Tomas A. Lipinski has been named dean of the School of Information Studies (SOIS) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
Lipinski, a professor who served as director of the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University last year, will begin his new duties in Milwaukee Oct. 1.
A lawyer as well as a professor of information studies, Lipinski is a nationally known expert in copyright, information law and intellectual property issues related to privacy and free speech, ethics, freedom of inquiry and distance education.
He is the author of four books and numerous articles and invited chapters on these issues.
Lipinski previously taught in UWM’s School of Information Studies and was founder and co-director of the university’s Center for Information Policy Research (CIPR). At UWM, he twice received the WISE (Web-based Information Science Education) Faculty of the Year Award for Excellence in Online Education from the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE).
An expert in copyright education and the Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act of 2002, Lipinski gives numerous talks and presentations annually to librarians and educators on the issues they face in balancing freedom of information with intellectual property rights, particularly in cyberspace.
His most recent book, “The Librarian’s Legal Companion for Licensing Information Resources and Service” was called “the Bible for librarians” in one review.
Another review referred to him as “one of the great legal authorities in American librarianship.”
He is currently a member of the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy, Chair of its Copyright Education Subcommittee and chairs the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Copyright Discussion Group.
He is also a member of the Copyright and Other Legal Matters Committee of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations).
Prior to joining Kent State, Lipinski was executive associate dean and professor in the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. (IUPUI).
Lipinski earned his doctorate from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois, his master of laws (LL.M) from The John Marshall Law School and his law degree from Marquette University Law School.
He earned his B.A. in history and his MLIS (Master of Library & Information Science) from UWM.
The School of Information Studies at UWM offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and is a pioneer in offering online degree programs.
Three interim deans, Wooseob Jeong, Hope Olson and Dietmar Wolfram, have led the school since Dean Johannes Britz left the position to become interim provost, then provost of UWM.
