Research & Instruction Services

The Research and Instruction Services Department supports the University of Mississippi community by providing course-integrated instruction, research consultations, workshops, and online resources to help produce informed students and researchers.

Services

We provide the UM community with course-integrated instruction, personalized research consultations, workshops, and online resources to support academic success. By collaborating with instructors, we help strengthen teaching and learning at all levels, emphasizing foundational information literacy and critical thinking skills on the UM Oxford and UM Regional campuses.

Research & Instruction librarians are:

  • Collaborative Instructors. We provide online and in-person instruction at all levels, using Information Literacy Learning Outcomes and Goals to guide sessions. We are happy to collaborate with you to meet the needs of your classes, whether that is through creating online materials, embedding resources in Blackboard, visiting classes, or a combination of support.
  • First-Year Instruction Initiative. R&I Librarians teach critical thinking skills to first-year students through our First Year Instruction Initiative, which includes working directly with the following classes: EDHE 105/106/202/305, WRIT 100/101/102, HON 102, SPCH 102/105, and LIBA 102.
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Instruction. R&I Librarians have a wide array of subject expertise. If you’d like a librarian to visit your class to help with an assignment, navigating the library website or resources, basic information literacy, critical thinking, media literacy, or advanced searching skills, let us know!
  • Research consultants for faculty, staff, and students. We are here to help you find information using print and digital resources at any point during the research process.
  • Liaisons to UM departments. We manage and develop a large variety of print and digital collections. We gladly work with you to connect you to the services and resources you need.

Contact Us

Meet Our Team

Melissa Dennis

Melissa Dennis

  • Head of Research & Instruction Services and Associate Professor
Ashley Dees

Ashley Dees

  • Associate Head of Research & Instruction Services and Associate Professor
Royce Kurtz

Royce Kurtz

  • AICPA Research & Instruction Librarian and Associate Professor
Ally Watkins

Ally Watkins

  • Research and Instruction Librarian and Assistant Professor
Alex Watson

Alex Watson

  • Research & Instruction Librarian and Professor