SLIS announces 2026 alumni awards

May 22, 2026 — DENTON — The School of Library and Information Studies announced the 2026 SLIS Alumni Award winners:

• Carla Sewer, PhD
• Jennifer Burke
• Cathey Ward

Sewer (MLS 2020) won the $1000 Ann Barnett Service Award for Outstanding Librarianship. She earned a PhD in Family Studies at TWU while she was earning her Master of Library Science. Currently an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Sewer has created a non-profit organization called Negus Education World Specialist. The organization hosts annual summer outdoor learning creative arts and literacy workshops for children in her hometown on St. John in the Virgin Islands since 2021.

Sewer has received many grants, published many articles, along with a book, and given many presentations. She said her philosophy of librarianship, molded by years as an educator and performing artist is, “I believe public libraries are the staple of the community as a means of socialization and engagement.”

Burke (MLS 2013) won a $500 Continuing Education Award. Currently an assistant professor and science and education librarian at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., Burke will use this award to begin working on her PhD in Information Science & Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri. Burke would like to become a full-time LIS professor. She has worked in different types of libraries, has numerous publications and presentations, and is involved in international, state and local library associations.

Ward (MLS 2024) also won a $500 Continuing Education Award. She is currently a library media specialist at Roberts Elementary School in Lubbock ISD, with over 20 years of teaching experience before that. She will use the award to help attend the Texas Library Association Annual Conference. Ward has developed an after-school program called Bonding with Books, which encourages families to read together and interact with local businesses, organizations, and stakeholders. She currently serves on the Region 17 Educational Service Center’s Library Advisory Committee and plans professional development opportunities for librarians in that region.

Page last updated 1:28 PM, May 22, 2026