Kate Langan is Professor and the Engagement Librarian for Western Michigan University. Kate specializes in information literacy, for first year writing students and for graduate students in the humanities. Kate received her B.A. from Scripps College (1993) and specialized in French Literature. She holds two master's degrees, an M.A. (1998 ) in French Literature from the University of Oklahoma and another M.A. (2004) in Information and Library Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she also did doctoral work for a PH.D. in French Literature. She is currently working on an interdisciplinary Ph.D. that looks at bias in the research process.

In the past, Kate was the liaison to the departments of Comparative Literature, English, Philosophy, and World Languages,Literatures, and Linguistics. Kate's past research has focused on ways to improve information literacy for both students and teachers such as incorporating background music into the classroom and embedded librarianship through asynchronous, web-based teaching. She has worked on redesigning information literacy curricula for first year writing programs by incorporating those threshold concepts that promote higher order thinking. She has presented and published on a wide variety of ways to improve teaching information literacy such as the use of concept mapping, background music visualizing data, teaching the teacher, teacher expectancy and stereotype threat, and embedded librarianship. Her current research is focused on critical race theory, critical information literacy, and transformative teaching and portable earning for beyond the classroom and university experience.