School of Advertising and Public Relations

ADPR’s Eric Haley Earns AAA Lifetime Research Award

After more than three decades of teaching and researching in his field, Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations Professor Eric Haley was surprised with the American Academy of Advertising’s (AAA) Ivan L. Preston Outstanding Contribution to Research Award at the organization’s recent conference. This is an award recognizing the recipient’s lifetime of research and…
Moore Family Creates Student Success Endowment for CCI

As someone whose job is to fundraise, Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations alumnus Lauren Moore (‘07, ‘09) understands how impactful a monetary gift can be for academic institutions. That’s why she and her husband, Elliott Moore, recently established the Moore Family Student Success Endowment to benefit undergraduate students at the College of Communication…
JEM and ADPR Students Bring Home ADDYs

Two groups of College and Communication Information students walked away with awards from The American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) last week in recognition of outstanding work they produced in their classes. The ADDYs are offered through the Knoxville chapter of the American Advertising Federation, which states that “The ADDY Awards represent the true spirit of creative…
Alum Lauren Moore Uses Communication Skills to Fundraise for Academic Healthcare Institutions

Applying to go to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville was what public relations alumna Lauren Moore (’07, ’09) calls a “no-brainer.” Though she grew up as a Navy brat, her final move landed her in a small West Tennessee town outside of Memphis, Bolivar, a move that ultimately led her to answer the call to…
ADPR Alumni Find Love in the Big City

When advertising majors Hayley Howell (’16) and Patrick Wells (’14) were both attending classes at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, their paths never really crossed until he was working at Tombras and she was interning there. Though they had some mutual friends and interests, the two moved away from Knoxville with their relationship standing somewhere…
Childers Steps Into JEM Interim Director Role

As the College of Communication and Information builds its new Information Integrity Institute, with now-former director of School of Journalism and Electronic Media (JEM) Professor Catherine Luther at its lead, Courtney Childers is stepping in as interim director of the school. “Dr. Childers brings significant research, teaching, and service experiences to the interim director role,…
Volunteer 40 Under 40 Translates ADPR Skills Into UX Design Career

Creativity and curiosity have been integral traits in Alexis Foster’s (’12) life and career, and definitely played a role in her becoming a senior product designer and content strategist for the Disney+ and Hulu. Her work in the field of user experience (UX) design, including her previous position as a lead content designer at Paypal…
Build-A-Bear President and CEO, Alumna Sharon Price John Pens ‘Stories & Heart’ Book

In her newly released book, College of Communication and Information alumna Sharon Price John (’86) weaves stories from her childhood, alongside insights from her career journey, as a way to encourage others to set and achieve personal goals. The Build-a-Bear, Inc. president and CEO didn’t want to write a tell-all or girl boss story, but…
Two CCI Alumni Establish Endowed CCI Scholarship for Appalachian Students

Hunter Quillen Gresham (’98) knows a kindred spirit right away, just by hearing how they pronounce Appalachia (she says it’s “app-uh-LATCH-uh”). As natives to the Appalachian region, both Gresham and her partner Steven White (’93) take pride in their heritage and their accents. It was one of the things they bonded over when they met—and…
Nine CCI Alumni Make the 2023 Volunteer 40 Under 40

Every year, the University of Tennessee’s Alumni Foundation honors 40 alumni under the age of 40 who have excelled in their professions and communities in exemplifying the Volunteer spirit. This year, the College of Communication and Information boasts nine alumni on the distinguished 40 under 40 Volunteer list for 2023. “We are incredibly proud to…