Dana Casper, graduate studies librarian at Middle Georgia State University (MGA), is the 2024 GALILEO Ambassador, an award that recognizes her achievements building dynamic educational lessons that incorporate and promote the online library portal.

"Dana blends the practice of teaching with practicality perfectly,” said Tamatha Lambert, MGA’s dean of Library Services.” Her technology skills are stellar.  This is invaluable because she meets most students and faculty online.  She readily makes herself available at all hours of the day and night. When students in our Doctor of Science in IT program were not able to find research to support their topics, Dana advocated to purchase two new journal packages.  She actively cultivates a rapport with students and faculty. Dana is a librarian's librarian!  When we are stumped, we ask Dana."   

Casper, MGA’s graduate studies librarian since 2017, was recognized as the 2024 ambassador during this week’s virtual GALILEO annual conference, attended by hundreds of librarians and library staff throughout the state. The award is open each year to individuals (or libraries) representing any GALILEO-member library in Georgia.

GALILEO, Georgia's virtual library, is an initiative of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG). GALILEO is an online library portal to authoritative, subscription-only information that isn’t available through free search engines or internet directories. The community of more than 2,000 GALILEO institutions includes the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, public and private K-12 schools, public libraries, and several private academic colleges and universities.

As described on the USG website, the ambassador award’s purpose is to “honor educators, librarians, library staff, or other history or literacy advocates across the state who go the extra mile to tout GALILEO and pursue lifelong learning opportunities in their schools, universities, or communities.”

Casper holds a Master of Library and Information Science and Education Specialist degree from Valdosta State University. As an active member of the academic community, she serves as a library champion for the Affordable Learning Georgia initiative and has participated in the USG chancellor’s Learning Scholars program for faculty.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active engagement, social learning, and facilitating knowledge construction. By fostering a love of learning and information literacy, she tries to prepare students for success in both their academic and professional lives. She has published several scholarly articles on the topic of information literacy.