Faculty News
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CCI Institute Fellows Research Transparency of Paid Political Messages Delivered by Influencers
As more Americans turn to social media for news and political information, campaigns are increasingly turning to influencers to reach highly engaged audiences. But when a social media influencer shares a political opinion online, how can audiences know if their message reflects genuine support or if it’s a paid ad? That question is at the center of…
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Former Communication Studies Director John Haas Retires After 37 Years at UT
Anyone who has worked with John Haas quickly learns that emails or texts from the recently retired School of Communication Studies associate professor and long-time school director almost always say the same thing: “Do you have time to talk?” His penchant for a face-to-face conversation is motivated by more than an affinity for his field…
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Shani Daily Brings Human-Centered Approach to Technology and STEM Education to UT
At the center of Professor Shani Daily’s research is a question extending beyond technology itself: How can institutions and technologies be designed to help more people thrive? Seeking answers to that question through scholarship resulted in Daily becoming one of the first of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s faculty preeminent hires—a university-wide initiative to continue building UT’s top-tier research through groundbreaking innovation and discovery. She…
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CCI Welcomes New Faculty and Promotions in Fall 2026
The College of Communication and Information kicked off the fall 2026 semester by welcoming eight new faculty members and celebrating four faculty promotions throughout its four schools: the School of Communication Studies, the School of Information Sciences, the School of Journalism and Media, and the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. Read on to…
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Tombras School Hosts Inaugural Showcase Highlighting Student Work, Faculty Research, and Industry Connections
The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations welcomed more than 100 students, alumni, faculty, and community partners to its first-ever Tombras School Showcase, an event designed to bring classroom learning to life and strengthen connections between the school and the industries it serves. The showcase featured student presentations, faculty research highlights, and an alumni…
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Thura Mack Celebrates 45 Years of Impact at UT
For Professor Thura Mack (’86), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is more than a workplace; it is the foundation of a 45-year journey defined by growth, service, and a deep commitment to students. An alumna of the School of Information Sciences, Mack’s path to UT began with a simple recommendation that would shape the course…
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CCI Celebrates Three Gifts Established to Make a Lasting Impact on Students
This spring, students, faculty, and staff at the College of Communication and Information (CCI) are celebrating three major gifts that will strengthen hands-on learning, support innovation and research, and make a lasting impact on students preparing to enter the world as leaders in their field. The named gifts, and those who made them, are: “These gifts create opportunities…
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A Student-Led Project with Real Impact: The Future of Human-Robot Interaction
As social robots and AI systems become more integrated into educational, professional, and daily environments, understanding those nuances will only grow more critical. In the School of Information Sciences, robotics research is not just about machines—it is about people. Three School of Information Sciences students have been working with Assistant Professor Jiangen He, examining how…
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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Chris Mooney Named Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence
Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Communication and Information is proud to announce Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and educator Chris Mooney as the School of Journalism and Media’s next Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Medical Writing. Mooney will assume…
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From Classroom Curiosity to Published Research: SIS Faculty and Alumni Explore How Museums Manage Their Collections in the Age of AI
From left to right: Sidney Gavel, Professor Wade Bishop, and Emily Chapin When Professor Wade Bishop from the School of Information Sciences began studying how museums organize and digitize their physical collections, he did not anticipate that a class assignment would evolve into a multi-year research project. This unexpected journey would involve three SIS master’s…