Spring 2008 - College of Communication & Information - The ...

circleAlumni Magazineof the College ofCommunicationand Information Vol. 10, No. 1 SPRING 2008

Full CircleAlumni Magazine of the College ofCommunication and InformationVol. 10, No. 1 SPRING 2008Contentsnew & noteworthyMorrison’s study shows smokeless tobacco adsstill target youth 3$500,000 Scripps Howard Foundationgrant funds convergence lab 4Renovations improve Communications Buildingfor students, faculty 5Minor helps students acquiretechnology literacy skills 5Travel, tourism, and hospitality researchconference features industry experts 6Job and internship fair targets communicationand information students 6College says goodbye to three faculty members 7Students honor former classmate throughcommemorative walk, scholarship 7JEM students to document Super Bowl XLII 8bragging rightSCS students add power and reachto clean-energy group’s message 9Faculty boasts Fulbright scholars 10Association names facultymember as educator of the year 10Advertising and Public Relations facultyand students win multiple research awardsat annual conference 11CCI director receives career achievement awards 11Real-world experience helps studentsimplement classroom skills 12Classroom lessons help softball star on andoff the field 13alumni SPOTLIGHTJournalism and Electronic Media continuesanniversary celebration 14Alumna’s gift reflects a family tradition of giving 14Generosity and planning helpssecure the future of Advertisingand Public Relations program 15in developmentUniversity launches $1-billion fundraisingcampaign 16Board of Visitors welcomes new membersat fall meeting 19Rice named BOV chair 19A message from the deanOne of the great things about being dean of the College ofCommunication and Information is getting to share goodnews with the faculty, students, alumni, and friends. Inthis issue of Full Circle, I’m very happy to report that thecollege recently received a $500,000 grant from the ScrippsHoward Foundation to build an all-college convergencelab on the fourth floor of the Communications Building(see related story on page 4).Given all the changes going on as a result of technologicalinnovation and convergence and the great needto turn out graduates capable of dealing with the rapidlychanging communication and information landscapecreated by these changes, the E. W. Scripps ConvergenceLab will have a remarkable impact on our ability to preparestudents for the profession. Two types of convergence will take place in the lab: cross-platform digitalconvergence and cross-disciplinary convergence.• To achieve cross-platform digital convergence, the lab will be equipped with a wide variety of technologicaltools and software that students can use to produce, create, and market digital contentindividually and in small groups.• To achieve cross-disciplinary convergence, the lab will be designed aesthetically to foster creativeinteraction among students from all communication and information disciplines.The primary focus of this facility will be to provide studentswith access to hardware and software outside the traditionalclassroom to work on all types of projects. It will also provideCCI faculty members with the tools they need to develop a newand innovative curriculum that takes advantage of this tremendousnew asset.While we’re waiting for the space in which the lab will bebuilt to become available (sometime in August), we have beentalking with a number of communication and information professionalsand convergence experts to get their advice on how tobuild the best possible facility.We are very excited about the many doors this lab will open for our students. The Scripps HowardFoundation’s generous gift underscores the extraordinary impact that foundation and private gifts canhave on what we as a college are able to accomplish and aspire to. As our development campaign movesahead, I hope to have much more good news to share with you as we continue to build an even betterCollege of Communication and Information.Michael O. Wirth, deanThe E. W. ScrippsConvergence Lab willhave a remarkableimpact on our ability toprepare students forthe profession.In every issueResearch notes 20Class notes 22Where are you now? 242 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Full CircleVol. 10, No. 1 SPRING 2008A publication of the College of Communication andInformation of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville302 Communications BuildingKnoxville, Tennessee, 37996-0332Dean: Michael O. Wirth, Ph.D.Editor: April Moore ’01Art Director: Angie Dobbs,UT Knoxville Creative CommunicationsProduction editor: Mary Marshburn,UT Knoxville Creative CommunicationsContributors: Amy Blakely, Mary Marshburn,Joel SouthernDirector of development: Karen RohrSuggestions? Comments?E-mail: full-circle-editor@cci.utk.eduThe College of Communication andInformation offers both graduate andundergraduate degrees in areas designedto meet the needs of tomorrow’scommunication and informationprofessionals:Bachelor of Science inCommunication and InformationMajors: Advertising, Journalism andElectronic Media, Public RelationsBachelor of Arts inCommunication and InformationMajor: Communication StudiesMaster of Science inCommunication and InformationConcentrations: Advertising,Communication Studies, Journalism andElectronic Media, Public RelationsMaster of Science inInformation SciencesPhD in Communication andInformationConcentrations: Advertising,Communication Studies, InformationSciences, Journalism and Electronic Media,Public RelationsMorrison’s study shows smokelesstobacco ads still target youthDespite a 1998 settlement designed to limit the marketingof smokeless tobacco to youth, the message is still gettingout, according to a study led by one College of Communicationand Information advertising professor.Margaret Morrison, associate professor in the Schoolof Advertising and Public Relations, was lead author onthe study, “Under the Radar: Smokeless Tobacco Advertisingin Magazines with Substantial Youth Readership.”It was published in an early online issue of theAmerican Journal of Public Health and appeared in theMarch 2008 print version of the journal.In 1998 major cigarette producers signed the MasterSettlement Agreement with the attorneys general from 46 states. Among other things, the settlementcalled for the elimination of billboard advertising, cartoons in tobacco advertising, and marketingtoward youth. The same year, a similar agreement known as the Smokeless Tobacco MasterSettlement Agreement (STMSA) was signed by the attorneys general and U.S. Smokeless TobaccoCo., the largest smokeless tobacco manufacturer.