CS-SIS Member Spotlight: Darla Jackson
The Computing-Services Special Interest Section is made up of awesome law librarians doing interesting things. The CS-SIS Member Spotlight is designed to shine light on our membership so that we can learn more about each other and stay connected.
CS-SIS Member Spotlight: Darla Jackson
Technology, Learning, and Teaching
Mastering technology has been a constant part of Darla’s professional career, from learning weapons systems while in the Air Force, to writing about technologies in the Law Library Journal, to teaching Oklahoma bar members how to use law firm practice management systems, to exploring digital initiatives and tech competencies. This experience led to Darla’s inclusion in the 2019 class of the Fastcase 50.
Learning is another theme in Darla’s story. While earning her LL.M. in international law from the University of Georgia, Darla reports that she could not have finished her thesis without the help of the UGA law librarians. These savvy researchers sparked her interest in library school, a program she began after teaching international law at the U.S. Air Force Academy and practicing international law at 9th Air Force/CENTAF at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. She felt like she found her tribe while in library school and loves being a law librarian. Speaking of tribes, Darla is continuing her education as she pursues an LL.M. in Indigenous Peoples Law. She also serves as Chair of the AALL Native Peoples Law Caucus, is a member of the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nation Bar Associations, and is an active member of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Indian Law Section.
Darla’s broad educational background ensures that she has many teaching opportunities. She has taught foreign and international law, advanced legal research, and is currently teaching an online course as part of OU Law’s International Business Master of Legal Studies program. And, pictured above, Darla has taught several webinars on technology-related topics for the OBA and ABA. Look for Darla at ABA TECHSHOW in 2020 as she’ll be presenting on the next generation of practice management tools and on risk management and the technologies involved in disaster preparedness.
Hopes for CS-SIS and Personal Interests
As our current chair, Darla believes that one of the most important roles CS-SIS can play is to provide learning opportunities for our members. Her goal is to expand the educational role of our section. She also values the assistance she has received from other librarians and hopes CS-SIS can provide the same service to others. She believes that we are all professionally enhanced by sharing our expertise, and CS-SIS members have much to offer.
Darla has a ton on her plate, but in her free time she’s been reading Killers of the Flower Moon, a non-fiction work that deals with the murders of Osage people killed for their mineral interests. Next, she wants to read about bias as discussed in Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design. Otherwise, she finds guilty pleasure in the mindless watching of Bravo, is an active retweeter, and enjoys listening to NPR.
Thanks to Darla for her willingness to be interviewed for this CS-SIS member spotlight. If you are interested in interviewing and writing a blog post about a CS-SIS member, please contact Tawnya Plumb at tplumb@uwyo.edu. It is a great opportunity to learn about a fellow member.
