Chris Younkin is a Librarian focused on opening inquiry.

As Scholarly Communication Librarian at Southern Utah University (SUU), Chris Younkin's day-to-day work focuses on scholarly publishing, intellectual property rights, affordable learning materials, as well as teaching information literacy.

Chris started his teaching career in 2010 as a graduate teaching assistant teaching Freshman composition. He also worked as a first year experience instructor at the Ohio State University Libraries, and as an instruction librarian at SUU before transitioning to Scholarly Communication.

Chris earned a Bachelors in English from the Ohio State University in 2010, a masters in Creative Writing from Miami University in 2013, and a Masters of Library and Information Science from Kent State University in 2015.

Dedicated to providing students with the skills for independent, self-directed lifelong learning, he is dismayed by the increase in political and cultural movements that seek to police speech, restrict intellectual and academic freedom, and close inquiry.

Engagement as an HxA Member:
Presented at HxA Virtual Event, Summit, or Conference
Published on HxA: The Blog
Guest on HxA Podcast
HxA Writers Group Member or Veteran
Active Member of an HxCommunity
Active Member of an HxA Campus Community
Faculty Fellow at HxA Center for Academic Pluralism
Speaker's Title and Institutional/Organizational Affiliation: Scholarly Communication Librarian and Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science/ Southern Utah University
Event Type :
Lecture/Presentation
Fireside Chat
Book Talk
Constitution Day Event
Classroom Visit
Workshop
Podcast
Debate, Forum, or HxConversation
Speaking Topics - List up to 5 specific topics or titles, each separated by a semicolon: Information literacy; open inquiry; self-directed learning; institutional capture; intellectual self defense
Blackout Dates (Dates speaker is unavailable, Days/Month/Year): 12/25/23
Distance Willing to Travel: Any/No Limits to Travel Radius
Scholarly Area: Libraries & Museums
Modality of Event : In Person and/or Virtual
Willingness to be recorded: Willing
Speaking Fee (Not including travel/lodging expenses): $0-$2,000 USD
Recent Appearance (1 of 5) -title, host institution, year: "Encoding Open Inquiry and Academic Freedom in a University Strategic Plan," University of Utah (Utah Academic Library Consortium Professional Development Retreat), 2023