Professor of Library and Information Science Marie L. Radford, an expert on qualitative methods, academic libraries, interpersonal communication within library contexts, virtual and traditional reference service, and postmodern approaches to media stereotypes of librarians/libraries, will retire from Rutgers University effective July 1, 2025.
The SC&I Library and Information Science Department will celebrate Radford’s career and legacy at a luncheon on April 30, 12-2 p.m. at the Rutgers Club.
“Marie Radford’s impactful scholarship, teaching, and service has been widely recognized throughout the field,” said Chair of the Library and Information Science Department and Associate Professor Rebecca Reynolds. “Her theoretical work brings philosophical and social science perspectives on communication very insightfully into information science and librarianship scholarly research. Additionally, she has authored, with Lynn Silipigni Connaway, an impactful information science research methods text now in several editions, used by scholars throughout the field in our research and teaching, which I myself have used in my coursework with students, and as a reference. We were also thrilled to celebrate her monumental mentoring contributions in her prestigious Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Award for Excellence in Mentoring last year. Further, personally, as a new Chair, Marie was unceasingly generous in her provision of time, resources, advice, and wisdom and continues to offer key insights and institutional knowledge into department and SC&I initiatives. Marie is a dear colleague, mentor, and friend, and it is hard to imagine life in the department and school without her positive energy, encouragement, insight, and solidarity.”
A life-long resident of New Jersey, Radford earned a bachelor’s degree in English education from The College of New Jersey, an M.S.L.S. from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. from SC&I. She began her career working as a librarian in the New Jersey public schools for 8 years. She then spent 11 years working at William Paterson University’s Cheng Library before she began teaching at the Pratt Institute in New York City and then at Rutgers.
At Pratt, Radford served as acting dean of the School of Information and Library Science for two years before she returned to Rutgers in 2004 as an associate professor. She was tenured in 2007 and promoted to full professor in 2014.
During her years at SC&I, Radford served as Chair of the Department of Library and Information Science twice (for a total of 6.5 years) and as Director of the SC&I Ph.D. Program for one term (3 years).
As the recipient of multiple awards for research and writing during her years at Rutgers, Radford said she is most proud of having been the recipient of the 2010 ALA/RUSA Mudge Award for distinguished contributions to reference and the 2024 Chancellor Award for Excellence in Mentoring from Rutgers University.
Radford has published extensively in high impact LIS journals and she has published 12 books, including monographs, edited volumes, and textbooks, the latest being “Research Methods in Library and Information Science,” 7th ed. with Lynn S. Connaway (2021), “Conducting the Reference Interview,” 3rd ed., with Catherine Sheldrick Ross and Kirsti Nilsen (2019), and “Library Conversations: Reclaiming Interpersonal Communication Theory for Understanding Professional Encounters” with Gary P. Radford (2017).
As the recipient of multiple awards for research and writing during her years at Rutgers, Radford said she is most proud of having been the recipient of the 2010 ALA/RUSA Mudge Award for distinguished contributions to reference and the 2024 Chancellor Award for Excellence in Mentoring from Rutgers University.
With Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Radford was co-PI of the "Seeking Synchronicity" and "Cyber Synergy" grant projects totaling over $1 million, funded by IMLS, Rutgers, and OCLC. These grants studied interpersonal communication in live chat "Ask-a-Librarian" services, which has continued to be one of the major areas of her research.
During her career Radford has given frequent keynotes and presentations at national and international library and communication conferences, and since 2015 she has also served as co-director of the LIDA (Libraries in the Digital Age) biennial conference, held in Croatia (the next one will be May 19-21, 2025 in Dubrovnik).
Radford has taught mainly in the Master of Information and Ph.D. Program at SC&I, in-person, via Zoom, and asynchronously. Since 2014, she has taken MI students to England for a summer study abroad course, "British Collections and Archives."
Radford’s teaching focus at the Ph.D. level has been in Qualitative Methods, Theories and Issues in LIS, and Information Science. In MI, she has taught many courses, including Management Principles in Information Organizations, Transformative Library Leadership, Information Sources and Services, Human Information Behavior, and Interpersonal Communication for Information Professionals. At the undergraduate level, for the Information Technology and Informatics major, she has taught Retrieving and Evaluating Electronic Information.
Radford has worked with many Ph.D. students and has guided nine to completion of the Ph.D. as Dissertation Chair, and is currently advising two more. She has been a member of 18 additional Ph.D. dissertation committees at Rutgers and two more outside of Rutgers.
Radford has been active in many scholarly Library and Communication Associations, including the American Library Association, the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), the National Communication Association, and state organizations such as the New Jersey Library Association, New Jersey Communication Association, and the New York State Communication Association.
She is also a Past-President of the SC&I Alumni Association, and currently its treasurer, and she has been on the executive board since 1993, except for two years when she was Interim Dean at Pratt.
Many of Radford’s colleagues and former and current students expressed gratitude for her many contributions to the field, university, school, and their personal success during Radford’s long and distinguished career.
“I've learned an immeasurable amount about research, mentoring, and academic life from working alongside Dr. Radford, a luminary in our field,” said Associate Professor of Library and Information Science Kaitlin Costello. “She's had such an impact on me and so many others, and I find myself saying: ‘I learned this from Dr. Marie Radford’ often when I'm giving others advice. I'm excited to see what Dr. Radford does with the next chapter and wish her all the best in her retirement!”
