Lore Lawlor’s experience in Drexel’s Library and Information Science graduate program highlights the power of a flexible, mentor-guided education. Through customized coursework, leadership opportunities, and hands-on research with nationally recognized faculty, he has transformed his career trajectory and gained confidence in his professional readiness. As he prepares for a future in archives, special collections, and potentially academia, Lore exemplifies how Drexel empowers students to aim high and design meaningful careers.
Q: Can you tell us about your academic background and what you’re currently studying at Drexel?
Lore Lawlor: My name is Lore Lawlor, and I'm a master's student at Drexel studying library and information science. My degree program includes a certificate in Archives and Curation, as well as a metadata-focused postgraduate certificate, something that I'm grateful for as an option here.
Q: You describe yourself as a non-traditional graduate student. What led you to library and information science?
Lore: As most graduate students here, I am non-traditional. I come from an unrelated field; and coming to Drexel, studying library science has given me the opportunity to completely reshape my future into such a customizable and granular way that I can say with confidence that my degree is definitely preparing me for exactly what I hope to set out to do.
Q: What are your career goals after graduation?
Lore: Upon graduation, I hope to work in museums or academic institutions as either a special collections librarian or an archivist. I would also love the opportunity to teach on faculty following my master's degree completion.
Q: What kinds of experiences have helped you move closer to those goals during your time at Drexel?
Lore: There are so many opportunities which I have come across just in my first year here at Drexel which have brought me closer to these goals. I involved myself in the student chapter of the American Library Association (ALA), even taking on a leadership role, which is something that future employers will certainly look for.
" It feels good to know that you are so aligned for success here."
Q: Has there been a defining academic milestone in your program so far?
Lore: Some of the biggest milestones of my degree have been facilitated through Drexel. My Capstone course, for example, which is the culminating project for LIS students, was actually made possible by Drexel faculty. The faculty were more than happy to accommodate my schedule as an individual who works full-time, and I have even had the opportunity to be involved in some really exciting research, assisting with one of our professors, Dr. Jane Greenberg, who also happens to be the director of the Metadata Research Center here at Drexel.
Q: How do those experiences translate when you think about the job market?
Lore: Being able to not only research but also engage in mentorship and actual field experience, and put that on my resume—all before I've even reached my final quarter—is just really incredible and inspiring to continue to shoot for the stars with this degree. You feel like you're in the right place reviewing position requirements on LinkedIn when you're browsing to see what's out there. It feels good to know that you are so aligned for success here.
Q: Can you share an example of how faculty mentorship has shaped your experience?
Lore: It's just so cool when you get to work with someone who you've cited in a research paper. Dr. Jung-ran Park—a faculty member who is actually the supervisor for our ALA student chapter—I've used her research in papers of mine. It feels like you're really at the fingertips of everything that's going on and that's happening in the field, and that empowers you to do the same.