Alumni News
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Non-Traditional BSIS Student Finds Her Passion After Pursuing Second Degree
Catlin Rehders (’23) works as a financial intelligence analyst at Navy Federal. She completed her bachelor’s in information sciences in 2023 and now loves what she does for work, but that wasn’t always the case. Rehders describes herself as a non-traditional student as she did not find her true passion until seeking her second bachelor’s…
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CCI Schools Win 2024 AEJMC Equity and Diversity Award
The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations and the School of Journalism and Media received the 2024 Equity and Diversity Award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) at its annual conference in Philadelphia. AEJMC is a prominent international organization for academics in the field, providing regional and national conferences…
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Lady Vol Basketball Player Jewel Spear Gains Leadership Skills in Rwanda
When Lady Vol basketball player and School of Journalism and Media alumna Jewel Spear (`24) first learned about the Tennessee-Rwanda Leadership Experience, she knew almost instantly she wanted to take advantage of this program. During a routine visit to meet with her academic advisor last year, Spear met with Senior Associate Athletics Director and Associate…
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CCI Alum Gives $4.5 Million to Establish the Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy
Alan Wilson (’80) used communication skills he learned at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, every day of his storied business career, which culminated as Chairman and CEO of McCormick and Company. “The most important part of my job as CEO was communicating. I spent most of my time doing that, but leadership really is about…
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Alumna Cecelia Prewett Sees Her Study Abroad Scholarship Impact by Joining Ireland Trip
When Cecelia Prewett (’93) was studying journalism at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she had one of the most impactful experiences of her life when she participated in a study abroad trip to the Netherlands. “It changed my life. So, when I was asked to join the Board of Visitors and they said, ‘You can…
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Tombras School Alumna Earns IRTS Fellowship in New York this Summer
Autumn Murphy (’24) is a recent graduate from the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations and completed a fellowship in New York with The International Radio and Television Society Foundation, Inc. (IRTS). She is currently interning at Streamlined Media and Communications as a research analyst and marketing intern. Murphy was born and raised in…
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School of Information Sciences Faculty and Incoming Student Present at the American Library Association Annual Conference in San Diego
Many School of Information Sciences faculty members, current students, and alumni traveled across the country from Tennessee to San Diego to attend the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition. ALA prioritizes learning and ensuring access to information for all by providing resources to library systems across the country and by advocating for…
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‘Chronicling History’: Alums, Students Document Tennessee Baseball First National Title
The Daily Beacon released a special issue to commemorate Tennessee baseball winning its first Men’s College World Series title in June. After the Tennessee Vols defeated Florida State University to advance to the championship game at the 2024 Men’s College World Series Finals, it started to sink in for The Daily Beacon sports editor Caleb…
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Alumna Nikki Burdine Uses Journalism Platform To Advocate For Others
“It was the scariest and best day of my life.” That’s how School of Journalism and Media alumna and co-anchor of WKRN’s Good Morning Nashville Nikki Burdine (’05) described the birth of her first child Andi. Burdine gave birth to Andi twenty-eight weeks into her pregnancy—far from full-term. She weighed just one pound, four ounces.…
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MSIS Alumna Shares How Advocating for Oneself Can Lead to Opportunities After Being Honored by YALSA
Ariel Birdoff (‘12) is an elementary school librarian who loves to read teen novels in her free time. Her father started his undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and was a huge fan of the campus environment. The New York native remembers hearing about her father’s experience on campus when she was growing up.…