“Marie has been an outstanding colleague, mentor and friend,” said Director of the Master of Information Program and Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Lilia Pavlovsky. “We've known each other since we met as Ph.D. students at SC&I (then SCILS). I will always carry with me the lessons I learned from her and hope to always be her friend! Her presence on the faculty will be missed by all.”
SC&I Associate Professor of Library and Information Science Charles Senteio said, “I, alongside my colleagues at LIS, SC&I, and well beyond, wish Marie the very best in her well-deserved retirement, but we will miss her."
SC&I Associate Professor of Library and Information Science Charles Senteio said, “I, alongside my colleagues at LIS, SC&I, and well beyond, wish Marie the very best in her well-deserved retirement, but we will miss her. I vividly remember first meeting Marie on February 6, 2016, during my campus visit, my very first trip to any Rutgers campus. I recall our one-on-one meeting on the 3rd floor of the SCI building when she shared her enthusiasm for Rutgers. I noted her authenticity, and I recall thinking that if I got an offer and decided to come to Rutgers, I could always go to Marie with my questions.
“Shortly after coming to Rutgers Marie became department chair and I noted her unwavering dedication to both the field of Library and Information Science and to those she has mentored. Marie has left an indelible mark on the profession. Through her guidance, and with the wisdom shared in her books, she has empowered countless individuals to improve their communication and LIS skills, specifically in how to connect more deeply with others. As a proud member of the Rutgers community and a champion of New Jersey, her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of librarians, students, and scholars. We are grateful for the lasting impact she has made, both at Rutgers and in the wider LIS field.”
Ph.D. student Dan Houli said, “Dr. Marie Radford has been more than an advisor. She has been a mentor, a continuous source of encouragement, and a friend. From my very first day at student orientation, starting my Ph.D. journey at SC&I, she welcomed me with warmth and genuine curiosity about my area of research. Her Qualitative Methods class was one of the turning points for me, shifting my perspective and ultimately enhancing my approach to research. Balancing full-time work and family, there were moments when I questioned whether I could keep going, but Marie always believed in me even at points when I had stopped believing in myself. Her patience, kindness, and deep commitment to her students are what make her truly exceptional. Marie has not only helped to shape my academic path but also reinforced my passion for the field. Her impact to those around her will be felt long after her retirement, and I am forever grateful for her guidance.”
Radford’s Ph.D. advisee Vanessa Kitzie, now an associate professor at the School of Information Science, College of Information and Communications, University of South Carolina, said, “Marie Radford is the most dedicated advisor and mentor I’ve encountered. Now that I’m on the other side of things as a professor, I’m so appreciative of the time and care she devoted to her students while leading impactful research and taking on major administrative roles."
Radford’s Ph.D. advisee Vanessa Kitzie Ph.D.'17, now an associate professor at the School of Information Science, College of Information and Communications, University of South Carolina, said, “Marie Radford is the most dedicated advisor and mentor I’ve encountered. Now that I’m on the other side of things as a professor, I’m so appreciative of the time and care she devoted to her students while leading impactful research and taking on major administrative roles. It’s a thankless job, yet she did it with generosity and brilliance. Her feedback was always thoughtful, her encouragement unwavering, and her influence on my work, mainly through her interdisciplinary application of critical theory and communications theory, including Goffman’s concept of stigma, was tremendously impactful to my development as a scholar. Beyond all that, Marie is simply a delightful human being. Who else plays in a band and was first on the scene to academically appreciate the genius of Parker Posey and Party Girl? Her retirement is well-earned, but her legacy continues to shape the field, and all of us lucky enough to have worked with her.”
Kaitlin Montague Ph.D'25, Radford's Ph.D. advisee, said, "It has been such a pleasure and an honor to work with and learn from Marie. She deeply shaped my graduate school journey with love and support and I am forever grateful for her mentorship and friendship."
Chelsea Rizzolo, MI '20 said, “Dr. Radford has been profoundly instrumental in my academic and professional development, guiding me through scholarships and internships, fostering my involvement in professional organizations, and facilitating my career transition into academia. Her dynamic teaching style also taught me the importance of infusing my personality into my work. I am so deeply grateful for her many lessons, mentorship, and support over the years. Congratulations, Marie!”
Looking forward to her retirement, Radford said her “primary ambition will be to have more fun.” Her husband, SC&I alumnus Gary Radford Ph.D.’91, is retiring on the same day (as Chair of the Communication Department at Fairleigh Dickinson University), and Radford said they have plans to travel the world and the U.S., visiting friends and relatives, and meeting new friends.
Radford added, “Our rock 'n roll band ‘The Professors,’ is still rocking, and we plan to have more time to make music. The band plays a blend of original songs, classic rock, and current music, and features me on keyboards, our daughter, Meg, as lead singer, and Gary on lead guitar.” Radford said she also has another book project in progress, and perhaps more to come.
“I am congratulating Marie and Gary on the occasion of their retirement,” Reynolds said, “while I celebrate Marie’s innumerable contributions to Rutgers University and the field, and meanwhile, I am looking forward to staying in contact with Marie and Gary and to the good times to come as Marie transitions to a cherished emerita faculty member.”
Learn more about the Library and Information Science Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.
Photo credit: SC&I Ph.D. student Niki Natarajan.
