For more than 30 years, students across the College of Communication and Information (CCI) have traveled to New York City to meet industry professionals, visit major organizations, and explore career paths beyond the classroom. This year marked a milestone for the School of Information Sciences (SIS), as its students participated in the college-wide networking trip for the first time.
Over several days, students visited organizations across industries, connected with alumni, and gained firsthand insight into how information sciences skills translate into real-world careers.
Clinical Assistant Professor Scott Sikes said the experience helped students better understand the scope of their field.
“Our students were able to see in very applied ways how vast and interdisciplinary information sciences is,” Sikes said. “Whether it’s data analytics, user experience design, or information security, all of these paths are connected.”
Seeing the Field Come to Life
Junior Ciara McMahon, whose concentration is in user experience (UX) design, said she was eager to participate in the trip as soon as she learned SIS students could attend.
When McMahon began her studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the information sciences program still felt new. Hearing that SIS would be included in a networking trip long available to other CCI programs felt like a turning point.
She jumped at the opportunity, especially as a New York native.
Being in the city alongside classmates gave her a new perspective. Experiencing New York not as a visitor, but as a student exploring professional spaces, helped her see possibilities she hadn’t fully considered before. The trip offered behind-the-scenes access that made the industry feel tangible and within reach.
McMahon said visiting Match Group, which owns several dating apps and sites, was especially impactful. Seeing research, data, and design teams work together clarified how user experience roles function at scale and how different disciplines collaborate to shape products used by millions.
“That was the moment I could really see myself in that kind of role,” she said.
Conversations at the alumni reception further reinforced how interconnected CCI disciplines are. Speaking with an MSIS alum working at ABC News helped McMahon better understand why information sciences sits within CCI, and how skills from advertising, journalism, and design often overlap in practice.
For McMahon, the trip strengthened both her confidence and ambition. It also highlighted the value of being part of the inaugural SIS cohort on the trip. With a small group of students, conversations felt more personal and approachable.
“Now is the time to make mistakes and build those networking skills,” she said. “That’s something you don’t always realize you’re allowed to do as a student.”
Discovering Career Paths Through Experience
Junior Aiden Starcher said the trip exceeded his expectations, both professionally and socially.
Because many SIS courses are offered online, the opportunity to spend time with fellow students in person was especially meaningful. The trip helped him build connections within SIS and across CCI.
Starcher initially joined the trip for practical reasons: it was affordable and offered a chance to experience a major city for the first time. What he didn’t expect was how clearly it would shape his understanding of the field.
At financial institution JPMorgan, students met with a small user experience team and toured a UX lab that closely mirrored CCI’s labs. Seeing familiar tools and methods used in a professional setting helped validate what he is learning in class.
“It really opened my eyes to what industry professionals are looking for,” Starcher said.
He also valued meeting alumni, including UT alumnus Chris Hamblin (‘91) at IBM, whose openness and encouragement left a lasting impression.
“He had been in our shoes,” Starcher said. “You could tell he genuinely wanted to help.”
Originally a music education major, Starcher found his way to information sciences through statistics and an interest in data analytics. The trip confirmed that CCI and SIS were the right fit.
Preparing Students for What Comes Next
Sikes noted that many professionals the students met did not follow linear career paths, an actuality he believes is especially important for undergraduates to realize.
“Very few people we met had a direct or prescribed path into their careers,” he said. “Seeing that helps students understand that a wide range of experiences and interests are not only common, but valuable.”
Across organizations, professionals consistently emphasized the importance of transferable skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and curiosity, over narrow technical expertise.
Building Momentum for the Future
For students like McMahon and Starcher, the New York networking trip made career possibilities feel real, accessible, and exciting. As SIS continues to grow within CCI, experiences like this help students connect classroom learning to professional practice.
Both students expressed hope that future SIS cohorts will take advantage of similar opportunities.
“I really hope other students do this,” Starcher said. “It was an amazing experience.”
With the first SIS successful participation now complete, the School of Information Sciences faculty and staff look forward to expanding student access to experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for an evolving and interdisciplinary field.