A College on the Rise
CCI Annual Report
A review of the 2023-24 academic year
Your generosity is making a profound impact on our students and faculty, empowering us to enhance their experiences and success in meaningful ways. With your support, we can provide additional resources and innovative programs that foster student success, accelerate research and creative activity, build state-of-the-art facilities, and recruit top talent—all of which contribute to creating the number one communication and information student experience in the nation.
Below, you will find examples of how your contributions are making a significant difference across the college.
Thank you for all you do to support CCI as a college on the rise.
Joseph Mazer
Dean
Fostering Student Success
CCI Launches The Media Center to Boost Real-World Experience for Students
The College of Communication and Information officially launched The Media Center this summer as an initiative to provide more high-quality, real-world experiences for students.
Remote internship broadens information sciences senior’s experience
Senior Rami Anguiano worked with Seattle-based nonprofit this past summer through CCI’s Vols Remote Internship program.
CCI PhD Candidate Uses Platform To Introduce Students To Adaptive Sports
PhD student Aman Misra recently accompanied undergraduate students to cover the 2024 Paralympic Games, helping them learn how to cover adaptive sports and athletes.
Accelerating Research and Creative Activity
CCI Professor Awarded Office Of Naval Research Grants
The Department of Defense Office of Naval Research has awarded nearly $1.7 million across two grants to CCI faculty to research Russian disinformation campaigns and their influence.
CCI UX Lab Improved Usability for Nonprofit’s App for Seniors
A collaboration between several organizations and CCI’s User eXperience Lab resulted in a better user experience for seniors using an app monitoring air quality in their home.
Students Get Hands-on Experience Covering Adaptive Sports at the 2024 Paralympics
Through a partnership with USA TODAY, nine students from the School of Journalism and Media reported on the 2024 Paralympic Games for the outlet.
Building Top Facilities
Empowering Students with Cutting-Edge Technology to Shape Tomorrow’s Leaders
The iLab’s high-performance workstations, robots, digitization equipment, and virtual reality headsets, make it a space where teams of students, faculty, and collaborators can delve into complex issues.
New Space Supports Tennessee Speech and Debate Society to Succeed
The Tenenssee Speech and Debate Society used to be student-run before coming under CCI and gaining a new faculty director, financial support, and a new physical space for them to meet in and conduct practices.
Renovated TV Studio Enhances Students’ Experiential Learning Experiences at CCI
UT has invested around $750,000 to make upgrades at the TV studio that is shared with students so they can gain hands-on learning—including new studio cameras, monitors, switchboards, studio desk, and much more.
Recruiting Top Talent
The Tombras School Helping Emerald Youth Students Expand their Communications Skills
Summer workshops from the Tombras School provide hands-on experience in social media management, introducing students to career opportunities in public relations and advertising.
Jazmine Kelley: Building Community to Elevate Access and Engagement
Jazmine Kelley came to CCI this summer as the inagural director of CCI’s new Office of Access and Engagement. As she starts to lay the foundation for this new office, she is creating both long- and short-term plans and goals.
Industry Hires Bring Expertise to CCI Classrooms
CCI’s new industry hires are: Professor of Practice Gene Wojciechowski (‘79), Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (‘09), Professor of Practice Peyton Manning (‘97), and Professor of Practice Dustin Thomas.