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Ronald E. Wheeler

Director of the Dorraine Zief Law Library and Associate Professor

Associate Professor Wheeler serves as director of the Dorraine Zief Law Library. Wheeler joined USF with nine years of professional law library experience gained at University of New Mexico School of Law and at Georgia State University College of Law. At University of New Mexico, Wheeler held numerous positions including co-interim director and assistant director of faculty, research, and instructional services. At Georgia State, Wheeler served as associate director for faculty services and then as associate director.

Wheeler has taught courses such as Advanced Legal Research, First-Year Legal Research, Critical Thinking, and Sexual Identity and the Law. His scholarship focuses on legal research instruction, law library management, and the law library's role in legal academe.

Wheeler is a member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), the Northern California Association of Law Libraries, and the Western Pacific Chapter of AALL. He has held many leadership positions, appointments, and elected offices in professional organizations. He currently serves on the AALL Executive Board and on the AALL Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section's Program Committee.

Education
  • BBA, University of Michigan - Dearborn
  • JD, University of Michigan
  • MLIS, Wayne State University
Prior Experience
  • Assistant Director of the Law Library, University of New Mexico School of Law
  • Associate Director of the Law Library, Georgia State University College of Law
Awards
  • American Association of Law Libraries Leadership Development Award, 2005
  • American Association of Law Libraries Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues Alan Holoch Memorial Grant, 2002
  • American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting Grant, 2002
TitleOutletsDate
"National Thank Your Mentor Day - Guest Author Ronald Wheeler"Cassidy Cata-Blog, The Blog of Cassidy Cataloguing Services, Inc.01/26/12
"Dog Therapy Easing Students' Stress on College Campuses"NBC Nightly News, NBC Today Show01/08/12
"Canines Help Dog-Tired Students Through Exams"Daily Journal11/22/11
"A Law Student's Preliminary Thoughts on the Lexis Advance User Experience"Legal Geekery11/05/11
"Therapy Dogs Provide Stress (and Comic) Relief"AALL Spectrum11/01/11
"Practical Tips for Academic Employers"AALL Spectrum11/01/11
"Canines Going to the Head of the Class at USF Law School"KCBS radio05/06/11
"Westlaw Next Redux"Law Librarian Blog03/30/11
"WestlawNext: Revolution or Renovation?"Law Librarians of Puget Sound03/24/11
"Westlaw Next"Concurring Opinions03/22/11
"Who Can Afford WestlawNext?"Learning to Be a Lawyer Blog03/07/11
"Excellent Review of WestLaw Next and its Impact on Academic Legal Research"Santa Clara Law: Heafey Headnotes Blog03/03/11
"WestlawNext and Legal Research"University of Connecticut School of Law Blog03/03/11
"A Tale of One CALI Lesson: Librarians Share a New Approach"AALL Spectrum04/01/10
"Learning from Others as You Summit Your Career Mountain"AALL Spectrum02/01/10
Books
  • Georgia Legal Documents: An Annotated Bibliography (American Association of Law Libraries, Government Document Special Interest Section, 2010 Revised Edition forthcoming). (Co-authored with Nancy P. Johnson.) Read More
  • Sexual Orientation and the Law: A Research Bibliography Selectively Annotating Legal Literature Through 2005 (Buffalo, N.Y.: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2006). (Edited by James M. Donovan, James G. Durham, Ronald Wheeler, and Stephanie Wilson. A project of the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries.) Read More
Law Review and Journal Articles
  • "Does WestlawNext Really Change Everything: The Implications of WestlawNext on Legal Research," 103 Law Library Journal 359 (2011). SSRN
  • "Choosing the Top Candidate: Best Practices in Academic Law Library Hiring," 100 Law Library Journal 117 (2008). (Co-authored with Nancy Johnson and Terrance Manion.) SSRN
Book Contributions
  • "Georgia Practice Materials: A Selected Annotated Bibliography," in State Practice Materials: Annotated Bibliographies edited by Frank G. Houdek (Buffalo, N.Y.: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2010). (Co-authored with Nancy P. Johnson.)
Opinion Pieces and Blog Posts
Other Publications
  • "Leadership as a Product of Hard Work and Passion," 15 AALL Spectrum Members' Briefing 9 (July 2011)..
  • "A Tale of One CALI Lesson: Librarians Share a New Approach," 14(6) AALL Spectrum 24 (April 2010). (Co-authored with Terrance Manion.)
  • "Georgia Legal Research: Secondary Source Materials," Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (January 2009). (Co-authored with Nancy Johnson and Terrance Manion.)
  • "Tips for Developing Specialized Legal Research Courses," 29 RIPS Law Librarian 2 (Spring 2007).
