{"id":60366,"date":"2023-05-25T09:13:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T13:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jem.utk.edu\/beta\/?page_id=60366"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:12:51","slug":"featured-alumni","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/jem\/alumni-friends\/featured-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Featured Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Alumnus<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Alumni <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

excellence<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the School of Journalism and Media, we don\u2019t stop celebrating the excellence of our alumni once they graduate. We continue to applaud your ongoing successes and achievements!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write a Vol note<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Alumni Spotlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our graduates have been employed by some of the most prominent media outlets, from CNN to ESPN and the Discovery Channel, The Wall Street Journal to Sports Illustrated and The Tennessean. The legacy of the School of Journalism and Media continues as our alumni carry the torch of success around the globe. Here\u2019s just a few examples of what J&M alumni are doing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Alumna<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Director of Communications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lindsey McBee (’19), UT’s College of Architecture and Design<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To be able to get involved in The Library That Dolly Built<\/em> early on with Land Grant Films helped me develop skills as a producer that I have used throughout my career. The faculty in the School of Journalism and Media mentored me through the program and have continued to support me through a variety of communications positions at UT.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Rilwan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Reporter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rilwan Balogun (’15), KPRC TV Channel 2, Houston <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“JEM really helped jumpstart my career. Professors really invested in me and helped me apply for internships and fellowships that laid the groundwork to get me where I am now.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Alumnus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Senior Writer and Host<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ryan McGee (’93), ESPN<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My favorite professor, the great Dr. Sam Swan, always preached the mantra ‘Learning by doing’ and really pushed us to pursue internships and he also booked trips to places like New York and Los Angeles to meet with UT JEM alums working in the industry. By the time I graduated I had already held a couple of jobs and also had a list of contacts. I did. I learned. And I’m still learning by doing every single day. “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Principal (Event Production)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cindy Brewer (’91), <\/em>LEO Events<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The skills I learned while studying JEM at UTK are invaluable to me today.   Communication is key in our industry, and you must also approach every event as if you are telling a story. For corporate events, many clients like Walmart, Dominos, and Sherwin Williams come to LEO Events for their production, content, creative direction and video capabilities. Because of my JEM classes and years of experience with internships, practicums, and working at WUTK, I came out of UTK hirable and I\u2019m still thankful for that today. “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Alumni of the Year Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2022 – Miriam Kramer (’11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2021 \u2013 Marquita Smith (’95)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2020 \u2013 Teresa Walker (\u201987)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2019 \u2013 Sharrie Williams (’01)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2018 \u2013 Frank Gibson (\u201976)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2017 \u2013 Steve Dean (\u201974)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2016 \u2013 Knight Stivender (\u201999)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2015 \u2013 Tori Blase (\u201893)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2014 \u2013 Viola Gienger (\u201984)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2013 \u2013 Dean Littleton (\u201992)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sports<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alumni excellence At the School of Journalism and Media, we don\u2019t stop celebrating the excellence of our alumni once they graduate. We continue to applaud your ongoing successes and achievements! Write a Vol note Alumni Spotlights Our graduates have been employed by some of the most prominent media outlets, from CNN to ESPN and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":60354,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"no-title","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-60366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nFeatured Alumni - School of Journalism & Media<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/jem\/alumni-friends\/featured-alumni\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Featured Alumni - School of Journalism & Media\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alumni excellence At the School of Journalism and Media, we don\u2019t stop celebrating the excellence of our alumni once they graduate. 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