Alumna Megan Threats named 2024-25 Murray Scholar

August 26, 2024 - Jane Deacon

Megan Threats

James Madison College proudly welcomes alumna Megan Threats (PTCD & CCP ’11) as the 2024-25 Stephen O. Murray Scholar in Residence.

Threats, an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, brings a wealth of experience in community-based health informatics research to improve the health and well-being of marginalized communities. Her work focuses on addressing health and information inequities among LGBTQ+ and racial/ethnic minority groups.

Threats' work is deeply rooted in intersectionality, recognizing that individuals often face multiple, overlapping forms of discrimination and exploring how various forms of marginalization impact health outcomes and information access.

The Murray Scholar in Residence program honors the legacy of JMC alumnus Stephen Murray (’72) who passed away in 2019. His longtime partner Keelung Hong gifted the university the largest single cash donation to JMC and MSU Libraries. The scholar in residence program encourages LGBTQ+ scholarship by providing academics access to archives located in the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections and by supporting engagement with the college community.

During her residency, Threats is planning a series of workshops and events titled "A Litany for Survival," which pays homage to a poem by Audre Lorde.

“(Lorde) was a very prolific poet, scholar and activist, but she was also a librarian. A lot of people forget about that part of her legacy,” explained Threats. “I see this as an opportunity to honor the work of a queer, Black librarian, especially as it relates to Stephen and this special collection.”

Threats’ own background as a librarian, including her work at the AIDS Library of Philadelphia working with communities disproportionately impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and justice-involved individuals, informs her current research and approach to community engagement.

She emphasizes the importance of libraries and special collections in her work and advocacy: "If somebody is intentionally trying to ban information or trying to ban books, ban access to use of a library, that probably tells you, hey, there's probably some good stuff here," she notes, highlighting the critical role of information access in social justice.

Threats is spearheading a project that examines the re-entry information needs and practices of formerly incarcerated individuals, aiming to develop a comprehensive reentry planning guide for people in Michigan that connects to resources available through local publiclibraries. The project exemplifies her commitment to addressing real-world challenges through academic research.

Threats looks forward to the opportunity to return to JMC and engage the campus community through a variety of workshops and events.

"JMC taught me critical thinking skills that have served me well through every educational and professional experience I've had," Threats shared. "I'm excited to give back to the community that shaped me."

The first workshop in this year’s Stephen O. Murray Scholar in Residence series will be held on Monday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. in the JMC Library.