All posts by Hillary Tune
Weekly Meditation at CCI Open to Anyone on Campus
Megan Fields demonstrates how some meditate in the Message Effects room, where a group meets weekly for mindfulness and meditation.
Every Wednesday on the second floor of the Communication and Information building, the lights are dimmed and the voices of a handful of students, staff, and faculty go quiet for 25 minutes. The noises outside of the small, cozy room where they meet continue on, but that’s all part of the point, said Megan Fields, distinguished lecturer for the School of Communication Studies.
“We keep it simple, we don’t want it to be intimidating or scary. It’s not about clearing … Read more “Weekly Meditation at CCI Open to Anyone on Campus”
ADPR Student Trip Expands Knowledge of Career Possibilities
Students and faculty from the Tombras School of Advertising visited Memphis for a professional networking trip.
As the field of communications continues to evolve, so do the career options for those entering it. There is such a variety of job options and opportunities that course learning alone won’t expose students to all of it, said Assistant Professor of Practice Joe Stabb of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. That’s why the school and the College of Communication and Information’s Office of Career Development regularly organize trips and events for students to explore all the possibilities that await them … Read more “ADPR Student Trip Expands Knowledge of Career Possibilities”
CCI Faculty, Students Participate at National Communication Association Convention
Several College of Communication and Information faculty and graduate students are participating in the National Communication Association’s 108th Annual Convention this week by presenting papers, sitting on panels, and much more. Besides opportunities to expand professional development and learning, the convention also provides a chance for attendees to connect with other academics in the communication fields as well as with CCI alumni, said School of Communication Studies Associate Professor Michelle Violanti.
Violanti has a whole roster of events in which she will be participating and presenting, including a special presentation centering on one of her passions: accessibility. This presentation, … Read more “CCI Faculty, Students Participate at National Communication Association Convention”
Endowed Professorship, Terrace Established in Honor of Patty Williams
Patty Williams on the third floor terrace at the Communication and Information Building, which has now been named after her.
Patty Williams always enjoyed sitting and reading out on the third-floor patio of the Communications Building when her husband, John Williams (‘71) would attend College of Communication and Information Board of Visitors meetings. Both of them knew their lives wouldn’t have been the same if it hadn’t been for their time at the college—John as a broadcast journalism major and Patty getting her certification from the School of Information Sciences to be a school librarian. CCI continued to play a … Read more “Endowed Professorship, Terrace Established in Honor of Patty Williams”
Comm Studies Alum Gives Back to the College That Felt Like Home
As a freshman, School of Communication Studies alumnus Drew Griggs (’12) was ready to follow through with his plan to eventually become a pastor. He figured the combination of communication studies classes plus religious studies would be the right precursor to a master’s in divinity, but the divine guided him in a different direction—and he couldn’t feel more grateful or blessed to have followed that direction.
“I loved UT, but really didn’t love school. Then I got into a couple of comm studies classes and fell in love, honestly, with a person: John Haas,” Griggs explained. “Just his teaching style, … Read more “Comm Studies Alum Gives Back to the College That Felt Like Home”
JEM Alum Travels the World for Almost 30 Years as CNN Photojournalist
Jerry Simonson, JEM alum, on a recent trip to cover the war in Ukraine.
If you want to hear riveting tales of what it’s like to be a photojournalist covering breaking global news, Jerry Simonson (’91) has almost 30 years’ worth. Whether it’s about the time he grabbed exclusive footage of hostages during the Iraq war or the challenges of uploading video during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Simonson can recount highlights from his career as if they happened yesterday. He is still a senior photojournalist for CNN, so some of his stories are quite literally from yesterday.
“The … Read more “JEM Alum Travels the World for Almost 30 Years as CNN Photojournalist”
Daria Podzolkova Moved from Ukraine to Tennessee to Become a Vol
It took more than 24 hours for Daria Podzolkova to travel from her hometown of Dnipro, Ukraine, to a Polish town at the border of the two countries. She had to use trains and other transport since the airspace over Ukraine has been closed to civilian travel ever since Russia launched a full-scale invasion into the country in February 2022. At one point, her train stopped for four hours as the passenger train preceding hers was bombed.
While it was a long and harrowing trip across the country to get the visa that would allow the College of Communication and … Read more “Daria Podzolkova Moved from Ukraine to Tennessee to Become a Vol”
JEM Alum Janna Abraham on Coming Home to Tennessee
Janna Abraham in her booth at Southern Market in Knoxville.
Home is so many things: the place where family and friends are, the comforting landmarks from childhood, and the origins of where one grows, and thrives. For Janna Abraham (’01), Tennessee is home, and she’s come back to it at just the right time.
“This is where I’m from, this is who I am. I’m deeply rooted in Tennessee and I’m very proud of that. I’m proud of my parents and where I came from, the community that raised me, my grandparents, the ones I know and didn’t know, generations … Read more “JEM Alum Janna Abraham on Coming Home to Tennessee”
WUTK Gifted First Endowment by Alum Doug Alder (‘92) and Eric Middleton
Alum Doug Alder, right, and his partner, Eric Middleton, check out WUTK’s studios on a visit to the station.
After celebrating its 40th anniversary all year long, WUTK 90.3 “The Rock” has something else to celebrate: its very first endowment. This new source of funding for the radio station was established by School of Journalism and Electronic Media alumnus Doug Alder (’92) and his partner, Eric Middleton, who are thrilled to be a part of the station’s evolution and growth.
“I got chills walking in here for the first time since graduation,” Alder said during a recent visit to … Read more “WUTK Gifted First Endowment by Alum Doug Alder (‘92) and Eric Middleton”
ADPR Students Can Earn a Graduate Degree in One Year with 4+1 Concentration
For many students, adding several more years of education to earn a graduate degree can be overwhelming, both in terms of time and cost. But, earning a graduate degree can increase their value in the workforce and result in better job prospects. Faculty at the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations considered these factors and provided a solution: the 4+1 master’s program.
“The original goal of the 4+1 was to give students a chance to learn about the ‘other major’ in our school. Advertising majors will learn about the ideas driving public relations strategy. Public relations majors will learn … Read more “ADPR Students Can Earn a Graduate Degree in One Year with 4+1 Concentration”