“Despite the fact that we have guidelines in place for smokeless tobacco advertising designed toprotect minors from being overly exposed to these messages, they are still getting to a substantialnumber of youth,” Morrison said. “Our study is one of the first to look at this topic, and it provides abaseline for assessing youth exposure levels and monitoring the smokeless tobacco industry.”For their study, Morrison and coauthors Dean Krugman, a professor in the University of GeorgiaGrady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Pumsoon Park, a lecturer at HongikUniversity in South Korea, examined 10 years’ of readership data and smokeless tobacco advertisingin popular magazines. They paid particular attention to advertising in magazines with highreadership among youth aged 12 to 17.Their findings: The STSMA’s advertising ban has had little effect on smokeless tobacco advertisingaimed at youth.“Both before and after the agreement, smokeless tobacco companies advertised in magazines withhigh adolescent readership,” Morrison and her coauthors wrote.In 1993—5 years before the advertising restrictions went into effect—smokeless tobacco advertisingin magazines reached 66 percent of youth aged 12 to 17. In 2002—four years after the limitationsPaul Abraham (MBA ’96)Cathy G. Ackermann (’71)Thomas L. Adkinson (’72)J. David Bohan (Bus. Admin. ’70)Patrick H. Butler (honorary alumnus ’69)Bonnie C. CarrollPaula F. Casey (’75)Daniel E. Conaway (’71)Lewis F. Cosby III (Bus. Admin., ’72)George E. DeVault Jr. (’68)Gill C. Duff (’83)Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap (’82)Larry J. FrankNancy Gray (’84)Ronald E. Harr (’76)Richard L. Hollow Esq. (Law ’64)R. Edward Ingle (’83)Stephen Land (’76)Cindy McConkey (’80)Mark A. McNeely (’69)Dr. W. Lawrence Patrick (’73)Biddanda “Shuresh” Ponnappa (’84)Continued on page 12College of Communication and Information Board of Visitors 2007–08Dean P. Rice (’94)Howard Robertson Jr.Jim Sexton (’81)Marguerite S. Simmons (’76)Peggy SullivanMartha S. Wallen (’74)Eric Ward (’84)Charles E. West (’96)Mary Beth West (’94)Mary M. Wood (’92)Dhyana ZieglerThe University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, nationalorigin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. PAN E01-2901-002-08. A project of the College of Communication and Information, with design and editorial assistance from UT CreativeCommunications, 865-974-0765 Rev.: 85463

new & noteworthy$500,000 Scripps Howard Foundationgrant funds convergence labStudents will see big changes happening on the fourth floor of theCommunications Building over the next year-and-a-half thanks to agenerous gift from the Scripps Howard Foundation.The $500,000 grant, which was awarded to the college last fall, will fundconstruction of a new media laboratory for use by College of Communicationand Information students.The facility, which will be called the E.W. Scripps Convergence Communicationand Information Laboratory, will be designed to help studentsprepare to work in a communication and information industry thatis becoming increasingly more digital and interactive.“We are very grateful to the Scripps Howard Foundation for this transformationalgift. It will provide our students with a world-class teachingand learning facility that will allow us to push the envelope with respectto communication and information convergence education,” said DeanMike Wirth.Construction of the state-of-the-art lab, which will occupy nearly 4,000square feet of space in the Communications Building, is set to begin insummer 2008.“The internet and other emerging electronic platforms are revolutionizinghow people are consuming media,” said Judith G. Clabes, presidentand chief executive officer of the Scripps Howard Foundation. “Consequently,much of our focus at the Scripps Howard Foundation has beenon helping schools of communication across the country prepare theirstudents to work in our ever-evolving industry. We view our growingpartnership with the University of Tennessee as a wise investment in theeducation of future media and communications professionals.”The Scripps Howard Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the E.W.Scripps Company, which owns and operates Knoxville-based ScrippsNetworks and the Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper. Scripps Networkscomprises the company’s portfolio of national lifestyle television networks,including HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living TVNetwork, and Great American Country. The company intends to separateinto two publicly traded corporations by mid-year 2008—Scripps NetworksInteractive and the E.W. Scripps Company.“Today knowledge of new media is vital for those interested in a careerin the field of communications,” said John Lansing, president of ScrippsNetworks. “My hope is that this new lab will expand the students’ understandingand knowledge which, ultimately, will make them more attractivejob candidates.”Bruce Hartmann, president and publisher of the Knoxville News Sentinel,said, “The grant for the new media lab at UT demonstrates in a very tangibleway the Scripps Howard Foundation’s determination to help today’sjournalism and communications students get out in front of the changesand opportunities in our industry. Managers of local and national mediabusinesses will soon be looking to those same students for creative ideasand solutions.”Undergraduates in the college will work individually and in teams onprojects such as creating, producing, managing, and marketing digitalcontent. Work done in the lab will not only meet class requirements, butwill also appear in such platforms as print, broadcast, online, and variousforms of mobile media.Students’ work will be accessible to a variety of audiences, includingpotential employers.