Get to Know Our Home Sweet Home
At the College of Communication and Information, we strive to ignite students’ passions so they can carry on the torch of excellence. Once they become a part of the CCI community, they’ll learn to be innovative leaders, thinkers, and Volunteers in whatever calling they choose to follow in the communication and information world.
We are part of a Land Grant Institution embedded in communities to make those communities a better place. Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff strive to positively impact the lives of people in our state through our teaching, scholarship, creative work, and through our engagement and service. CCI as a college is well poised to deliver upon all of those areas to become the most nationally distinctive but locally relevant College of Communication and Information in the country.
CCI’s Academic Schools
Accreditation Statement
In addition, programs for which accrediting is available are fully accredited. The college’s undergraduate programs in advertising, journalism and electronic media, and public relations are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Information Sciences is accredited by the American Library Association and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Strategic Plan
College Governance
Leadership Team
Suzie Allard
Associate Dean for Research
Director, CCI Research and Innovation Center
Courtney Childers
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success
Interim Director, Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations
Jon Hess
Professor and Director, School of Communication Studies
865-974-0696
Abebe Rorissa
Professor and Director, School of Information Sciences
865-974-9003
Bylaws
All bylaws are in PDF format:
CCI Committees
2024-2025 CCI Master Calendar
2023-2024 CCI Committee Roster (PDF file)
Standing Committees
Faculty Affairs Committee
Member Composition: 2 tenured/tenure track faculty elected per School; 2-year terms staggered within School
ADPR: Eric Haley (2025)
ADPR: María De Moya (2026)
SIS: Wade Bishop (2025)
SIS: Peiling Wang (2026)
J&M: Mark Harmon (2025)
J&M: Amber Roessner (2026)
CS: Joan Rentsch (2025)
CS: Courtney Wright (2026)
Graduate Studies Committee
ADPR: Sifan Xu (2026)
SIS: Wade Bishop (2025)
J&M: Erin Whiteside (2026)
CS: Jenny Crowley (2025)
PhD C&I: Anna McClure (CS)
MS C&I: Tessa Levy (AD)
MSIS: Krystal White
Ex-Officio: Moonhee Cho and Courtney Childers
Undergraduate Studies Committee
Member Composition: 1 tenured/tenure-track faculty elected per School; staggered 2-year terms
ADPR: Matthew Pittman (completing second year of Hoy term)
J&M: Mustafa Oz (2026)
SIS: Dania Bilal (2025)
CS: Quinten Bernhold (2025)
Ex-Officio: Julie Longmire
Budget Committee
Member Composition: (1 tenured/tenure-track faculty per School, staggered 2-year terms. 1 exempt staff/1 non-exempt staff/ Dean shall also appoint at least 1 non-tenure-track faculty member, 1-year term)
ADPR: Moonhee Cho (2025)
J&M: Nick Geidner (2026)
SIS: Wade Bishop (2025)
CS: Emily Paskewitz (2026)
Non-tenure track faculty: Marieke Keller (CS) (2024)
Exempt staff: Deb Crouse (2025)
Non-exempt staff: Yana Truman (2025)
Ex-Officio: Joe Mazer
Ex-Officio: Clay Carroll
Departmental Review Committee (DRC) for Human Subjects Research
Member Composition: 2 reps from ADPR; 1 from CS; 2 reps from JEM; and 2 reps from SIS; 1-year terms
ADPR: Moonhee (2026)
ADPR: Minjie Li (2026)
SIS: Rachel Fleming-May (Spring 2025)
SIS: Xiaohua (Awa) Zhu (2025)
J&M: Barb Kaye (2026)
J&M: Julie Andsager (2026)
CS: Michael Kotowski (2026)
Administrative: Kat Capstick
Research Advisory Committee
