The University of North Texas' Department of Information Science announced the recipients of the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award. Congratulations to Dr. Gale Hannigan - Outstanding Alumna in Information Science (Ph.D. program). The Outstanding Alumni award recognizes alumni that have made, or demonstrate potential to make, an impact in the LIS and data science field, and demonstrates the department’s values and standards, and/or supports students and the department’s development.
Gale G. Hannigan received her Ph.D. in Information Science from UNT in 2000. She also holds an MLS from the University of California at Berkeley and an MPH from the University of Texas, Houston. Her first professional job was at the Houston Academy of Medicine -Texas Medical Center Library as an Information Services Librarian/Database Searcher, and later Coordinator for Physician Services. She was appointed Head of the Learning Resources Center at the University of Minnesota Bio-Medical Library and then Manager of Medical Library Services at The Upjohn Company. At Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library, she held joint appointments as Manager, Education and Information Services and Director, Informatics for Medical Education with the College of Medicine.
"I’m honored to be recognized with this award. My association with UNT dates back to 1990 as both a student and adjunct professor. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with wonderful colleagues and students, and I admire the educational experience UNT provides," said Hannigan.
Hannigan retired from A&M as a tenured Professor in 2011. Since then, she has been a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, working part-time first as a Visiting Professor and then as a Research Professor. She also tutors ESL online with students in Turkey and Iran, and does background research for her state representative. Gale has received awards from the Medical Library Association including the 1996 Estelle Brodman Award for Academic Medical Librarian of the Year and the 2011 Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award. This year she was recognized by her library colleagues with an Exemplary Service award and by the Native Health Initiative with a Loving Service Award.