“In the not-so-distant past, the lines of different communication andinformation disciplines were very clear,” said Wirth. “Today, with theinternet bringing the disciplines together and creating new ways to communicate,students must be prepared to communicate effectively througha variety of channels and across a number of different platforms to be successfulin the field.”The grant for the media lab is the second commitment that the ScrippsHoward Foundation has made to UT’s College of Communication andInformation. Earlier the foundation had presented the university witha $50,000 gift to fund the Tennessee Journalist Web Journalism Project,which connects UT journalism and electronic media students with topweb journalism professionals.The Scripps Howard Foundation’s mission is to advance the cause ofa free press through support of excellence in journalism, quality journalismeducation, and professional development. The foundation helpsbuild healthy communities and improve the quality of life through supportof sound educational programs, strong families, vital social services,enrichment of the arts and culture, and inclusive civic affairs, with a specialcommitment to the communities in which Scripps does business.Scripps HowardFoundation4 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Renovations improve Communications Buildingfor students, facultynew & noteworthyAlthough construction of the Scripps Convergence Communication and Information Laboratory will not begin until summer 2008, faculty, students,and staff are used to seeing construction in the Communications Building.Thanks to renovations completed in fall 2007, students in the Collegeof Communication and Information have a new place to check e-mail,hold group meetings, and study between classes, all without leaving thebuilding.The new CCI Student Study Area is located in Room 226, near the college’sCenter for Undergraduate Studies and Advising. The space is openfor student use on weekdays during building hours.The room has four networked computers, wireless laptop access, a networkedprinter, and a phone for local calls. A conference table with sidechairs provides room for students to study or hold group meetings. Freshpaint, new lighting, and new carpet complete the new lounge.The study area fills a significant need for a student meeting space andstudy area within the Communications Building.Upstairs a total renovation of Suite 420 has created a new graduate seminarroom. The room features new carpet, paint, lighting, furniture, and anew video–data projector and projector screen.Other recent Communications Building upgrades include new whiteboardsin Rooms 251, 298, 309, 314, andA new study area provides students with meeting space and access to computers.321B.Minor helps students acquiretechnology literacy skillsA new undergraduate minor offered by the School of Information Sciences (SIS) is helping students from a variety of majors learn about the impactof information and information technology on society, individuals, and organizations.The information studies and technology minor, which was established in fall 2006, helps students acquire the information and technological literacyskills necessary to know how and where to find information, how to assess its value, how to use it strategically, and how to design informationcontainers and access systems in a variety of settings.“Our faculty sees this new minor as an exciting portal for undergraduate students to learn about information studies and technology,” said SISdirector Ed Cortez. “The convergence of communication technologies and information increases the need for everyone to be more informationliterate—whether you choose to be an information professional or not. Undergraduate students from all disciplines need to understand the basicintellectual and structural underpinnings of information if they hope to succeed in their careers.”Students in the minor learn about the impact of policies governing access and control of information resources and how these policies are set.Other aspects of information and information use in the new curriculum are the ethical use of information, intellectual property rights, plagiarism,privacy versus the right to know, and equity of information access.The curriculum complements majors in all fields, including liberal arts and sciences, engineering, applied life sciences, business administration,education, and human ecology. The minor also opens the door to such careers as information architecture, content management, systems analysis,technology coordination, and web development and administration.All students are welcome to take courses offered as part of the minor, which requires 18 hours of course work to complete.—Joel Southern5

new & noteworthyTravel, tourism, and hospitality researchconference features industry expertsExperts in travel, tourism, and hospitality from around thecountry helped tourism professionals learn more about theircustomers at a spring conference hosted by the School ofAdvertising and Public Relations in conjunction with the TennesseeDepartment of Tourist Development.The daylong seminar, “Hit Your Target: Travel, Tourism andHospitality Research You Can Do and Use,” drew more than100 people. The event was held February 8 in the UniversityCenter.“This conference was a wonderful opportunity for travel andtourism professionals to learn how and where to find their bestcustomers,” said Lisa Fall, conference coordinator and associateprofessor of public relations. “The speakers helped ourattendees learn how to ask the right questions of the peoplewho can most help their businesses.”Panel sessions covered such topics as identifying customers’travel patterns, recognizing trends in the convention industry,and positioning consumer trust.Duane Vinson, vice-president of Smith Travel Research andSusan Whitaker, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development,a leading authority on current trends in occupancy, roomdiscussed the state’s branding campaign as part of a panel session.rate, and supply and demand for the global lodging industry,delivered the keynote address. His presentation, “LodgingResearch Insights,” offered the latest trends in lodging performance for the nation, region, and state.“Our goal is to increase both visits to Tennessee from outside and in-state travel by generating interest and inquiries,” said Susan Whitaker, commissionerof the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, which sponsored the luncheon. “It is essential that we continue to get to know our audience.Conferences and seminars like ‘Hit Your Target’ inspire growth and creativity to help keep our world-class tourism stage set perfectly for themillions who visit Tennessee each year.”Job and internship fair targets communication andinformation studentsMore than 300 students crowded into the University Center Ballroom last fall to take part in a job and internship fair created especially for them.In conjunction with UT Knoxville Career Services, the College of Communication and Information Job and Internship Fair was held Thursday,November 1. More than 35 employers, including Ackermann Public Relations, Citadel Broadcasting, DisAbility Resource Center, Dogwood Arts Festival,East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knox County Public Library, Scripps Networks, South Central Communications, and WBIR–TV, were onhand to recruit students for jobs and internships. All CCI students were invited to attend.In preparation for the event, many communication and information students attended a special session hosted by Career Services to learn how tosuccessfully navigate a job fair.“We are happy so many CCI students took advantage of this great opportunity to network with so many professional organizations and explore joband internship opportunities,” said Dr. Sam Swan, CCI director of internationalization and outreach. “We look forward to hosting another event infall 2008.”For more information about the job fair, or information about how your organization can participate in fall 2008, contact Swan at 865-974-5123 orsamswan@utk.edu.6 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

