2026 ALISE Annual Conference

Dr. Willie L. Smith, Jr., is an information science scholar-practitioner and higher education leader whose work focuses on information behavior, information ethics, artificial intelligence, and equitable access to information. He earned a Ph.D. in Information at Florida State University, where his research explores information poverty and the experiences of first-generation college students navigating higher education systems. Smith serves as Director of Undergraduate Advising at Florida State University and has extensive experience in student success, developmental advising, and academic leadership. His scholarly and professional interests include digital culture, human-centered information systems, AI in education, and social media. He has presented nationally on topics related to first-generation student success, advising, gatekeeping, and artificial intelligence, and was part of the team awarded the 2025 ALISE Best Conference Paper Award for research on memes, cultural agency, and identity.