November 1, 2012
The prestigious Watson Davis Award, presented each year by the American Society for Information Science & Technology, has been awarded to K.T. Vaughan, pharmacy librarian at UNC’s Health Sciences Library and adjunct professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Established in 1975, the Watson Davis Award commemorates the memory and legacy of ASIS&T founder Watson Davis. It is given yearly to a single ASIS&T member who demonstrates outstanding continuous contributions and dedicated service to the Society.
Vaughan has been an active member of ASIS&T since 1999 and has taken on many leadership roles. She received her master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“K.T. is an outstanding information science professional who has provided exceptional service to the ASIS&T organization,” said Heather D. Pfeiffer, PhD, chair of the Watson Davis Award Jury. “She has done an incredible job of demonstrating, and continues to demonstrate, her impressive commitment to the profession of information science. It is clear that she brings a high level of dedication and quality not only to her day-to-day position that includes sharing her wealth of knowledge with students, faculty and colleagues, but also to the overall profession by working and leading multiple groups and committees….”
Vaughan chaired the ASIS&T Special Interest Group for Scientific & Technical Information Systems from 2001 to 2002. She also was a volunteer for committees such as the Constitution and Bylaws Committee from 2000 to 2007, which she served as chair from 2005 to 2007; the Leadership Development Committee from 2003 to 2011; the Annual Meeting Program Committee in 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2010. She also served as cochair of the Panels and Technical Sessions in years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and as a jury member for the 2010 Best Conference Poster session. She was director of the Special Interest Group Cabinet Steering Committee from 2007 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2011. She had been a member of this particular SIG since 2005. Most recently, Vaughan served on the ASIS&T Board of Directors for two terms (from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2009 to 2011). In the last five years she has completely revised and revamped the SIG Officer’s Manual, and reorganized both the financial system and the leadership requirements and terms for the SIGs and the SIG Cabinet. Among other changes, these required two different successful ballot initiatives to change the Society’s bylaws.
“K.T.’s generosity in sharing her leadership talents for the good of the ASIS&T organization, while demonstrating her continuous dedication as a driven member and leader through her active participation in the various programs, committees and publications, shows her superb leadership and her ability to motivate others,” said Gary Marchionini, dean of the UNC School of Information and Library Science and Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor. He is a former president of ASIS&T.
“She is an inspiration to all with whom she collaborates and to those she has helped educate about our profession.”
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