Makerspace librarian honored with provost’s faculty award

Ted Quiballo, instructional technologies librarian, has been named one of four winners of an annual award for impactful Northwestern faculty.

The Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Service rewards Northwestern educators who make a positive impact on the University community through academic citizenship and service. Quiballo works primarily at Mudd Library, where he oversees the Maker Lab (a suite of 3-D printers and other crafting tools for entrepreneurs and class projects) and the Video Production Studio for recording assignments.

Michele Zugnoni, associate professor in the Cook Family Writing Program, authored Quiballo’s nomination, in which she called out how he caters to her English classes, guiding each student through a presentation assignment that uses “lightboard” technology in the recording studio.

“Ted goes beyond offering training to students — he also offers patience and time,” she wrote. “(His encouragement) transforms what might be a potentially intimidating recording session into one where students feel confident and experience success. Ted has fundamentally shaped my students’ educational experience.”

Other campus partners supported Quiballo’s nomination with testimonials that called out his support of humanities-focused technology initiatives, his enthusiastic work with student groups, his dedication to fostering collaboration and community, his service on university committees and diversity initiatives, and his role as a “tireless advocate for student and faculty innovation.”

“Ted embodies the best of Northwestern’s inclusive ethos — approachable, intellectually generous, and deeply invested in helping others thrive,” wrote graduate anthropology student Craig Stevens. “Ted is the definition of a cool librarian!”