Impact Stories
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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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Malik Allen’s Path from UT, Knoxville’s Tombras School to the Tombras Agency in the Big Apple
Malik Allen’s (‘21) dreams have come true since he started working at the Tombras Agency in New York City just this past year. Allen graduated from the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations with a degree in advertising in 2021 and credits his classes and internships for helping him get to where he is…
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Jon Dempersmier Recounts the Impact of WUOT on His Life
Jon Dempersmier knew about public radio long before moving to East Tennessee—there were a couple of syndicated shows such as Car Talk that had occasionally grabbed his attention—but it wasn’t until one day when he was driving his toddler son to daycare that he got hooked on WUOT 91.9 FM. “One morning I was just flipping through…
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Tombras School Well Represented at AAA where Assistant Professor Sitan (Stan) Li Wins Best Conference Paper Award
The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations had a strong presence at the 2025 American Academy of Advertising (AAA) conference, from faculty winning the Best Conference Paper Award to ensuring the event ran smoothly. AAA supports research that is important to the advertising field and creates opportunities for academic and professional members to share…
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Tombras School Student Wins American Advertising Award for Class Project
Lainie Pastoor didn’t expect her class project to win an American Advertising Award, but it did, thanks to the encouragement of her professor, Assistant Professor Minjie Li. Pastoor is a senior studying advertising at the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. Originally from just outside Chicago, Pastoor took a leap of faith when she…
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Javonya Valcourt: Academic Achiever, Athlete, and Information Sciences Student
From being one of the fastest runners in the Bahamas to competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Javonya Valcourt is an exceptional track and field athlete and a dedicated junior studying information sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Originally from the Bahamas, Valcourt’s journey took her to the United States, where she attended high…
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Rachel Fleming-May Associate Professor: Empowering Students and Alumni
Associate Professor Rachel Fleming-May’s passion for libraries didn’t originate from a family member or a past teacher; rather, it was inspired by a comic series she loved during her childhood. “If I’m being completely honest, I idolized Batgirl as a child. I watched Batgirl on the old Batman television series after school. Barbara Gordon, who…
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Matthew Pittman: Influencing Social Media Education at the Tombras School
Associate Professor Matthew Pittman is recognized worldwide for his innovative approach to social media influence due to his viral videos that have reached upwards of 400 million views. He captures his audience’s attention in unique ways, such as dancing in class with college deans and school directors at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Pittman also…
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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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Tombras School Student and Staff Member receive PRSA Volunteer Chapter Communicator of the Year Awards
The Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Volunteer Chapter recently celebrated three individuals who were honored as Communicators of the Year. PRSA is a leading professional organization that serves the communications community, with a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters. Assistant Professor of Practice Joseph Stabb, Ph.D., APR is the president of…