CCI History
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Journalism & Media Alumni Team Up to Create Bonnie Hufford Endowment
From left: School of Journalism and Media Professor Emerita Dorothy Bowles; Lisa Hood Skinner (’80), Mack Hufford (Bonnie’s brother), and Fatima Hyder (’94). Bonnie Hufford put her all into what she did, whether she was teaching students proper grammar and Associated Press style or fundraising for the American Cancer Society. Before she passed away after…
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Rocky Top Business Award Alumni Feature: Eric Jackson (’90), Owner of Element 47, LLC
Eric Jackson (’90) never imagined he would own his own business when he began pursuing an advertising degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Today, he is the owner of Elements 47, LLC and a recipient of the 2025 Rocky Top Business Award. As a first-generation college student who became a successful business owner, Jackson…
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Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy Dedicated
The Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy, which will kick-off its inaugural year this fall, was dedicated April 11, 2025, in Circle Park. Along with several notable University of Tennessee, Knoxville, administrators and faculty, the event was also attended by students from the inaugural cohort of the Wilson Academy and media outlets that…
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UT’s MSIS Program Ranks 13th Among Public Institutions Nationally in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Information Sciences master’s program has been ranked 13th in the nation among public universities by U.S. News and World Report. This is a significant achievement for the university, the College of Communication and Information (CCI), and the School of Information Sciences (SIS). These rankings highlight the growing strength…
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Tombras School Celebrates 30 Years of Networking Trips to New York City
For 30 years, the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations has provided students with invaluable networking trips to New York City. These experiences offer opportunities to connect with industry professionals and include tours of various agencies and departments. This year, 40 students—20 each from advertising and public relations—visited notable companies including Goodby, Silverstein and…
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Celebrating 50 years of the PRSSA Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. This milestone event honored the legacy of Sammie Lynn Puett, a beloved professor and influential figure in the field of public relations. The celebration brought together past and present members, reflecting on…
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Scholarship Established to Honor former Orange & White Editor, Alumna Linda Higgins’ Legacy
Update: Linda Higgins passed away Jan. 20, 2024. The family asks that those who want to honor Linda’s legacy contribute to the endowed scholarship created in her name. Linda (Jennings) Higgins (’64) has more than one “first” in a long list of lifetime achievements—such as being the first woman elected to a citywide position in Jackson,…
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In Memoriam: Professor and Director Ronald E. Taylor
Ronald E. Taylor, former professor and director of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations, passed away Sept. 11, 2023. Taylor came to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in January 1984 after earning his PhD in advertising from the University of Illinois. He was head the Department of Advertising and when the current Tombras…
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New Name, Same Mission: Introducing the School of Journalism & Media
School of Journalism and Media students participate in a Land Grant Film project at the Communication and Information Building’s Patricia D. Williams Terrace. In 1923, the first journalism classes at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were offered through the English Department. Since then, the curriculum has continually adapted to prepare students to excel in the…