Kevin Wise, University of Illinois
“The Information Systems Division is my intellectual home. Imagining my career without it is folly.”
Annie Lang, Indiana University
“When I was a graduate student at UW – Madison and thinking about submitting a paper to ICA for the first time, I looked at the list of divisions and wondered where to submit my paper. I asked my mentors and was told to try Information Systems. The year was 1985 (presented in 86) and it won a top three paper award. Obviously Info Sys (at the time listed as Division 1 because it was the first division founded) was my home. Since then I have been an author on 106 papers presented at ICA, most of them to the Information Systems Division. Over the years I served as vice-chair and chair of the division and have watched several of my PhD students fill those same positions. To me info sys is just one great big family, and as we had printed on our pocket protectors when I was division chair, Info Sys is number 1!”
Prabu David, Michigan State University
“From my days in graduate school, InfoSys has been my research home. I have enjoyed the diversity of topics and approaches. Also, we deserve credit for pioneering submissions as research abstracts based on fresh data from the lab, before it becomes a fully formed manuscript.”
Rob Potter, Indiana University
“Information systems has always meant a division that believed that knowledge is increased when participation is heightened. That was the drive behind many of the innovations that Information Systems introduced: graduate student reviewers, extended abstract submissions to allow presentation of the very latest results at the May international conference, and high density sessions. There are a lot of people doing a lot of rigorous investigation to better understand communication. Information Systems has always been a place where I can hear about so much of it.”
Esther Thorson, Michigan State University
“For many years I’ve perceived Information Systems Division to be delightfully radical. The majority of the papers focus on theory development and testing, and there are an impressive number of “out-there” ideas that I see in every year’s paper titles. I never fail to look through every InfoSys session to see what’s cooking. I think InfoSys was one of the first divisions to allow extended abstracts—for the formidable reason that the newest ideas would be allowed in without all the baggage of a complete paper. A great idea then and an even better one as the research engine of ICA has continued to increase its fast track.“
Edward Fink, Temple University
Professor Emeritus of Communication
University of Maryland
“I have been a member of the Information Systems Division of ICA since 1979, and I have served as the division’s vice chair (1979-1981) and chair (1981-1983). Moreover, the convention papers that I have co-authored have received kudos from the division five times.
What keeps me coming back? Please note that it is not because we argue almost every year about changing the division’s name! Rather, it is because this division takes very seriously the idea that our scholarship should strive to meet the objectives of science. Our presentations at ICA’s annual conference typically focus on one or more of the five problems of research methods: measurement, design, analysis, sampling, and ethics. In addition, the presenters provide, and illuminate, new advances and new tests of communication theories.
My colleagues, former colleagues, students, and former students know of my support for this division and my affection for its members. Become active in this division: You too can find this division to be a great scholarly home with encouraging and very smart colleagues.”
Many more on the way … stay tuned!
Information Systems Division of ICA 