Faculty News

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…
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…
From SIS Alumnus to Cichlid Enthusiast

Scott Wells (’89, ’96, ’13) is a proud alumnus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he serves as the chief of staff for the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD from UT. Wells graduated with his master’s degree in information sciences in…
Bilal to Lead Generative AI in Education Project Funded by UT System Grand Challenge Grant

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow in popularity, educators face a dilemma: should we use it in the classroom? That’s what School of Information Sciences (SIS) Patricia D. Williams Professor, Dania Bilal, is setting out to learn, at least in part, with a new project funded by a UT System Grand Challenge Grant.…
CCI Professor Awarded Office of Naval Research Grants to Study Russian Disinformation Campaigns

The Department of Defense Office of Naval Research has awarded nearly $1.7 million across two grants to School of Journalism and Media Professor and Director of the Information Integrity Institute Catherine Luther to research Russian disinformation campaigns and their influence on Russian diasporas. Luther is the principal investigator for both grants with several College of…
SIS Assistant Professor using UX to help underrepresented communities in Africa and beyond

Assistant Professor Hope Chidziwisano had a very busy summer working on multiple research projects very close to his heart. He traveled across the world to his home country of Malawi to see if his research could improve the lives of those there. Chidziwisano grew up in Malawi and completed his undergraduate studies at the University…
CCI Welcomes 12 New Faculty in Fall 2024

Twelve faculty joined the College of Communication and Information this year, ready to add their expertise, scholarship, and instruction to their respective schools, the college, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Here’s a little bit more about them: School of Communication Studies Assistant Professor Elizabeth Carlson Carlson made the move to the University of Tennessee,…
SIS Assistant Professor Receives IMLS Grant to Help Continue Research on Inclusive Cataloging in Libraries

Assistant Professor Brian Dobreski at the School of Information Sciences began his research with the Inclusive Catalog Use Lab in 2022. Recently, he secured an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant to support his ongoing research. Dobreski, along with his research partners Karen Snow at Dominican University and Heather Moulaison-Sandy at…
School of Information Sciences Faculty and Incoming Student Present at the American Library Association Annual Conference in San Diego

Many School of Information Sciences faculty members, current students, and alumni traveled across the country from Tennessee to San Diego to attend the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition. ALA prioritizes learning and ensuring access to information for all by providing resources to library systems across the country and by advocating for…
SIS Professor working to detect research misconduct on a global scale

Professor Wade Bishop from the School of Information Sciences is committed to protecting and correcting the scholarly record with a focus on research data. Although the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from presenting his 2020 research at the World Conference on Research Integrity that year, he was able to attend and share his findings this June…