Cindy Runnels:
Congratulations, Rashida! It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Brazell Carter II:
Congratulations, Shids! I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished with so many challenges that can easily distract from the goal that you have attained. I can’t wait to able to celebrate your achievement in person. I love you #1!
Anita Carter:
Congratulations, Rashida! I'm so proud of you! Love, Mom
Debbie Faires:
Rashida--congratuations! I enjoyed getting to work with you when you were a peer mentor and I look forward to seeing you around the county library system.
Rashida
Marie
Skaar
The degree of
Master of Library and Information Science
Virtual Convocation
2020
PROFILE
Current residence: Martinez, CA, US
I wanted to earn a masters degree because:
I believe that librarians' ability to connect people with resources will become increasingly important in today's world. I have found a career where my ability to help others and the opportunity to try new things come together. Earning my Master's degree allows me to fully engage in the field of librarianship.
While earning my degree, my greatest supporters were:
My greatest supporters were my husband, Joseph Skaar; My children, Amara and Iana; and a wonder group of extended family members: my mom Anita, my Mom in law Janet, my sister Davia, my bother Brazell, my sister in law Sarah and a whole community of sweet and caring friends who walked with me through this process. These beautiful people brought me food and encouragement and helped my kids thrive while my nose was buried in academic papers. I am so grateful to each of them, and I hope to do them proud. I also want to thank my library branch manager and friend, Lynne, and my co-workers in the Contra Costa Library system who offered me a listening ear, supportive words and time to complete my degree. Thank you so much for your support. The American Library Association's Spectrum community was a source of encouragement during times when I was really struggling. Thank you for opening up doors financially and opening your hearts to me by giving me a chance to become a Spectrum scholar! We will continue to Lift as we Rise! Finally, thank you to the faculty, instructors, teaching staff and fellow students at SJSU's iSchool! Thank you for your patient instruction and willing assistance as I have sought to grasp the finer points of librarianship through this program. I have learned so much from you as I have worked my way through school, and I hope that our paths cross as we all move through our careers!
While in the program, I met classmates from:
All walks of life, and from all over the world! It was incredible to be able to hear about innovative library work which has been taking place all over the globe and in my own backyard!
What I liked best about online learning was:
The online platform allowed me to complete my degree while in the midst of work and home life, and offered me the flexibility to gain this degree while in the thick of the rest of my life. Online learning made a daunting degree process an achievable goal!
What I enjoyed most about my experience at the SJSU School of Information was:
The opportunity to gain understanding and experience regarding the ways in which libraries are transforming their communities all over the word. I also enjoyed interacting with library leaders, fellow students, as well as emerging technology and innovations in the library field.
I plan to use my degree to:
Continue to connect my community with the resources they need to thrive in life! I want to be able to create meaningful, positive, change in my library system and in the communities where I work.
Now that I have completed the program, I'm most looking forward to:
Being able to reconnect with my family! It has been hard to juggle my school work, my career, and parenthood. Being able to focus on my kids once more and help guide them through all of their successes and life learning moments is something I will relish! I am also looking forward to being able to put the things I learned as an iSchool student to use in the library where I serve! Becoming a fully fledged librarian is the realization of a lifelong dream!
Anne Bigley Chand: Congrats Rashida :)
Cindy Runnels: Congratulations, Rashida! It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Brazell Carter II: Congratulations, Shids! I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished with so many challenges that can easily distract from the goal that you have attained. I can’t wait to able to celebrate your achievement in person. I love you #1!
Anita Carter: Congratulations, Rashida! I'm so proud of you! Love, Mom
Debbie Faires: Rashida--congratuations! I enjoyed getting to work with you when you were a peer mentor and I look forward to seeing you around the county library system.