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The University of Guam marked a milestone at its Fanuchånan (Fall) 2025 commencement ceremony on Dec. 21, graduating its first cohort of 11 students from the Master of Library and Information Science program, UOG said in a media release.
“Seeing how technology has forged new grounds for learning and connection, UOG recognized the need to build a workforce of information professionals able to wield global technology to deliver local wisdom,” said Dr. Monique Storie, dean of University Libraries. “Across the region, there is a need to train new library and information resource professionals.”
The program was launched in 2024 through a partnership between the School of Education and University Libraries.
It was developed to build a regional workforce of professional information specialists and address the evolving demands of the digital age, UOG said.
At the time of the program’s launch, a UOG study identified fewer than 30 advanced-degree library professionals serving the 182 libraries and collection institutions across Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Building a program for the region
Aligned with American Library Association standards, the MLIS curriculum includes coursework in research methods, archival practices, and information curation, along with internships in professional library settings.
“This inaugural cohort marks the emergence of a new generation of information professionals ready to serve libraries, schools, archives, and cultural organizations,” said Perry Pangelinan, MPA, MLS, EdD, associate professor and MLIS program chair. “They’ve laid the groundwork for lasting impact, positioning UOG as a leader in information science education across the region.”
For graduate Nicolas Abrenilla, the program provided an opportunity to build on his experience as an archival specialist at UOG’s Micronesian Area Research Center.
“The program was a journey from start to finish,” Abrenilla said. “It has helped me elevate myself so that one day I can achieve my dream of working with the heart of libraries.”
To address region-specific infrastructure and preservation challenges, courses like LS538: Digital Archives and Exhibitions, taught by professor Ryan Shook, prepared students to digitize fragile analog materials—ranging from manuscripts to oral histories—into durable, remotely accessible collections.
In a region where harsh weather and environmental threats constantly endanger physical archives, these skills support sectors such as tourism, public health, education, and historic preservation, and ensure that Pacific history is preserved and shared globally, UOG said.
Ready to serve
With the completion of the program, UOG’s MLIS graduates are prepared for professional roles in public, academic, and special libraries, helping to meet critical workforce needs in Guam and Micronesia, the university said.
“We are proud of UOG’s first Master of Library and Information Science graduates,” Storie said. “They are pioneers lifting Pacific librarianship — bringing the world to us and our heritage to the world.”
For more information about the Master of Library and Information Science and other graduate degree programs at UOG, contact the Graduate Studies Office at [email protected] or visit https://www.uog.edu/admissions/graduate-studies.
