University of Maryland College of Information

Paul Wasserman was the school's first Dean, bringing with him extensive experience as an educator and librarian, with notable appointments at the Brooklyn Public Library, NY 1949-53 and Cornell University, Graduate School of Business and Public Administration 1953-65.

Wasserman, who served as Dean for five years, was known for his advocacy of research and innovation in the field of information science.

Under his leadership, the school became the first Information School to require a technology course, began recruiting international faculty and students, became accredited by the American Library Association in 1967 (which the college maintains today), established the controversial High John Library in 1967, and launched a PhD in Information Studies program in 1969.

[2] In 1991, coupled with the economic downturn (the University had implemented furloughs as well) there was a call for the College of Library and Information Services at Maryland to be shut down.

The college was expanding into data science and policy, digital literacy, and how the new world of information and technology could be leveraged to benefit individuals and social challenges.

During this time period, the University of Maryland's Provost prompted a general review of the college and a reexamination of the goals and mission statement.

[citation needed] In 2001, to reflect this evolution in its scope of academics and research, the school was renamed the College of Information Studies.

In the summer of 2015, Brian Butler took over as interim dean as Jenny Preece stepped down, which coincided with the college's inaugural MLS program being renamed the Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS).