News

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.…
SIS Alumnus Danny Hussey is Leading the Technological Renaissance at Sanibel Public Library

Off the coast of southwest Florida lies a vacationer’s paradise that doesn’t require a passport: Sanibel Island. This quaint island is roughly twelve miles long and is surrounded by pristine beaches. The local population is small yet dedicated, with a strong focus on conservation efforts and public services. One essential service on the island is…
Student-Produced Documentary Batmite Set to Premiere at Film Fest Knox

The Film Fest Knox poster for Batmite, a student-produced documentary about the Knoxville skating community. The film will premier at the Film Fest Knox Festival on Nov. 17, 2024 in the Regal Riviera movie theater. After moving to Knoxville, senior Emma Caskill was looking for a way to get plugged into the local skating community.…
MSIS Alumna Publishes Third Edition of Her Book, Winning Grants, with the American Library Association (ALA)

Stephanie Gerding (‘93,‘97) considers herself a person who is 100-percent committed to the success of librarians. She spent the past several decades ensuring librarians have the resources they need to create a thriving environment within their communities. Gerding spent half her time growing up in Tennessee and the other half in California. When it was…
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…
Empowering Students with Cutting-Edge Technology to Shape Tomorrow’s Leaders

With strategic initiative funds received from the College of Communication and Information, the School of Information Sciences (SIS) created a new facility and introduced new technology to the college in its iLab in 2024. The iLab is equipped with high-performance workstations, robots, digitization equipment, and virtual reality headsets, making it a space where teams of…
MSIS Student’s Work Showcased at ALA: First Step Towards Becoming a Published Graphic Novelist

Brandi Payne, a master’s student in the School of Information Sciences, had their work on display at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference this summer in San Diego. Payne is from Sevier County and is working at the Pigeon Forge Public Library while completing their MSIS. Payne loves comics and graphic novels. They received their…
Non-Traditional BSIS Student Finds Her Passion After Pursuing Second Degree

Catlin Rehders (’23) works as a financial intelligence analyst at Navy Federal. She completed her bachelor’s in information sciences in 2023 and now loves what she does for work, but that wasn’t always the case. Rehders describes herself as a non-traditional student as she did not find her true passion until seeking her second bachelor’s…
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,…