College says goodbye to three faculty membersnew & noteworthyThree College of Communication and Information faculty members saidgoodbye to the college at the end of the fall 2007 semester and started newchapters in their lives.Bob Glenn, an associate professor in the School of CommunicationStudies, retired after 36 years of service. Two assistant professors, LynLepre and Bob Sandusky, have accepted faculty positions at universitiescloser to their homes.Glenn joined the university in fall 1971. He taught a variety of courses,including public speaking, group communication, history of rhetoricaltheory, and propaganda.Lepre, who is best known for her role in the creation of the School ofJournalism and Electronic Media’s Scoop magazine, has joined the facultyat Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she serves as an associateprofessor of communication.Sandusky, who joined the School of Information Sciences faculty in2005, returned to Chicago, where he can spend more time with his family.He is now the assistant university librarian for information technologyand a clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois—Chicago.“On behalf of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the College ofCommunication and Information, I want to express my heartfelt thanksto Bob, Lyn, and Bob for their many contributions to the college and theuniversity,” said Mike Wirth, dean of CCI. “We wish them all the bestgoing forward; Bob Glenn in his retirement and Lyn Lepre and Bob Sanduskyin their new academic positions!”Students honor former classmate throughcommemorative walk, scholarshipCommunication studies students, faculty, and friends gathered in Circle Park on Sunday, December 2, to honor a former classmate and raise funds forfuture communication studies majors.The Nathan Boals Scholarship Walk was organized by the Communication Studies Club in conjunction with the School of Communication Studiesand the Boals family. The nearly $2,000 raised by the walk will be used to fund the Nathan Boals Scholarship for communication studies majors.“As the president of the Communication Studies Club and as someone who knew Nathan, I was thrilled with the response and support that all of thestudents, club members, and faculty put forth,” said Amy Harp, a senior in communication studies.Nathan Boals, who was a communication studies major, died while on astudy-abroad trip in July 2007. The Hixson, Tennessee, native was a 21-yearoldsenior at the time of his death.Boals was one of eight UT students and 11 Michigan State University studentstaking part in an annual study-abroad program in Paris. The programis intended to introduce students to the similarities and differences in internationaland organizational communication between the U.S. and EuropeanUnion member nations.“Nathan was a great person, and what happened to him could have happenedto any UT student whether he or she was hanging out on ‘the Strip’or studying abroad in Paris. Through this effort by the club and Nathan’sfamily, he will be remembered and be able to help future communicationstudies majors,” said Harp.Months after the event, the School of Communication Studies continuesto receive donations from Nathan’s family, friends, faculty, staff, andstudents, and the fund has grown to more than $5,000. For more informationabout the scholarship fund, contact the college’s development office at865-974-7073.Many students, faculty, staff, and family and friends of Nathan Boals participated in the scholarship walk.Photo courtesy of CS student Christian Marin.7

new & noteworthyJEM students to document Super Bowl XLIIJEM students Erin Hoskins, Keri Vaughn, andKyle Blackburn gained hands-on experienceworking behind the scenes at Super Bowl XLII.Three College of Communicationand Informationstudents worked behind thescenes at Super Bowl XLIIto learn how a large-scalesporting event is prepared,planned, and carried out.Kyle Blackburn of Brentwood,Tennessee, Erin Hoskinsof Nashville, and KeriVaughn of Franklin, Tennessee,documented the February3 event. All are seniorsin journalism and electronicmedia (JEM) who plan tograduate in May 2008.“I would have neverthought that I would havethe opportunity to attend theSuper Bowl as an undergraduate,”said Vaughn. “I amthankful to the University ofTennessee and my college forproviding me this opportunity of a lifetime.”The three students were part of a larger group called Team UT. Othermembers of the team were undergraduate and graduate students fromUT’s College of Business Administration (CBA) and College of Education,Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). Two students and two staffmembers from the University of Memphis and one student from LaneCollege were also part of the team.Dr. Fritz G. Polite, director of the Institute for Leadership, Ethics, andDiversity (I-LEAD) and an assistant professor of sport management, ledthe group.“These unique opportunities give our students’ the chance to competeat the highest level. We are very blessed and appreciate the students andtheir respective programs,” Polite said.CEHHS, CCI, the UT Knoxville MBA program, Adidas Partners inSports, University of Tennessee Athletics, St. Mary’s Health Systems,and Bacon & Company partnered to make this opportunity possible forTeam UT.This was Team UT’s second opportunity to work and learn at the SuperBowl. They were in Phoenix for the event from January 29 to February 4.The students had three assignments while at the Super Bowl. Theyhelped coordinate and set up the taping of NFL Total Access, a daily newsshow broadcast by the NFL Network. They worked at NFL Experience,an interactive theme park with games, kids’ clinics, free autograph sessions,and a large football-card show. The students also assisted at “NFLon Location,” a corporate hospitality program.The JEM students, however, were at work for several weeks before theevent. The trio built a website for the team and distributed news aboutthe group’s work. The JEM students also documented the trip and plan toproduce a video package.When questioned before the event, all three students said that the experiencewould serve them well when they make the jump to the world outsidethe university.“This will be my first trip to the Super Bowl as a member of Team UT,and I’m honored to serve the university in such a capacity. I hope to learnall I can about media operations at one of the world’s most popular sportingevents,” said Blackburn, who plans to pursue a career at a sportsbroadcast network or website.Hoskins, who wants to enter the field of sports media for a sports networkor local station, echoed Blackburn’s sentiment. “The Super Bowlwill help prepare me to reach my professional goals after graduation, aswell as give me the best practical hands-on experience one could ask for,”said Hoskins.Vaughn, who plans to become a producer or reporter in the sportsbroadcastingindustry, agreed that the event will help her reach her goals.“I would love to work for an NFL team to do similar type work, so thisevent will give me even more experience and contacts to prepare for myfuture.”8 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

