All posts by Deborah Crouse
Student Media joins the College of Communication and Information
The College of Communication and Information is pleased to announce that Student Media, which includes The Daily Beacon, has transitioned from the Division of Student Life to CCI.
Learn more about the transition by viewing the video below and reading the article here: tiny.utk.edu/S1Fwp.
Meet the Sanders, a Family of CCI Alumni
Siblings Ford (’20) and Cara Sanders (’16), aren’t just fourth generation Volunteers, but they’re second generation College of Communication and Information alumni who followed in the footsteps of their mother, Cindy Sanders (‘86). Drawn by a love of storytelling, Cindy earned her degree in public relations with a minor in journalism, and her children have also found their niche in the field, as well.
Cindy Sanders & Storytelling
Cindy started out at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as an architecture major. As much as she loved the idea of being an architect, she quickly realized her skillset wasn’t suited to … Read more “Meet the Sanders, a Family of CCI Alumni ”
JEM Faculty’s ‘On the Sidelines’ Recognized as Outstanding Book by NCA
When Journalism & Electronic Media Assistant Professor Guy Harrison was in his undergrad years, he wanted to be a sportscaster. As his knowledge and interests grew, he switched to studying the social aspects of sportscasting, specifically gender and race. Now, years of research that went into his book, “On the Sidelines” has been honored with the Outstanding Book Award from the National Communication Association’s Communication and Sports Division.
“The book is a feminist examination of women who work in electronic sports media–tv, radio, and podcasting. It explains how, even though there are more women working in the industry now … Read more “JEM Faculty’s ‘On the Sidelines’ Recognized as Outstanding Book by NCA”
CCI Offers Auditorium Seat Naming Opportunity
Over the past year, the College of Communication and Information has continued to create excellent academic and experiential learning opportunities for students. Here are just some of the accomplishments that highlight the continued upward trajectory of CCI:
- In late December 2021, CCI received a transformational gift from the Tombras Agency. In February 2022, the Board of Trustees recognized the magnitude of this gift by renaming CCI’s School of Advertising and Public Relations as the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations – creating the first named school on campus and the first named school of its kind among all land-grant
CCI Appoints First Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Vandana Singh has been appointed as the College of Communication and Information’s (CCI) first director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Singh will serve in this role for a limited duration appointment, beginning July 1. She will continue to serve as a faculty member in the School of Information Sciences.
This new position aligns with goal three of the University’s strategic vision, by developing and sustaining a nurturing culture where diversity and community are enduring sources of strength. As director, Singh will be responsible for the overall administration of the CCI Diversity Action Plan (DAP) and serve as a resource to … Read more “CCI Appoints First Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”
Geidner Wins Two National Tellys
School of Journalism and Electronic Media associate professor and director of Land Grant Films Nick Geidner won two national Telly Awards for social videos he produced during the pandemic.
“I’m really excited about these awards, because we were really limited in what we were able to safely produce during the work-at-home period of the pandemic,” Geidner said. “So to have some of that work — produced under such limitations — awarded is really an honor.”
Geidner won a Silver Telly in the social-news and informational category for an explainer video he created about the FDA’s emergency use authorization process. The … Read more “Geidner Wins Two National Tellys ”
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”