Student Experience Stories
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How CCI’s MSIS Program Helped Joseph Edgerton Launch a Fulfilling Career
After Joseph Edgerton graduates with his Master of Science in Information Sciences this May, he will begin his new role as a research data management librarian at the University of Virginia. His journey to this position was unexpected, but his experiences along the way helped him discover his true passions. “It feels really accepting and…
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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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MSIS Student Ginny Edwards is Changing Lives through Volunteering on Awards Committees
When Ginny Edwards started to volunteer on different award committees, she didn’t think her vote could change the course of an author’s life. Edwards is currently pursuing her master’s degree in information sciences while working full-time as a children’s and teen librarian at Irondale Public Library in Irondale, Alabama. Her love for libraries began when…
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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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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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School of Journalism and Media Students Produce Documentary on Vol Baseball Star Hunter Ensley
A new student-produced documentary titled Hunter premiered February 13 on the Tennessee Athletics YouTube page. The 45-minute documentary, produced as part of a School of Journalism and Media Video Sports Production and Performance class last fall, tells the inspiring story of Tennessee baseball outfielder Hunter Ensley and his journey from humble beginnings in Alaska and…
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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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Junior Sana Boghani is Blazing a Path to a Career in Public Health Communications
When junior Sana Boghani first came to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she immediately began investigating opportunities on and off campus that could benefit her long-term goals and interests. She declared her major in communication studies as an incoming freshman, but the academic and extracurricular endeavors she’s undertaken since becoming a Vol have helped develop …