agging r i g h t sCS students add power and reachto clean-energy group’s message“Those groups oppose future needs of Georgia. I think they want us to wear animal skins and live in caves. And some of them wouldn’t want us to wearanimal skins.”So said a Georgia Public Service Commission incumbent about the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) during the 2006 election campaign.The punchy sound bite—a classic example of a one-sided appeal—was widely quoted, and in the minds of many, SACE was consigned to the fringe groupof extremists who are hostile to growth of public services, especially increased energy production.With enemies like these—public officials who have ready access to the media—you really need friends, especially those who can be effective in gettingout your side of the story. And in January 2007, that’s where students from the School of Communication Studies (CS) came in.SACE—headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee—describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices“that solve global-warming problems and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast.” A key element of its strategic plan iseducating the public about what’s at stake in choosing an energy source.Like many nonprofit public-advocacy organizations, SACE operates on a shoestring. Hiring media trackers and buying ad space or broadcast airtimeto communicate with the public is not an option.“I was in a position to see SACE’s manpower needs, and I knew our students in the School of Communication Studies could do a great job for themas interns,” says Justin Davis, a PhD student in the College of Communication and Information. “And working with SACE’s public information teamwould be an educational experience for thestudents.”Four CS students worked with SACE duringspring semester 2007. The interns “providedknowledgeable support as we communicatedabout key energy issues across the state and theregion,” says SACE’s communications directorValerie True about the collaboration.The interns completed a survey of Knoxville restaurantsto gauge interest in participating in localbiodiesel production using waste fryer oils—keyin determining the feasibility of producing clean,renewable biodiesel in Knoxville. They draftedpress releases about the development of cleanenergy policies on Tennessee college campuses,helped publicize the work that students at UTand other Southeastern institutions are doing toimprove their communities, and helped organizea regional press conference for the 4th AnnualSoutheast Student Renewable Energy Conference.The interns also supported SACE’s watchdogfunction by tracking regional media and informingSACE staff about which stories were beingpublished and whether any needed a response.When a response was called for, the interns—especially CS senior Nicolette Barnes—sent a letter to the editor of the media outlet involved. Says Barnes,“The people at SACE are extremely passionate about what they do. I learned a lot from them, and it was good to be able to help them communicate withaudiences that are not so environmentally aware.”True says that the UT–SACE partnership is a win–win proposition: “The internship program with the UT Knoxville College of Communication andInformation has proved to be a valuable contribution to the activities of SACE’s College Outreach program. It’s a collaboration we hope to continue foryears to come.”—Mary Marshburn9

agging r i g h t sFaculty boasts Fulbright scholarsWhen Dr. Catherine Luther won a Fulbright ScholarProgram grant last fall, she joined the ranks of severalother College of Communication and Information facultymembers who have earned the prestigious award.Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the FulbrightScholar Program seeks to broaden worldwideunderstanding of political, economic, educational, andcultural institutions. The grant allows recipients to lectureor conduct research around the world. Winners arechosen for their academic or professional achievementand demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.Luther spent the fall 2007 semester at the University ofTsukuba in Japan conducting research on antiterrorismlegislation, press coverage, and public opinion on the curtailmentof civil liberties in Japan.“We are very proud of Dr. Luther’s outstanding accomplishmentsand happy that the Fulbright grant providedher with the resources required to expand her researchwork on the ground in Japan,” said Mike Wirth, dean ofthe College of Communication and Information.Luther was one of only five faculty members university-wide awarded a 2007–08 Fulbright Scholar grant. Her award brings the total number of Fulbrightscholars in the college to four.Other CCI Fulbright scholars are Ben Bates, a professor in Journalism and Electronic Media; Peter Gross, a professor in and the director of the Schoolof Journalism and Electronic Media; and Carol Tenopir, a professor in the School of Information Sciences and the college’s director of research anddirector of the Center for Information and Communication Studies.Bates received the Fulbright award in 2000. He used the lecturing and research award to teach and conduct research at two Finnish universities, theUniversity of Helsinki and the University of Tampere, from August 2000 through June 2001.Gross was placed on the FulbrightSenior Specialist Roster in 2001. Theroster is a list of approved candidates whoare eligible to be matched with incomingproject requests from post-secondary academicinstitutions outside the U.S.Tenopir received a Fulbright SeniorSpecialist award in 2005. She spent severalmonths at the University of Oulu,Finland, performing research.Since its establishment in 1946,the Fulbright program has providedapproximately 279,500 people with theopportunity to promote a mutual understandingbetween the U.S. and othernations. Administered by the Councilfor International Exchange of Scholars, itoperates in 150 countries.Catherine LutherBen BatesPeter GrossAssociation names facultymember as educator of the yearDr. Michelle Violanti, an associate professor in the School of Communication Studies, has beennamed the “Outstanding Communication Educator of the Year” for 2007 by the Tennessee CommunicationAssociation.