Member Composition: 2 tenured/tenure-track faculty elected per School, staggered 2-year terms; 1 doctoral student appointed by Associate Dean for Academic Programs, 1-year term; one RIC staff member is ex-officio
Suzie Allard – Chair
ADPR: Jeannette Iannacone (2026)
ADPR: Oluseyi Adegbola (2026)
SIS: Brian Dobreski (2025)
SIS: Jiangen He (2026)
J&M: Martin Riedl (2026)
J&M: Shiyu Yang (2026)
CS: Roth Smith (2025)
CS: Elizabeth Carlson (2026)
PhD C&I: Curry Wilson (ADPR)
RIC Standing Members:
Amy Forrester
Kat Capstick
Karen Jones-Zach
Logan Montuori
Access and Engagement Committee
Member Composition:1 tenured/tenure-track faculty elected per School, staggered 2-year terms; 1 exempt staff/1 non-exempt staff/1 non-tenure track faculty member/1 doctoral and 1 undergraduate student appointed by Dean, 1-year term
ADPR: Minjie Li (2026)
SIS: Devendra Potnis (2026)
J&M: Mike Martinez (2026)
CS: John Haas (2025)
Non-tenure track faculty: Nicholas Meade (CS)
Exempt staff: Austin Orr (CCI Media Center)
Non-exempt staff: Lauren Boozer (SIS)
Doctoral student: Habibi Mamone (SIS)
Undergraduate student (): TBD
Ex-Officio: Jazmine Kelley
Advisory Councils
Dean’s Faculty Advisory Council
Member Composition: 1 tenured/tenure track faculty elected from each School, 1-year term; 1 exempt staff/1 non-exempt staff/2 non-tenure track faculty member appointed by Dean, 1-year term
ADPR: Katie Kim
SIS:
J&M: Shiyu Yang
CS: Quinten Bernhold
Non-tenure track faculty: (J&M)
Non-tenure track faculty: Dustin Thomas (ADPR)
Dean’s Staff Advisory Council
ADPR: Samantha White
SIS: Amanda Yother
J&M: Ernest Rollins
CS: Sarah Schmid
Appointed by Dean: Hayden Antal
Appointed by Dean: Mike Schaffer
Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council
Member Composition: Student presidents (or designees) from CCI Undergraduate Student Organizations
Com Studies Club: Rep (their president) will be chosen in August
Ad Club: Abby Cheslock
PRSSA: Drue Hamlet
SPJ: Kylia Berry
Diversity Student Leaders Society: TBD
SIS Club: Kyler Misenheimer
Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Council
MS C&I: Steve Susens (J&M)
MS C&I: Tessa Levy (ADPR)
MSIS: Laura Harmon (SIS)
MSIS: Britany Green (SIS)
PhD C&I: Sarah Devereux (CS)
PhD C&I: Rohit Gunti (SIS)
Ad Hoc Committees
CCI Global Programs Committee
CS: Laura Miller – Chair
ADPR: Moonhee Cho
J&M: Mark Harmon
IS: Xiaohua (Awa) Zhu
University-wide Service Responsibilities
Faculty serve on many committees throughout UTK as part of their service and/or administrative responsibilities. The following commitments require the college to elect representatives on a regular basis.
Faculty Senate
CCI has five senators. Senators serve three-year terms, plus one of the at-large faculty senators representing all UT lecturers.
Dania Bilal (1st Term, 3rd Year, 2025)
Joy Marie Doan (1st Term, 3rd Year, 2025)
Minjie Li
Amber Roessner (2nd Term, 2025, Faculty Senate Past President, Faculty Senate Leadership Team until 2024-25)
TBD (Alternate CCI Senator for 2024-25 who will attend if any CCI Senators are unable to attend Senate Meetings)
Graduate Council
Three-year terms; two representatives and two proxies
Sifan Xu (replaces Cho for final year of term for ADPR) (2025)
Erin Whiteside (J&M) (2026)
Proxy: Jenny Crowley (CS), Wade Bishop (SIS)
Ex-Officio: Courtney Childers
Undergraduate Council
Three-year terms. Dates shown are when the term expires
Mustafa Oz (2026)
Quinten Bernhold (2026)
Ex-Officio: Julie Longmire
Periodic Post-Tenure Performance Review Committee Members
1 tenured full-time faculty (full professor if faculty member being reviewed is a full professor) from each School, 1-year term
SIS: TBD (Candidate: Awa Zhu)
ADPR: TBD (Candidate: Michael Palenchar)
