School of Information Sciences

  • Online BSCI student fulfills ‘dream’ of becoming a Vol, gets hands-on with CCI

    Online BSCI student fulfills ‘dream’ of becoming a Vol, gets hands-on with CCI

    Becoming a Volunteer has always been a goal for Halei Lamb. “The University of Tennessee has always been the dream,” Lamb, 33, said. “I just never thought it would be possible at this stage of life.” When she enrolled in the new online Bachelor of Science in Communication and Information (BSCI) program at the College…

  • Curiosity Leads the Way: Samantha Ho Reflects on Her Journey in Information Sciences

    Curiosity Leads the Way: Samantha Ho Reflects on Her Journey in Information Sciences

    For Samantha Ho, the path to graduation wasn’t always clear, but curiosity helped guide her to where she was meant to be. A Knoxville native, Ho chose to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for a simple reason: it felt like home. “I was born and raised in Knoxville and honestly chose UT because it’s…

  • From Memphis to the Smithsonian: Paul Springer Jr. Bridges Public History and Information Sciences

    From Memphis to the Smithsonian: Paul Springer Jr. Bridges Public History and Information Sciences

    For Paul Springer Jr., the path to a career in libraries and public history has been anything but linear, but every step has reinforced his commitment to preserving and expanding access to knowledge. Springer, who is graduating with his Master of Science in Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is also serving as…

  • Thura Mack Celebrates 45 Years of Impact at UT

    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…

  • CCI Announces 2026 Graduate Student Awards Winners 

    CCI Announces 2026 Graduate Student Awards Winners 

    The College of Communication and Information (CCI) is celebrating the three 2026 recipients of its annual CCI Graduate Student Awards, which recognize students for their excellence in research and teaching.  This year’s CCI Graduate Student Awards recipients are:  Wangi Zhang  Wangi Zhang is earning her Master of Science in Information Sciences (MSIS) and is also one of the researchers in the School of Information Sciences (SIS) iLab studying human-robot interaction. She…

  • CCI Celebrates Three Gifts Established to Make a Lasting Impact on Students

    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…

  • Wilson Academy Cohort Takes Volunteer Spirit to Japan During Inaugural Global Trip

    Wilson Academy Cohort Takes Volunteer Spirit to Japan During Inaugural Global Trip

    One of Alex Carpenter’s favorite memories from visiting Japan this winter was searching for one last bite of Kobe beef on the final day of the trip. Just when the journalism and media major and his friends were at their wits’ end, they found an affordable, all-you-can-eat buffet where they indulged in the Japanese delicacy…

  • A Student-Led Project with Real Impact: The Future of Human-Robot Interaction

    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…

  • CCI Expands Study Abroad Trips to Morocco, Experience Focuses on AI, Information Sciences

    CCI Expands Study Abroad Trips to Morocco, Experience Focuses on AI, Information Sciences

    Nyja Casey was pleasantly surprised when she learned that the College of Communication and Information (CCI) offers a study abroad program focused on artificial intelligence (AI).  The applied artificial intelligence major’s first study abroad experience was this past winter as part of the inaugural cohort for the UTK CCI in Morocco program.  Casey said the experience combined…

  • SIS Makes Its Debut on a Longstanding CCI Networking Trip

    SIS Makes Its Debut on a Longstanding CCI Networking Trip

    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…