iSchool and Madden School that provides students access to certificate programs and individual courses in the partner school, which are beyond what their home school offers.
Currently a member of Le Moyne's Board of Trustees, Liddy will step down from the Board to take on her new role, which starts on June 1. Among her duties as Madden Fellow will be:
· Advise the dean of the Madden School on technology and business trends
· Work with the director of the Keenan Center on the future of technology and entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity.
· Connect the Madden School to corporations where she has long-established relationships
· Mentor Madden students
"I am thrilled that Liz has agreed to serve in this vital role," said Madden Dean Jim Joseph '83. "I look forward to working with someone whose expertise and knowledge in this field is so extensive. Her work will benefit the Madden School and its students in numerous ways."
Liddy began her Syracuse University career as a visiting assistant professor in 1983. She earned a Ph.D. in information transfer from the iSchool in 1988. She holds eight software patents, has led 70 research projects, authored more than 110 research papers and given hundreds of conference presentations on her work. She was one of the earlier researchers in her primary field, natural language processing (NLP).