October 31, 2019
Charlene Simser recognized as Professor of the Week
Charlene Simser, professor and coordinator of electronic publishing in the Academic Services department for K-State Libraries, was recognized as Professor of the Week at the Oct. 30 men's home basketball game.
Simser also serves as the team lead for the Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship. In this role, she leads and is involved with major library initiatives such as New Prairie Press and the Open Alternative Textbook program. Currently, she provides consultation and support for editors and authors of New Prairie Press publications; work for which she has received formal letters of commendation from faculty peers. In her work with New Prairie Press publications, she provides superior service giving guidance and logistical support for digital publication, and navigating through such things as copyright, licensing, digital delivery and MOUs with New Prairie Press. Simser was instrumental in the development of CADS at K-State Libraries and has served as an expert in publishing and scholarly communication issues for groups within and outside K-State Libraries. For many years she has been heavily involved in NASIG, including service as president of the organization in 2007-2008, as they work to advance and transform the management of information resources.
Simser's scholarship revolves around open access, scholarly communication and electronic publishing. Her most recent publications include articles and presentations on the politics of open access publishing in libraries and digital scholarship initiatives at Kansas State University. Simser is also an award-winning fiction writer under the name Charlene Newcomb.
K-State Libraries are grateful for her service and leadership over many years and most especially over the past several months as we dealt with the aftermath of the May 2018 fire in Hale Library. She will be missed as she transitions into retirement at the end of the year.
The Professor of the Week recognition is coordinated by Faculty Senate, the president's office, K-State Athletics and the Division of Communications and Marketing. Recipients are faculty members selected by Faculty Senate caucuses. Those selected are provided tickets to a men's home basketball game of their choosing and are recognized during halftime. This is just a small token of appreciation for those who teach at K-State.