Martin Wolske

Martin Wolske is a Teaching Associate Professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has held various roles since 1995. His career trajectory includes serving as Interim Director of the Center for Digital Inclusion from 2016 to 2018, Senior Research Scientist from 2008 to 2018, Lecturer from 1997 to 2018, User Services Coordinator from 2004 to 2008, Manager of Research Systems from 2000 to 2003, Director of Prairienet from 1997 to 1999, and Manager of Systems Services at Prairienet from 1995 to 2003. Earlier, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Neuronal Pattern Analysis Group at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at UIUC from 1993 to 1995 and an Instructor at Rutgers University from 1991 to 1992. Wolske earned his PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience and Biopsychology from Rutgers University in 1993, an MS in the same field from Rutgers in 1990, and a BA in Psychology from Anderson University in 1987. He is also a faculty affiliate in the Illinois Informatics programs.

Wolske's research specializations encompass community informatics, engaged scholarship in the information sciences, critical and culturally sustaining pedagogies in active learning environments, and critical constructivist approaches to sociotechnical information systems. He advocates for a person-centered orientation to technology, utilizing problem-posing education, participatory research, and co-design to advance digital inclusion, equity, and local social justice through community technology platforms. As a principal investigator, he has secured grants from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, American Library Association, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Key publications include his authored books A Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology (2020) and second edition (2023, Windsor & Downs Press, Illinois Open Publishing Network); “Critical Questions for Community Informatics in Practice” (2016, co-authored with C. Rhinesmith, Journal of Community Informatics); “A Radical Reconsideration of Digital Literacy” (2016, Information for Social Change); and “Community Informatics Studio: Designing Experiential Learning to Support Teaching, Research, and Practice” (2014, co-authored with C. Rhinesmith and B. Kumar, Journal of Education in Library and Information Science). His contributions extend to editorial roles on the Journal of Community Informatics board since 2020 and committee service, including the Coordinating Council for Public Engagement at UIUC since 2022 and program committees for Community Informatics Research Network conferences. Wolske has received the University of Illinois Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement (2013), iSchool Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award (2017), Library Journal Teacher of the Year Award (2011), and regular inclusion on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.

Professional Email: mwolske@illinois.edu