All posts by Deborah Crouse
ADPR Alum Matt Dirsa’s Legacy Lives on Through Scholarship and Award Established by His Family
Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations alumnus Matthew (Matt) Dirsa was a man of many interests—he loved outdoor activities such as rock climbing, golf, and snowboarding, but he and his friends also taught themselves how to knit stocking caps and he trained to be a sushi chef.
“He wasn’t afraid to try anything and when he passed, it was amazing the number of people who contacted me. I had no idea he knew that many people, he was a special man,” said Melinda Gathers, Dirsa’s mother.
Dirsa had worked in advertising positions in New York and China when he … Read more “ADPR Alum Matt Dirsa’s Legacy Lives on Through Scholarship and Award Established by His Family”
First-Gen JEM Student Lexie Martin Awarded White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship
Lexie Martin’s family likes to joke that she was predestined to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as her older brother was such a fan of Vol sports he would dress his little sister up in Tennessee orange all the time. Little did they know that baby would grow up to be not just a Journalism and Electronic Media student at UT, but also a 2022 White House Correspondents’ Association Carter Holland Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Getting this scholarship meant a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in a scholarship luncheon, as well as the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, … Read more “First-Gen JEM Student Lexie Martin Awarded White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship”
Celebrating 27 Years of John Haas’ Leadership at the School of Communication Studies
School of Communication Studies Director and Associate Professor John Haas had just earned tenure when he was asked to step into a leadership role. In 1995, it was as head of the Department of Speech Communication in the College of Liberal Arts—and a lot more than just names and locations have changed in that time. Now, Haas is stepping down from the director position after 27 years.
“When I think back 27 years, on the one hand I feel like I woke up this morning and I’m almost back in ‘95, it doesn’t feel like 27 years have passed; but … Read more “Celebrating 27 Years of John Haas’ Leadership at the School of Communication Studies”
In Memoriam: Dr. James Crook
Dr. James Crook, distinguished journalism educator and director emeritus of the School of Journalism & Electronic Media, passed away on April 30.
Dr. Crook graduated from Floyd High School in 1958 and earned his bachelor and master degrees at the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa in 1961 and 1963.
He earned a Ph.D. in mass communication and education at Iowa State University in 1973, focusing on educational public relations and media literacy. Dr. Crook accepted appointment as associate professor in the University of Tennessee School of Journalism in 1974 and was promoted to director of the school … Read more “In Memoriam: Dr. James Crook”
CCI Recognizes 2022 Retirees and Award Winners
Today CCI recognized seven retiring faculty members with a combined 138 years of service. These individuals have dedicated their careers to our university, college, schools, and countless students who have come through our doors.
Retirees
Dr. Candace White, DeForrest Jackson Professor in the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations Candace joined the faculty in August 1994. She has served ADPR, CCI, UT, and the field tirelessly as President of Faculty Senate, Member of the UT Board of Trustees, and many other top leadership roles. Candace was one of few public relations professors for many years, and has steadfastly … Read more “CCI Recognizes 2022 Retirees and Award Winners”
JEM Faculty Research Earns Two Prestigious Awards
Two School of Journalism and Electronic Media faculty members are receiving awards for their recent research projects, both of which are driven by aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Assistant Professor Guy Harrison’s work studying the impact of COVID-19 on black women working in television broadcast news earned him the Broadcast Education Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Research Award.
Assistant Professor Joy Jenkins’ case study on the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service garnered her the 2022 Gene Burd Award for Research in Urban Journalism Studies from the Association of Educators in Journalism & Mass Communication.
“The awards that Joy and Guy individually … Read more “JEM Faculty Research Earns Two Prestigious Awards”
CCI Alumna, President & CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop Sharon Price John to be Keynote Speaker at CCI Commencement
It should be no surprise that the president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop had written the outline of her speech for the College of Communication & Information’s 2022 spring commencement ceremony two months in advance of the event. After all, one doesn’t become the head of a multi-million dollar company by putting things off. Doing her research and preparing ahead of time for a challenge is indicative of how Sharon Price John (’86) operates in both business and life: she likes to have a good idea of different ways to handle a situation, but understands the inevitable unpredictability of life.… Read more “CCI Alumna, President & CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop Sharon Price John to be Keynote Speaker at CCI Commencement”
CCI Study Abroad Program in Valencia Expands Students’ Education, Skills, and Perspectives
One of the first things Journalism and Electronic Media major Nina Howard observed when she went out into Valencia, Spain, during her CCI Global Communications Scholars Semester was how laid back the culture there is.
“Just the way they interact with people in general is very different than in America. They’re very chill and slow-paced and they don’t stress out about being ‘on’ all the time; they take two-hour lunches and then a nap. They seem very much together in everything they do,” said the senior. “I have learned more in-depth about America’s culture by being there and getting a … Read more “CCI Study Abroad Program in Valencia Expands Students’ Education, Skills, and Perspectives”
Researchers in the Tombras School Win Big at Recent American Academy of Advertising Conference
Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations professor Eric Haley, along with colleagues Tyler Milfeld and Dan Flint from the UT Marketing Department, took home the Best Article 2021 Award for the Journal of Advertising, the field’s leading journal. Additionally, Eric Haley, along with colleagues from the University of Illinois, was awarded Best Article 2021 for Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising and Best Article 2021 for Journal of Interactive Advertising. Haley also received the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising’s Best Article Award in 2020.
Articles lead by Tombras School faculty members … Read more “Researchers in the Tombras School Win Big at Recent American Academy of Advertising Conference”