“Michelle truly merits this award. Her work, particularly in the area of graduate education, issimply outstanding,” said Dr. John Haas, director of the School of Communication Studies.Violanti received the award at the annual Tennessee Communication Association (TCA) conference,which was held in September 2007 in Nashville.“Michelle has supported TCA’s student panels in every conceivable manner—not to mention thecountless other ways she’s contributed to the life of this organization, as well as to the lives of herstudents,” said former TCA president Dr. Linda Lyle, who presented Violanti with the award. Lyle,an alumna of the College of Communication and Information, is a lecturer in UT’s College of BusinessAdministration.TCA is a professional organization for communication scholars who seek to improve communicationeducation at all levels in Tennessee, encourage research in communication, and foster communityrecognition of effective communication.10 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Advertising and Public Relations facultyand students win multiple research awards atannual conferencebragging rightsSeveral advertising and public relations faculty members and students won awards from the public relations division of the Association for Educationin Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC) at the 2007 annual convention.AEJMC is the oldest and largest alliance of college-level journalism and mass communication educators and administrators. Since it was founded in1912, the organization has sought to advance education, foster scholarly research, cultivate better professional practice, and promote the free flow ofcommunication. Today AEJMC has more than 3,600 members around the world.“The awards received by our advertising and public relations faculty and students at AEJMC are indicative of the outstanding work being done here,”said Mike Wirth, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “We are very proud of their achievements.”Faculty members and students, along with their research papers and awards are• Dr. Lisa Fall, associate professor, and Erich Randall, U.S. Army and National Guard, first place, scholar-to-scholar presentation, public relationsdivision, “Strengthening Internal Relations Among the United States Army National Guard Soldiers: Testing Predictors of EmployeeSatisfaction.”• Doctoral student John Brummette and Dr. Michael J. Palenchar, assistant professor, first place, high-density research presentation, public relationsdivision, “University Reputations and Campus Health Education Campaigns: Managing Strategic Stakeholder Relationships.”• Doctoral student Emma Wright, second place, scholar-to-scholar research presentation, public relations division, “Coverage of E. Coli ContaminatedSpinach: Sources and Messages Chosen by National and Local Print Media.”• Alumnus Greg Rumsey, Southern Adventist University, and Dr. Candace White, associate professor, honorable mention, scholar-to-scholarresearch presentation, public relations division, “Strategic Corporate Philanthropic Relationships: Nonprofits’ Perceptions of Benefits and CorporateMotives.”• Dr. Daniel Haygood, assistant professor, second place, faculty division, Most Promising Professors competition.More than 2,600 scholars and professionals attended last year’s event, which was held in Washington, D.C. The convention included features of thelatest in technology and special sessions on teaching, research, and public service in the various components of journalism and mass communication.In addition, workshop presentations covered issues in teaching, advertising, media ethics, incorporating diversity in the curriculum, media management,and visual communication.CCI director receives career achievement awardsDr. Carol Tenopir, director of the Center for Information and Communication Studies and director of research for theCollege of Communication and Information, has been honored with two awards for outstanding career achievement.Tenopir, a professor in the School of Information Sciences, received the Contributions to Information Science and TechnologyAward presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society for Information Science (LACASIS), as wellas the Whittier College Alumni Achievement Award.“Receiving this year’s LACASIS award along with the Whittier College Distinguished Alumni Award is indicative ofthe high regard in which Carol Tenopir is held. Joining the company of such past LACASIS award recipients as EugeneGarfield, Tefko Saracevic, and Christine Borgman confirms the fact that she is among the top information scientists inthe world,” said CCI dean Mike Wirth.Tenopir accepted the Contributions to Information Sciences and Technology Award on January 31 at the LACASISannual awards program at the University of California at Los Angeles.Dr. Carol TenopirLACASIS presents the award annually to one or more individuals who have made a significant contribution to the fieldof information sciences. Recipients are those individuals who are recognized by their colleagues as exceptional leaders whose dedication, commitment,and vision inspire others or whose singular contribution to the field of information sciences has been particularly significant.The Whittier College Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes exceptional achievement by Whittier College alumni.Tenopir, a 1974 Whittier graduate, received the alumni award on October 27, 2007, at Whittier’s annual Poet Awards Gala. The gala is part of WhittierWeekend, which includes homecoming, class reunions, and other special events.11

