The UT Public Speaker Center has now opened a location in John C. Hodges Library. This location is in addition to the Public Speaking Center at the College of Communication and Information-room 260. The Public Speaking Center serves as a source of supplemental instruction in research, composition, delivery, self-recording, and self-evaluation for visitors from all disciplines on the University of Tennessee campus.

The library location offers a space to simulate a classroom presentation experience. Individuals can record their speech using a gorilla tripod and work with an instructor to reflect on how to improve. The location also offers a privacy

When Myiah McCullough (’18) took her initial tour at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, she felt an instant connection. She had stopped in Knoxville after visiting her initial top school pick and experiencing a tour that pushed her to reevaluate the choice. Since she had family and family friends—including Peerless Price and Andy McCullough—who were Volunteers, it made sense to check out UT on her way back home to Ohio. She’s so glad she made that choice.

Gabriele Harris (’07) went from being a college freshman who had no clue what she wanted to do with her life to becoming a driven, goal-oriented successful marketing and sales professional.

“You have to be willing to work hard—everyone says work smart, not hard. I say, no, you have to work hard, too. Otherwise you’re wasting a lot of time,” she said.

Anna Catherine Davenport (’04) learned a lot during her time as an advertising major at the College of Communication and Information, and she’s taken that with her all the way to where she is now, as executive assistant to the commissioner at the State of Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. One of her major takeaways from both her college and career is that communications knowledge is applicable in every arena.

At her heart, Songhee Kim is an artist, and she’s found ways to incorporate that into her career path over the years. She earned an undergraduate degree in 3D animation and visual effects from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and went on to work for projects such as Disney Junior’s “Sophia the First” and CBN’s “Superbook.” Now she is the College of Communication and Information’s User eXperience Lab manager and graphic designer, as well as a graduate student at the School of Information Sciences.

Dr. Jon Hess has been named the next director of the School of Communication Studies at the College of Communication and Information, effective July 1, 2022. Hess currently serves as associate dean for faculty scholarship, internationalization, and inclusive excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences and professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Dayton.

“My goal here was to provide opportunities for students to have professional experiences so they could gain the confidence to pursue their dreams,” said Professor Sam Swan, as he explained why Dean Don Hileman hired him 37 years ago to build the Department of Broadcasting at what was then the College of Communications at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Homecoming Game weekend took on a personal note for alumnus Ryan McGee (’93), who returned to a place that was like home to him during his time as a student at the College of Communication and Information: WUTK studios.

“It’s awesome, the great thing about being back at the radio station is that I know it’s updated, but it looks exactly the same—maybe the stickers have changed, so as an old dude, it makes me feel good, I know where I’m going,” McGee said with a chuckle.