SC&I is pleased to announce the promotions of two faculty members, effective July 1, 2017.

Rebecca Reynolds was promoted to Associate Professor of Library and Information Science with tenure.

Reynolds’ work investigates social constructivist human learning in naturalistic online participatory settings including social media environments and MOOCs. She also considers instructional technology design to meet specific educational goals and objectives e.g., in schools. Rebecca explores how system design affordances can support and constrain knowledge-building, sharing and meaning-making, at individual and group levels. She conducts work in a range of knowledge domains, including computer science education, digital literacy, and game design and is starting some new work in the area of learning within spiritual / health / lifestyle practice communities such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation and ‘new shamanism.’ With colleagues, she is launching a lab to elicit design principles for e-learning, based on systematic comparison of research findings within and across varying content areas, contexts and user groups. Reynolds received her Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the Newhouse School, Syracuse University, a master’s degree in Media Studies from the Newhouse School, Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Tufts University.

Matthew Weber was promoted to Associate Professor of Communication with tenure.

Weber is co-director of Rutgers’ NetSCI Network Science lab. His research examines organizational change and adaptation in response to new information communication technology. His work is funded by a number of external agencies, including the William T. Grant Foundation and National Science Foundation. Weber received his Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in Communication from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in Journalism and Media Management from Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University.