agging r i g h t sReal-world experience helps studentsimplement classroom skillsPublic relations students know that landing that first great jobusually requires internship experience and a sizeable portfolio. Facultymembers know it too, and that’s why they make sure studentshave plenty of opportunities to put their classroom skills to the test.During the fall 2007 semester, students in Public Relations 470completed a campaign for the Army National Guard to help the organizationplan its recruitment strategy. Students performed research,created a campaign book organized into strategies and tactics, andthen presented their results to an audience of Army National Guardofficers.Nicole Arnold, a December 2007 graduate now completing aninternship at a public relations agency in Dublin, commends theschool’s approach of working with outside clients. “I think that is thebest part about UT Knoxville’s Advertising and Public Relations program.As students we get to put what we’ve learned into real-worldsituations early in our careers. We are provided with face-to-facetime with the clients and work to reach our goal and theirs,” she said.Arnold also took part in projects through the school’s student-runpublic relations agency. She was one of several undergraduates whohelped Knoxville’s Medic Regional Blood Center meet its goal toincrease student participation in the Orange and Blue Blood Drivelast fall. The annual competition between Tennessee and Kentuckyhelps supply the nonprofit center with enough blood to last fromThanksgiving until Christmas.UT Football Coach Phil Fulmer takes part in theOrange and Blue Blood Drive. Recent alumna NicoleArnold and current student Tara Hoffman organizedhis donation as the kick-off for last fall’s Orange andBlue Blood Drive. Photo courtesy of Nicole Arnold.“It’s such an advantage to come out of school with a thick portfolio full of real-world work to show to potential employers and that provides us withskills you can’t get from taking notes in a classroom,” said Arnold.Smokeless tobacco ads, continued from page 3were imposed, and the last year for which figures were available—the ads reached 64 percent of adolescents.The researchers found that smokeless tobacco advertising in magazines increased in the first year after the STSMA went into effect, reaching 83percent of adolescents. Exposure dropped sharply to 57 percent in 2000, but rates steadily increased in later years.Some of the magazines in which the researchers found a substantial amount of smokeless tobacco advertising included Rolling Stone, Spin, SportsIllustrated, Sporting News, and Outdoor Life.The researchers suggest that the actions of smokeless tobacco manufacturers have gone largely unnoticed because research and policymakinghas centered on the consequences of cigarette smoking, which involves more intense marketing efforts. However, smokeless tobacco advertisingshouldn’t be ignored because smokeless tobacco use can lead to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus; damage to gum tissue;and loss of teeth.Morrison served as a paid consultant, and Krugman has served as an expert witness to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding adolescentsand cigarette advertising.—Amy Blakely12 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Classroom lessons help softball star onand off the fieldWomen’s Sports Foundation’s “Sportswoman of the Year” Monica Abbott may be bestknown for her work on the softball field, but it’s her work off the field that is helpingher get to know her Olympic teammates.Abbott, a standout pitcher for the Lady Vols softball team from 2004 to 2007, is usingthe lessons she learned from her communication studies major to bond with herteam. The senior, who is taking the semester off to train for the 2008 Summer Olympics,is a member of the 2008 USA Women’s National Softball Team.“I think [the course work] helped me to figure out my teammates a lot better—howto listen to them and notice things that they really need or don’t need, and how towork with the different kinds of personalities that are on a team. Not everyone’sso outspoken, and not everyone’s really shy, but everyone wants their opinion . . .respected,” said Abbott. “It’s . . . helped me make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.”The two-time member of the national team, 2007 USA Softball “Collegiate Player ofthe Year,” and 2006–07 “Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year” also says hermajor has “helped her a lot” as she interacts with the media and attends press conferencesand public-speaking engagements.Abbott, from Salinas, California, knew early on that a communication studiesmajor would be beneficial. “I knew that it could come in handy with the softballside of things.” She considered broadcasting, but decided that general communicationstudies would better suit her. “It’s really broad, and you can do a lot with it. I likethat,” she said. “When it came down to it, it just kind of fit perfectly for me.”After graduation, Abbott plans to play softball for a while, and later she would liketo open an indoor facility for softball or begin a career in public speaking. “I neverthought I would want to be a public speaker my freshman year, but now, I can’t imaginenot doing it,” she said.As thrilled as Abbott is about the upcoming Olympic games in Beijing, she maybe looking even more forward to one stop on the women’s national team tour thisspring.Monica AbbottPhoto courtesy of USA Softball“I’m so excited about coming back and playing in Knoxville. The softball program has really developed over the past four years and just being there aspart of its progress and then being able to bring in the national team—this is my alma mater, my hometown college fans, and everything—and I don’tthink anything is going to be sweeter than being able to play in front of them.”bragging rights13

alumni SPOTLIGHTJournalism and Electronic Media continuesanniversary celebrationLast fall, the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at UT Knoxville began celebrating its 60thanniversary with a series of guest speakers, an alumni reception, and even a special issue of Scoopmagazine.“It was a wonderful kickoff for our yearlong celebration of sixty years of educating thousands of students.We continue the celebration this spring,” said PeterGross, director of the school.Nearly a dozen speakers representing such organizationsas the Wall Street Journal, DIY Network/Scripps, The NewYork Times, and espn.com visited JEM classes throughout thesemester. Most were alumni of the school.At the October 31 alumni reception, guests were treated to door prizes, guest speakers, and demonstrationsof current students’ work—video, online, and print. Current and former faculty members were alsoon hand to greet their former students as they entered the Communications Building.For more information about the anniversary, as well as more information about the history of theschool, visit the school website and Scoop magazine online at www.cci.utk.edu/jem.Above right: Hal and Reenie Ernest enjoy the festivities at the 60th anniversary event. Hal (BS/JEM ’54) was the earliestjournalism graduate attending. Left: The School of Journalism and Electronic Media director Peter Gross and retiredassociate dean Herb Howard announce door prizes at the event as Mark Harmon and Rob Heller look on.Alumna’s gift reflects a family tradition of givingEven in retirement, Sandra Plant (BS/JEM ’73) is still thankful for theeducation she received during her undergraduate years in the College ofCommunication and Information.