I get to put in work that positively impacts people – That’s something I’m really proud to be contributing to.” – Isheah Al-Sumairi

The College of Information, Data and Society (IDS) Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (RSCA) Committee recently appointed two student representatives from the iSchool to join in the Committee’s crucial work developing and enhancing IDS education. 

Isheah Al-Sumairi is an undergraduate student majoring in Information Science and Data Analytics (ISDA). Currently in her final year of the program, she values the BA-ISDA for its dual emphasis on technical skills and critical thinking – enabling students to build professional competencies that are well grounded in ethical imperatives such as mitigating bias and centering accessibility. Al-Sumairi is excited to join the Committee and help encourage strong relationships between undergraduate students and faculty.

Jessica Toth, MLIS student (expected graduation 2027) and RSCA Advisory Committee Member

Jessica Toth is earning her Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS), specifically following the Information Organization pathway. Toth comes to the LIS with a previous M.S. in Public Health and a professional background in User Experience (UX) research. She excitedly notes that an MLIS will “help me bolster what I already bring to the industry.” The MLIS will further expand her ability to help companies navigate an information landscape in which the volume of data to manage, analyze and utilize is growing exponentially and at a breakneck pace. Toth is glad to join the RSCA, where “the student voice is very much appreciated’’ and as a Committee member, she has the opportunity to contribute her expertise in service to her learning community.

The RSCA Committee is an interdisciplinary team that includes representatives from both the iSchool and the Applied Data Science departments – a crossover that speaks to both students’ interests in studying data analytics and information management through a holistic lens. Members are tasked with keeping their finger on the pulse of the interests and needs of the IDS community, ensuring that leadership can make informed and timely decisions about professional development, research and outreach needs. 

The RSCA has not always had student representation, but according to Professor Virginia Tucker, who chairs the Committee, having a student perspective is hugely impactful. 

Last year was the first time we had a student member and their ideas provided valuable insights to our work,” shared Dr. Tucker. 

And, because she and Al-Sumairi represent such different student experiences, Toth believes their presence on the Committee provides an important balance of perspectives, noting:

Between the two of us, we are bringing together a diversity of the student voice.” 

Isheah Al-Sumairi, BA-ISDA (expected graduation May 2026) and RSCA Advisory Committee Member

Participating in the RSCA Committee not only creates opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with faculty but also gives students the chance to apply their learning to practical, impactful projects that benefit the entire IDS community. Al-Sumairi, for instance, is excited to be helping refine the Committee’s annual RSCA Metrics survey, a vital assessment tool, to increase accessibility and enhance engagement.

Elevating Student Research Via the Online Student Research Conference 

Another of the RSCA’s major projects is to host the annual Online Student Research Conference, a campus-wide event for elevating student research projects and initiatives. Al-Sumairi and Toth are both eager to participate in helping to plan and execute the 2026 conference, planned for March 3, 2026.

For Al-Sumairi, who participated in the conference last year as a student researcher, the opportunity represents a “full-circle moment.” For her, the research and presentation experience was deeply rewarding, and she is excited to help other students through the process. Al-Sumairi’s presentation, “Ye Talim: Social Engineering and Gen Z Arab Americans (2025)” explored the implications of social engineering tactics on the field of human-centered cybersecurity, paying particular attention to the susceptibility of Gen Z Arab Americans to certain modes of behavioral coercion in online environments. This is just one example of the breadth of research being pursued by College of IDS students. 

As the conference demonstrates, sharing the value and impact of IDS research is at the heart of the RSCA Committee’s mandate. On November 13, Toth had the opportunity to moderate a public panel discussion featuring several faculty members speaking about the mutual relationship between their research and teaching practices. She says she enjoys working on the Committee because it enables her to contribute her skills in project management while also “getting a bigger perspective” about the field of Information Science and all the opportunities her MLIS degree will enable.

The ability to explore career paths and academic interests while contributing to her community is equally valuable to Al-Sumairi. “I’m thriving being in a space where they won’t make you feel little for asking a question,” she says, “they’re very supportive.”