SILS Doctoral Student Association

Welcome to DSA!

We are the official organization for PhD students in UNC’s School of Information and Library Science. All doctoral students are automatically members of DSA. We work to improve communication among doctoral students, M.S. students, and faculty by participating in SILS governance and sending representatives to most SILS committees. We also organize events and programming for doctoral students.

This website is run by students, for students. To join us as a fellow site contributor or make editing suggestions, please contact our representatives.

Cover art: Remedios Varo. Creation of the Birds/Creacion de las Aves, c. 1957. Oil on masonite.

DSA Events

  • PUFF: PhD Un-Forum Fall 2024

    PhD Un-Forum Fall 2024

    The 2024 UnForum took place on Friday, Oct. 21. This year, SILS PhD students joined forces with CHIP PhD students. Over the course of the 3-hour UnConference, we: It was an engaging day, and we are looking forward to PUFF 2025! We are grateful to SILS and the Graduate and Professional Student Group for their…

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  • 2024 PhD Forum

    Banner photo that says "SILS PhD Forum" with a date: March 22, 2024

    The 2024 SILS PhD Forum will take place on Friday, March 22 at 1:00 pm in the Pleasants Room in Wilson Library. We encourage all attendees to provide feedback to presenters. You can provide feedback for each presenter using this form. Our amazing speakers are: Viviane Ito Tensions around Notability: Is the Risk Worth the…

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  • PUFF: PhD Un-Forum Fall 2023

    An image of puffy colored balls as a backdrop for the text "PhD Un-Forum Fall 2023"

    At the start of November, DSA hosted the PhD Un-Forum Fall 2023 (PUFF 2023). PUFF was modeled on the idea of an un-conference, with the goal being to create a place for PhD students to gather, reflect, and find community. We created two-types of activities, “puffs,” and “popcorns.” PUFFS Puffs, or introductions and reflections designed…

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  • 2023 Spring Journaling @ Makerspace

    Photo of journaling supplies scattered on desk--craft papers, mildliners, washi tapes, stickers, and an unrolled canvas pencil wrap full of pens. On top of the photo floats the title: "Journaling @Makerspace Spring 2023."

    Towards the end of the spring, DSA hosted a journaling workshop with the help of Equity in the Making Lab (SILS Makerspace)–special thanks to Rachel Rodney and Dr. Maggie Melo! Many of us were making collages and journal notebooks for the first time, and we look forward to holding it regularly in the future with…

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  • 2023 Grant Writing Workshop

    a banner photo with the text "DSA grant writing workshop: spring 2023"

    This spring, DSA hosted a grant writing workshop with SILS’ Contracts and Grants Pre-Award Officer, Nicole Boryczka. We covered applying to public grants, private grants, and closed out with an interactive session focused on in-progress grant applications. Notes from the workshop are available here — please reach out to DSA if you need the password!

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  • 2022 PhD Forum

    DSA is excited to be reviving the SILS PhD Forum after a COVID-induced hiatus! Forum Details When: Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 from 12 pm – 2 pm ET Where: Manning Hall Contact: Please contact DSA if you have any questions. Presenting Anyone interested in presenting should get in touch with DSA before Oct. 15, 2022.…

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Recent DSA Updates

  • DSA Officially Registers with UNC

    DSA registers as an official student organization

    DSA has been active within the SILS community for a very long time. This year, we took the step to formally register DSA as a student organization at the University level. This opens DSA up to new opportunities for funding, making room reservations across outside of SILS, and networking with other student organizations at UNC.…

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  • 2022 Graduate Student Wellness Survey

    header image saying "fall 2022 graduate student wellness survey" the survey is credited to DSA, ILSSA, and GPSG

    In Fall 2022, DSA, working with ILSSA and our SILS GPSG Senators, conducted a survey of graduate student wellness at SILS. Methods: The survey asked questions about funding, wellness, healthcare, and transportation. We self-funded the survey, run on Typeform, to ensure that student privacy would be safeguarded. Next Steps: DSA presented the survey results to…

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  • Introducing the DSA Website

    This website has been a long time coming, and we’re excited it’s finally here! Our goal is for this website to be a resource for SILS PhD students, prospective students, and for others in the community. We’ll be sharing information about events, updates, and other news on this website. This website is a blank slate…

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