CS: TBD (Candidate: Joan Rentsch)
J&M: TBD (Candidate: Amber Roessner)
CCI Graduate Student Association (GSA)
(2023-2024 officers)
Aman Misra, President (PhD, JEM)
Janey Everett, Vice President (MS, CS)
Shelby Luttman, Vice President (PhD, ADPR)
Traci Lively, Vice President (PhD, CS)
Shreenandan (Nanda) Rajarathnam, Vice President (PhD, SIS)
UT Graduate Student Senate (GSS)
(2023-2024 representatives)
Mokhlisur (Numan) Rahman (C&I PhD, AD)
Laura Ward (C&I MS, PR)
Aman Misra (C&I PhD, JEM)
Namrita Varier (C&I PhD, SIS)
Shaina Scheetz (C&I MS, CS)
Alexis Lamb (MSIS)
Burke Codemo (MSIS)
Volunteer Experience Faculty Advisory Committee (Ad Hoc)
Emily Paskewitz (CMST)
Guy Harrison (J&M)
Minjie Li (ADPR)
Kai Li (SIS)
CCI Faculty and Staff Awards
Faculty Awards
Faculty Research Award
This award recognizes outstanding research by a tenured or tenure track faculty member in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Sifan Xu |
| 2022 | Quentin Bernhold, Devendra Potnis |
| 2021 | Vandana Singh |
| 2020 | Jenny Crowley |
| 2019 | Barb Kaye |
| 2018 | Moonhee Cho |
| 2017 | Beth Foster |
| 2016 | Wade Bishop |
| 2015 | Amber Roessner |
| 2014 | Jin Seong Park |
| 2013 | Courtney Wright |
| 2012 | Erin Whiteside |
| 2010 | Elizabeth J. Avery |
| 2009 | Mariea G. Hoy |
| 2008 | Michael J. Palenchar |
| 2006 – 2007 | Lisa T. Fall |
| 2006 – 2007 | Dania Bilal |
| 2005 – 2006 | Catherine A. Luther |
| 2004 – 2005 | Dwight L. Teeter, Jr. |
| 2003 – 2004 | Barbara K. Kaye |
| 2002 – 2003 | Michael Hoefges |
| 2002 – 2003 | Dania Bilal |
| 2001 – 2002 | Mark D. Harmon |
| 2000 – 2001 | Sally J. McMillan |
| 1999 – 2000 | Mark E. Littmann |
| 1999 – 2000 | Daniel J. Foley |
| 1998 – 1999 | Ronald E. Taylor |
| 1997 – 1998 | Charles E. Caudill |
| 1996 – 1997 | Mariea G. Hoy |
| 1995 – 1996 | Benjamin J. Bates |
| 1994 – 1995 | Ronald E. Taylor |
| 1993 – 1994 | Mariea G. Hoy |
| 1992 – 1993 | Dorothy A. Bowles |
| 1991 – 1992 | Dhyana Ziegler |
| 1990 – 1991 | Susan M. Caudill |
| 1989 – 1990 | Charles E. Caudill |
| 1988 – 1989 | Herbert H. Howard |
| 1987 – 1988 | Charles E. Caudill |
| 1986 – 1987 | Herbert H. Howard |
| 1985 – 1986 | Paul G. Ashdown |
| 1984 – 1985 | M. Mark Miller |
| 1983 – 1984 | Herbert H. Howard |
Faculty Teaching Award
This award recognizes outstanding classroom instruction by a tenured or tenure track faculty member in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2023 | Brian Dobreski |
| 2022 | Guy Harrison |
| 2021 | Derrick Holland |
| 2020 | Devendra Potnis |
| 2019 | Awa Zhu |
| 2018 | Nick Geidner |
| 2017 | Rachel Fleming-May |
| 2016 | Carolyn Hank |
| 2015 | Robyn Blakeman |
| 2014 | Abbey Levenshus |
| 2013 | Laura Miller |
| 2012 | Rachel Fleming-May |
| 2011 | Elizabeth M. Hendrickson |
| 2010 | Courtney C. Childers |
| 2009 | Mark E. Littmann |
| 2008 | Kenneth J. Levine |
| 2006 – 2007 | Carolyn R. Lepre |
| 2006 – 2007 | Daniel M. Haygood |
| 2005 – 2006 | William C. Robinson |
| 2005 – 2006 | John W. Haas |
| 2004 – 2005 | Suzanne L. Allard |
| 2003 – 2004 | Lisa T. Fall |
| 2002 – 2003 | Margaret A. Morrison |
| 2001 – 2002 | Candace L. White |
| 2000 – 2001 | Bonnie P. Riechert |
| 1999 – 2000 | Mark D. Harmon |
| 1998 – 1999 | J. Eric Haley |
| 1998 – 1999 | Margaret A. Morrison |
| 1997 – 1998 | Candace L. White |
| 1996 – 1997 | Mariea G. Hoy |
| 1995 – 1996 | Margaret A. Morrison |
| 1994 – 1995 | Bonnie L. Hufford |
| 1993 – 1994 | Jerry L. Morrow |
| 1992 – 1993 | J. Eric Haley |
| 1991 – 1992 | Paul G. Ashdown |
| 1990 – 1991 | Robert B. Heller |
| 1989 – 1990 | Michael J. Stankey |
| 1988 – 1989 | Herbert H. Howard |
| 1987 – 1988 | Dhyana Ziegler |