  • "Learning While They Work: The Use of Student Assistants in Two Academic Law Libraries," 25 ALL-SIS Newsletter 19 (Spring 2006). (Co-authored with Stephanie Davidson.)
  • "Where to Find Ordinances Online," 9 Bar Journal 54 (Summer 2003). (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • "Vendor Neutral Citation in New Mexico," 8 Bar Journal 11 (Summer 2002). (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • "Researching New Mexico State Administrative Materials," 8 Bar Journal (Spring 2002). (Co-authored with Barbara Lah.)
  • "Ruminations on Tenure," 24 RIPS Law Librarian 4 (Spring 2002).
  • "Legal Writing: Some Useful Online Reference Sources," 8 Bar Journal 11 (Winter 2002). (State Bar of New Mexico)
  • "Researching International Environmental Law," 7 Bar Journal 6 (Winter 2001). (State Bar of New Mexico)
Briefs
    Court Citation of Research
      Presentations
      • Panelist, "Coordinating Legal Research Instruction: From First-Year Law Student to First-Year Associate," San Diego Area Law Libraries, Northern California Association of Law Libraries, and Southern California Association of Law Libraries' Fourth All-California Joint Institute, San Diego, Calif. (March 2012). (Co-presented with Patrick Meyer, Betsy Chessler, Mark Gediman, and Cynthia Guyer.)
      • Moderator, "Hiring the Law Librarian of the Future," Western Pacific Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries 2011 WestPac Annual Meeting, Portland, Ore. (October 2011).
      • Presenter, "Animal Therapy: An Approach to Relieve the Stress of Law School Exams," Northern California Association of Law Libraries Business Meeting "The Emerging Field of Animal Law," Sacramento, Calif. (September 2011).
      • Moderator, "Employer Panel IIB: Law Firm Librarians," University of San Francisco School of Law 2011 Western Regional Legal Writing Conference "How to Hit the Ground Writing: Meeting the Expectations of the Changing Legal Market," (August 2011).
      • Presenter, "Diversity Symposium: Celebrating the First 10 Years of the AALL Minority Leadership Development Award," 104th American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting & Conference, Philadelphia, Pa. (July 2011).
      • Presenter, "I’m a New ___ Now What?" American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting & Conference, Philadelphia, Pa. (July 2011).
      • Presenter, "Developing Human Resources: The Skills Needed for Law Librarians of Today and the Future," Harvard University Conference "The Future of Law Libraries: The Future is Now?" Cambridge, Mass. (June 2011).
      • Presenter, "American Association of Law Libraries Executive Board Update," Chicago Association of Law Libraries Business Meeting, Chicago, Ill. (May 2011).
      • Presenter, "American Association of Law Libraries Exective Board Update," Michigan Association of Law Libraries Meeting, Ann Arbor, Mich. (May 2011).
      • Presenter, "AALL Update, WestlawNext, and Other Miscellany," Houston Area Law Libraries Meeting, Houston, Texas (April 2011).
      • Moderator, "WestlawNext Discussion Roundtable," Northern California Association of Law Libraries "Annual Spring Institute 2011," San Francisco, Calif. (April 2011).
      • Moderator, Western Pacific Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting "The Impact of WestlawNext on Legal Research and Legal Research Instruction," San Francisco (October 2010).
      • Moderator, "Arizona's SB 1070: Necessary Protection from Illegal Immigration or a License to Discriminate?" American Association of Law Libraries 103rd Annual Meeting and Conference, Denver, Colo. (July 2010).
      • Presenter, "Becoming a Leader in the Library Profession," Georgia Council of Media Organizations Annual Conference, Columbus, Ga. (October 2009).
      • Presenter, "So You Think You Can Teach: Keeping the Audience Awake and Learning Alive," American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (July 2009).
      • Presenter, "Law Librarians Abroad," Southwestern Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, N.M. (March 2009).
      • Presenter, "Legal Research, Legal Writing, and Moot Court: Pink Ink and Beyond," American Association of Law Schools Annual Meeting, San Diego, Calif. (January 2009).
      • Presenter, "So You Think You Can Teach: Five Lessons in 50 Minutes," Southeastern Chapter of the American Association Law Libraries, Alexandria, Va. (April 2008).
      • Presenter, "Developing an Advanced Training Program for Research Assistants: Library in Support of Law Faculty Scholarship," Southeastern Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting, Baton Rouge, La. (2007).
      • Presenter, "Electronic Legal Research: A World of Legal Information at UNM School of Law Library," State Bar of New Mexico's Center for Legal Education, Albuquerque, N.M. (May 2006).
      • Presenter, "Who Let the Blawgs In (and what do I do with them now that they're here)?" New Mexico Law Review and the Intellectual Property Student Organization, Albuquerque, N.M. (March 2006). (CLE Presentation)
