January 3, 2005 - Brookville, NY–Many newly-diagnosed cancer patients go home and look up their illness on the Internet. High school guidance counselor Joni Lelchuk, a student in the Ph.D. program in Information Studies at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, is curious about the information these patients gather. As part of her doctoral dissertation, Lelchuk is studying whether these patients are finding valid information from authoritative sources and whether they understand the information they find. In addition, Lelchuk is evaluating whether this information is helping the patients - or just alarming them unnecessarily.

Information sources and information technologies must be designed and managed for effective use by those who need accurate, timely information in the most appropriate formats. The C.W. Post Information Studies doctoral program, which is in its seventh year, prepares students to effectively and efficiently access, manage and utilize the vast amounts of information available today. "I felt that this degree was on the cutting edge of modern doctoral studies," Lelchuk said. "If I could master this realm, then I would have the skills to research anything else I was interested in and could become my own teacher."

Lelchuk, who resides in Great Neck, is one of 54 students studying in the program–the only one of its kind in the New York Metropolitan area. Alumni are now working as faculty in higher education and as information management consultants in various fields. Current students plan to apply their expertise to health care administration, art history, information systems design, governmental policy development and more.

The mother of six daughters, Lelchuk has been an English teacher and guidance counselor in Queens for over 20 years. She holds an M.A. in English, a P.D. in Supervision and Administration and an M.S. in Guidance. "Once I can wrap a Ph.D. around my other fields of expertise, I hope I can be of better service to my own family and those who seek my help," she said.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Information Studies at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, visit the Ph.D. Program web page at http://palmer.cwpost.liu.edu/PhD/PhD.html, contact Dr. Charles Hildreth, director of the doctoral program, at (516) 299-2178 or email hildreth@liu.edu.