Wendy McLain Named Program Leader of LSU Records and Information Management Certification Program
March 27, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA - As companies grow, organizing and managing data becomes vital to success. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected growth of jobs in information management is predicted to increase by up to 16%, much faster than the average increase of 4%. To accommodate Louisiana’s forthcoming need for information professionals, LSU’s School of Information Studies has named Wendy McLain as coordinator of the Certificate in Records & Information Management (CRIM). With decades of experience in industry and academia, McLain aims to expand the certificate’s enrollment and reach.
“The demand for skilled professionals in records and information management continues to grow, and the LSU School of Information Studies is committed to preparing students for these exciting career opportunities,” said Edward Benoit, Interim Director of the School of Information Studies. “With Wendy McLain’s extensive experience in the industry, she is the ideal leader to expand the reach of our CRIM program. Under her guidance, students will gain not only the technical expertise, but also the professional connections needed to thrive in this evolving field.”
While many career paths in the United States are seeing inconsistent or downward trends, the opportunities in information studies are multiplying daily. Knowledge in managing records and information will help the company to thrive, especially in such industries as oil and gas, healthcare, financial services, biomedical and pharmaceutical, education, and government. The Online Graduate Certificate in Records and Information Management from LSU is a 15-credit hour program designed to equip students with the skills necessary to effectively manage records and information.
Developed in partnership with the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), the curriculum aligns with the ICRM Exam Outline, allowing graduates to receive credit for passing Exam Parts 1-5 toward ICRM certification. This alignment facilitates a streamlined path to obtaining the Certified Records Analyst (CRA) and Certified Records Manager (CRM) designations. The program is delivered entirely online, offering flexibility for working professionals, and prepares students for roles such as Records Manager, Information Governance Officer, and Digital Assets Manager.
About McLain
After earning an MLIS from LSU, McLain worked for over 30 years in the field of Records and Information Management (RIM). In addition to creating and leading RIM programs within the government, healthcare, engineering, and energy sectors, she became a leader within the profession, serving in many board roles including president of both the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) and ICRM. As a longtime advocate for blending academics with practice, McLain created and taught Principles of Records Management as an adjunct professor for LSU and served as an internship supervisor for graduate students seeking professional experience. She was instrumental in the creation of the RIM certificate partnership with the ICRM. Now, after serving as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, McLain looks forward to also wearing the hat of program coordinator. She hopes to introduce more students to the records management and information governance field, to help them to become connected to the profession through the Directed Independent Study course, and to set them on a path to professional certification and career success.
About the LSU School of Information Studies
The LSU School of Information Studies (SIS) provides a 100% online prestigious education in library & information science. It is the home of the Master of Library & Information Science, which is the only program accredited by the American Library Association in the state of Louisiana. SIS also offers a dual degree with the Department of History, an undergraduate minor, and three graduate certificate options. SIS is a member of the iSchools, a group of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field. SIS is part of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education.
Visit the School of Information Studies website.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.