      • Presenter, "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', Solomon, FAIR v. Rumsfeld and the Law Librarian's Role in Amelioration," American Association of Law Libraries, St. Louis, Mo. (2006).
      • Presenter, "Find it Free and Fast on the Net: Advanced Internet Strategies for the New Mexico Legal Professional," National Business Institute, Albuquerque, N.M. (December 2005). (CLE Presentation)
      • Presenter, "Internet Legal Research: Find it Fast in 2005," Paralegal Division of the State Bar of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M. (April 2005).
      • Presenter, "Find it Fast and Free on the Net: Advanced Internet Strategies for the New Mexico Legal Professional," National Business Institute, Albuquerque, N.M. (November 2004).
      • Presenter, "Learning More in 2004 - Staying on the Cutting Edge of Navajo Law," Sutin Thayer & Brown, Albuquerque, N.M. (October 2004). (CLE Presentation)
      • Presenter, "Legal Research on the Internet: Explore a World of Resources at Your Desk(top)," State Bar of New Mexico Center for Legal Education, Albuquerque, N.M. (February 2002).
      Testimony and Hearings
        Written Testimony and Commentary
          Advisor or Consultant
            Counsel
              Symposia Organization
                Professional Membership
                • Member, Society of Academic Law Library Directors Executive Committee (2011 to present)
                • Liaison, AALL Conference of Newer Law Librarians Executive Board (2011)
                • Liaison, AALL Diversity Committee Executive Board (2011)
                • Member, AALL Futures Summit Planning Special Committee (2011)
                • Member, Nominations Committee of the AALL Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section (2011)
                • American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) (2001 to present)
                • Member, AALL Executive Board (2010-2013)
                • Program Committee (2010 to 2011)
                • Member, AALL Executive Board Strategic Directions Committee (2010 to 2011)
                • Society of American Law Teachers (2009 to present)
                • Member, AALL Black Law Librarian’s Caucus (2003 to present)
                • Member, AALL Academic Law Libraries Special Interest Section (2001 to present)
                • Member, AALL Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section (2001 to present)
                • Member, AALL Instruction and Patron Services Special Interest Section (2001 to present)
                • Chair, AALL Awards Committee (2009 to 2010)
                • Member, AALL Appointments Committee (2009 to 2010)
                • Member, AALL Annual Meeting Program Committee (2008 to 2009)
                • Chair, Special Interest Section Council (2008 to 2009)
                • Chair, AALL Diversity Committee (2007 to 2008)
                • Member, SWALL Program Committee
                • Member, AALL Diversity Committee (2006 to 2008)
                • Member, AALL Placement Committee (2004 to 2006)
                • Member-at-Large, AALL (2004 to 2006)
                • Chair, AALL Grants Committee (2005 to 2010)
                • Member, AALL Patron Services Committee (2002)
                • Member, AALL Program Committee (2002 to 2004)
                • Member, AALL CALI Committee (2006 to 2009)
                • Chair, AALL (2006 to 2008 — two terms)
                • Moderator, AALL Black Law Librarian’s Caucus listserv (2004 to 2010)
                • Secretary/Treasurer (2004 to 2006)
                • Treasurer, AALL Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues (2002 to 2004)
                • Northern California Association of Law Libraries (NOCALL) (2010 to present)
                • Member, NOCALL Spring Institute Committee (2010 to 2011)
                • Western Pacific Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (2010 to present)
                • Southeastern American Association of Law Libraries (SEAALL) (2006 to 2010)
                • Member, SEAALL Scholarship Committee (2009 to 2010)
                • Member, SEAALL Program Committee (2007 to 2009)
                • Chair, SEAALL Community Service Committee (2008 to 2009)
                • Member, SEAALL Community Service Committee (2006 to 2009)
                • Member, SEAALL Local Arrangements Committee for 2009 Athens Meeting (2008 to 2009)
                • Atlanta Law Library Association (2006 to 2010)
                • Southwestern Association of Law Libraries (2001 to 2006)
                Fellowships
                  Other Service
                  • Member, Digital Public Library of America Content & Scope Workstream (2011)
                  • Member, AALL Executive Board Finance and Budget Committee (2011)
                  • Co-Coordinator, AALL Fiesta of Books Book Drive (2005)