Circle Park News
Circle Park News: April 2021
SIS Grad Program Takes No. 1 Spot in the SEC, 10th Nationally
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Information Sciences was ranked as the 10th best library and information sciences program in the latest US News and World Report graduate school rankings report. Additionally, the SIS school library media program was recognized as 13th and the digital librarianship program as 14th in the rankings.
Scripps Lab Theater Named for Ed Ingle
The College of Communication and Information named the theater in the Scripps Convergence Lab for longtime Board of Visitors member and former chair Ed Ingle (BS/Communications ’83) during … Read more “Circle Park News: April 2021”
Circle Park News: March 2021
13th Annual 2021 CCI Experience Diversity Banquet
The College of Communication and Information will host the 13th annual CCI Experience Diversity Banquet virtually April 9 at 7 p.m. Civil Rights Pioneer Theotis Robinson Jr. will serve as the keynote speaker, and two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion will be presented with the 2021 CCI Diversity Award: Yassin Terou, owner of Yassin’s Falafel House in Knoxville, and Tyvi Small, UT Knoxville Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement.
Letter from the Dean
Dear CCI Community,
As a follow up to the UTK Office of Diversity and Engagement’s/UTK … Read more “Circle Park News: March 2021”
Circle Park News: February 2021
Join Us for UT Social Media Week
The 10th UT Social Media Week will be held virtually today through Thursday. Sessions are sponsored by the four schools in CCI. This year’s event covers a range of topics from women in sports journalism to the use of the social media platforms by both social justice and extremism movements to the music and entertainment industry’s response to the pandemic.
Adam Brown (AD, ’94), executive strategist at Salesforce, will serve as the keynote speaker about the future of marketing, and Ed Patterson (PR ’89), managing director, global head of public relations for State … Read more “Circle Park News: February 2021”
Circle Park News: January 2021
Honoring a Legacy: Remembering William ‘Dr. Bill’ Robinson
Longtime School of Information Sciences Professor William “Dr. Bill” Robinson passed away Jan. 9, 2021. He will be remembered by the hundreds of students he taught over his three decades at UT, and SIS has created an endowment in his honor. Read the full story.
New CCI Faculty/Staff
CCI welcomes two faculty and two staff members to the college. In addition, a current faculty member is adding a new role. Read about the new members of CCI.
JEM Sports-Focused Alumni Share Academic, Career Journeys
Young journalism and electronic media alumni share how … Read more “Circle Park News: January 2021”
Circle Park News: November/December 2020
Statom Named 2020 CCI Hileman Award Winner
Award-winning meteorologist Lelan Statom (JEM ’86) was the recipient of the UT College of Communication and Information’s 2020 Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest alumni honor given by the college.
2020 CCI School/Program Alumni of the Year
Brad Jacobus (AD ’06), Curt Maggitt (CS ’14), David Johnson (MSIS ’93), Teresa Walker (JEM ’87), and Jamie Lonie (PR ’10) were honored as the 2020 CCI school/program alumni of the year.
2020 CCI Faculty & Staff Awards
Five faculty and two staff members earned 2020 College of Communication and Information annual awards. This … Read more “Circle Park News: November/December 2020”
Circle Park News: October 2020









Dean Mike Wirth to Return to Teaching
Mike Wirth, dean of the College of Communication and Information for the past 14 years, has announced his decision to step down and return to teaching at the end of the current academic year. Wirth is an internationally known expert in the field of cable telecommunication and broadcast economics, and his career includes many accomplishments and accolades. He is a current member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication.
A Second Mother:’ Remembering Bonnie Hufford
When students and colleagues remember Bonnie Hufford, they forgo the usual … Read more “Circle Park News: October 2020”
Circle Park News: September 2020
2020 CCI Diversity & Inclusion Week
Join us virtually today through Friday, Oct. 2, for the 11th annual CCI Diversity & Inclusion Week. With this year’s theme of “Communicating Why Black Lives Matter,” we will explore the history of the movement, how journalists are covering racism and protests, digital activism, algorithms and bias, community based policing and more.
Comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. will host a keynote event today at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Wood studied journalism in college before eventually joining the award-winning satire news program and often incorporates topics of race and social issues into … Read more “Circle Park News: September 2020”
Circle Park News: August 2020









Welcome Back!
The College of Communication and Information faculty and staff are excited to begin a new school year! Learn more about the University of Tennessee’s new safety practices and classroom policies during COVID-19. Read More
Foster Named New ADPR Director
Professor Elizabeth Avery Foster became the new Director of the School of Advertising and Public Relations on August 1. Read more about Dr. Foster.
Kelly Appointed UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Diane Kelly, who served as Professor and Director of the School of Information Sciences since 2016, has been named UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, and Professor … Read more “Circle Park News: August 2020”
Circle Park News: June 2020
A Message from the Dean
Dear CCI Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends,
I’m writing to add my voice to those expressing anger and concern at the most recent murder of an unarmed black man – George Floyd – in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Unfortunately, Mr. Floyd’s murder is simply the latest injustice that has resulted in black men and women being much more likely to be killed by the police than are white men and women (2.5 times and 1.4 times more likely, respectively).
There is no easy answer as to why this continues to happen, but one thing … Read more “Circle Park News: June 2020”
Circle Park News: May 2020
Haley, White Named DeForrest Jackson Professors
Professors Eric Haley and Candace White are the next recipients of the School of Advertising and Public Relations’ DeForrest Jackson Professorship. Read More
Rentsch Teaches Stress Reduction to Hospital Students, Employees
Communication Studies Professor Joan Rentsch and David Patterson of the College of Social Work are leading weekly sessions in mindfulness-based stress reduction with medical residents and employees at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Read More
UT Today Moves Weekly Show Online
When spring semester classes moved online after spring break, School of Journalism and Electronic Media lecturer Melissa Greene-Blye was not sure … Read more “Circle Park News: May 2020”