| 1987 – 1988 | George C. Johnson |
| 1986 – 1987 | Bonnie L. Hufford |
| 1985 – 1986 | DeForrest Jackson |
| 1984 – 1985 | Jerry L. Morrow |
| 1984 – 1985 | Ronald E. Taylor |
| 1983 – 1984 | DeForrest Jackson |
| 1982 – 1983 | Paul G. Ashdown |
Faculty Service/Outreach Award
This award recognizes outstanding service/outreach by a tenured or tenure track faculty member in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2022 | Amber Roesnner |
| 2021 | Eric Haley |
| 2020 | Emily Paskewitz |
| 2019 | Vandana Singh |
| 2018 | Courtney Childers |
| 2017 | Candace White |
| 2016 | Lisa T. Fall |
| 2015 | Rob Heller |
| 2014 | Michael J. Palenchar |
| 2013 | Bharat Mehra |
| 2011 | Michael J. Palenchar |
| 2010 | Mark D. Harmon |
| 2009 | Michael J. Palenchar |
| 2008 | Lisa T. Fall |
| 2007 | Bharat Mehra |
| 2007 | J. Eric Haley |
| 2006 | Naeemah Clark |
| 2005 | Candace L. White |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award
This award recognizes outstanding classroom instruction by a non-tenure track faculty member in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2022 | Carolyn Hank |
| 2021 | Melanie Faizer |
| 2019 | Sharon Toedte |
| 2018 | Megan Fields |
| 2017 | Stephen Bales |
| 2016 | Lisa Gary |
| 2015 | Pete Finch |
| 2014 | Melanie Faizer |
| 2013 | Suzy Prentiss |
| 2010 | Michelle E. Garland |
| 2010 | Sharon L. Toedte |
| 2009 | Lisa B. Gary |
| 2008 | Thomasena F. Shaw |
| 2007 | Andrew C. Tollison |
| 2004 – 2005 | Laura Arnett Smith |
| 2004 – 2005 | Thomasena F. Shaw |
| 2004 – 2005 | Lisa B. Gary |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty Service/Outreach Award
This award recognizes outstanding service/outreach by a non-tenure track faculty member in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2022 | Joe Stabb |
| 2020 | Cindy Welch |
Part-Time Lecturer Teaching Award
This award recognizes outstanding classroom instruction by a part-time lecturer in the college.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2023 | Becky Huckaby |
| 2021 | Phil Kaplan |
| 2020 | Scot Smith |
C.W. (Bud) Minkel International/Intercultural Award
This award recognizes superlative international/intercultural research, teaching and/or service by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2022 | Moonche Cho |
| 2019 | Devendra Potnis |
| 2018 | Laura Miller |
| 2017 | Mark Harmon |
| 2016 | Candace White |
| 2015 | Sam Swan |
| 2013 | Kenneth Levine |
| 2009 | Edwin M. Cortez |
| 2008 | Catherine A. Luther |
| 2007 | Robert B. Heller |
| 2001 – 2002 | C.W. (Bud) Minkel |
Extraordinary Service Award
This award recognizes superlative international/intercultural research, teaching and/or service by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2022 | Moonche Cho |
| 2019 | Devendra Potnis |
| 2018 | Laura Miller |
| 2017 | Mark Harmon |
| 2016 | Candace White |
| 2015 | Sam Swan |
| 2013 | Kenneth Levine |
| 2009 | Edwin M. Cortez |
| 2008 | Catherine A. Luther |
| 2007 | Robert B. Heller |
| 2001 – 2002 | C.W. (Bud) Minkel |
Staff Awards
Volunteer Spirit Award
This award recognizes a full-time CCI staff member for outstanding customer service, positive attitude, strong work ethic, and/or work efficiency/productivity to CCI.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2023 | Kendra Norman |
| 2022 | Sandy Cabbage |
| 2021 | Clint Elmore |
| 2020 | Pamela Durban |
Big Orange Award
This award recognizes a full-time CCI staff member for outstanding administrative, advising, technical, outreach, and/or research service to CCI.
| Year | Recipient |
| 2023 | Dionne George, Yana Truman |
| 2022 | Dan Greene |
| 2021 | Margaret Taylor |
| 2020 | Tanya Arnold |