Donna Harp ZIEGENFUSS

As a researcher, I focus on exploring librarian roles in relation to the larger campus content. Areas of particular interest are the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), learning assessment, and online teaching and learning practice. My research agenda, therefore, focuses on studying transitions and change in higher education (HE) such as working with transfer students, graduate students, undergraduate non-traditional students, and faculty who are transitioning or working in interdisciplinary work contexts and emerging teaching and learning tools.

I bring to my librarian role and responsibilities a unique set of previous experience and skill sets as a faculty developer and instructional designer, having taught credit courses for several colleges and universities. I am interested in how librarians can collaborate and span departmental and disciplinary silos. I apply research findings to redefine my librarian identity and help mediate HE change. I believe that librarians, have a unique opportunity to 'boundary cross’ and bring interdisciplinary perspectives to research, teaching, and service. As a qualitative researcher I share my expertise with graduate students, faculty, other librarians, and research groups. My interdisciplinary interactions and work have resulted in a wide range of projects and invitations to participate as a Co-PI and evaluator on NSF, NIH, NNLM, and USAID grants across several disciplines.

In my librarian role, my research interests include studying student library research skills development, the librarian teacher/researcher identity and the value of Open Education, OER creation. as well as the newly emerging trends in the relationship of generative AI and qualitative research. Other research interest areas include learning environment modalities, backward course design, and academic leadership.