“I will always be grateful to the highly skilled and caring faculty memberswho helped me along the way,” she said. “I will never forget the lateDean Donald Hileman, Professor Willis Tucker, Professor John Lain,and Sammie Lynn Puett. With that team on your side, you could not fail.Among the living mentors who made a difference in my life, I owe muchto Dr. Kelly Leiter and Dr. Herb Howard.”Plant, who retired in 2007 after 34 years of public relations and communicationswork, is also thankful that her children had the opportunityto learn from the college’s skilled faculty. Her son, B. Andrew Plant (BS/ADVPR ’88), and daughter, Jennifer Plant Johnston (BS/JEM ’84), areboth CCI graduates.Recently Plant helped ensure that many other graduates will receive theeducation she is so thankful for when she made a $50,000 estate gift to thecollege.“Sandra’s continuing contributions of her time and talent to the Collegeof Communication and Information, coupled with her financial supportover the years, makes this gift very special,” said Dean Mike Wirth. “Ican’t thank her enough for stepping forward to make a difference.”“Since the University of Tennessee is a public institution, I know thattax dollars alone will not support the quality education that the collegeprovides to its students. It is my hopethat funds from my estate will joinwith other private gifts to continue toprovide state-of-the-art equipment andfacilities in our ever-changing field,”she said.“I decided on an estate gift when Iupdated my will in 2001. As a memberof the CCI Board of Visitors for anumber of years, I believe that mygift is a tangible way to show longtermsupport for the college,” Plantcontinued.Sandra Plant’s generosity helps ensure that thecollege’s programs will be available to the nextgeneration of students, like her grandson, WillJohnston, age 11.The gift is not the first that Plant has made to the college. She and herson Andrew established the Breaking Away Scholarship endowment severalyears ago. The scholarship will support a student in the college who iscreative and whose work reflects “out of the box” thinking.“My son and I established the scholarship endowment because the professionaleducation and opportunities that we received in the College ofCommunication and Information contributed greatly to the success wehave enjoyed in our careers in communications,” said Plant. “Both mychildren were awarded scholarships during their studies, so we wanted togive back to the college that has meant so much to our family.”14 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Generosity and planning helpssecure the f ure of Advertisingand Public Relations programalumni SPOTLIGHTDavid Bohan is securing the future for University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students in moreways than one.Bohan, a 1970 graduate of UT, is the chairman, chief executive officer, and founder ofBohan Advertising|Marketing, a major regional advertising agency located in Nashville.UT alumni are probably most familiar with the agency through its work with theiralma mater. UT’s ongoing “f ure” campaign—which began in fall 2006 and has featureda series of billboards, print ads, and 30-second television spots—was created by BohanAdvertising|Marketing.In addition to running the agency, David and his wife, Linda, are avid supporters of theCollege of Communication and Information and its School of Advertising and Public Relations.David currently serves on the college’s Board of Visitors. He has also taken the time tospeak to classes and create internships for advertising students.“David and Linda’s long-term support of the School of Advertising and Public Relationsand the College of Communication and Information has been a critical factor in our abilityto succeed and excel,” said Mike Wirth, dean of CCI. “I can’t thank them enough for all theyhave contributed to us, both financially and programmatically.”In fact, David and Linda’s dedication to the school is so strong, they want to ensure that theprogram thrives for many years. That’s why the couple recently made a $150,000 estate gift tothe school.“The estate gift is designed to provide more funding for the Bohan Advertising Endowment.Linda and I established the endowment several years ago to help the college’s advertisingprogram with discretionary funding,” said David. “The estate gift will enable theendowment to more actively support student and faculty activities the School of Advertising and Public Relations head deems appropriate. We trustthe school’s leadership to be effective stewards.”Ron Taylor, director of the School of Advertising and Public Relations, said, “David and Linda have been supporters of the program for more thantwenty years. David has taken many students as interns and has helped many graduates to find employment in the Nashville market. He has alsosupported three annual scholarships for many years. His and Linda’s financial contributions have made a significant difference in the quality of ourprogram.”David encourages other alumni to consideran estate gift as a way to ensure thatfuture students have the same positiveexperiences with UT that he had. “Includingthe university in our estate plans isan appropriate way to acknowledge thecontribution UT has made in my life. Iwould hope that many alumni would dolikewise.”Endowments and Estate GiftsDavid and Linda Bohan’s support of the School ofAdvertising and Public Relations and the college as a wholemakes a “significant difference” in program quality.Such gifts as Sandra Plant’s and David Bohan’s are important to the overall funding of the college. Endowmentfunding is vital to the support of chairs and professorships, scholarships, programs, and otherenhancements to the academic experience in the College of Communication and Information. Moreover,endowed funds are perpetual gifts—linking past, current, and future generations. They enable us to makecommitments far into the future, knowing that resources to meet those commitments will continue to beavailable. A gift of $25,000 or more can create an endowment honoring the donor or anyone the donorspecifies. It can be funded with a one-time gift or a commitment over a number of years—building to fullendowment.Estate gifts, or bequests, are another way to make the college the beneficiary of a specific dollar amount,property, or a percentage of the total estate. By naming the college in a will, the donor may save on inheritanceand estate taxes and help ensure a thriving future for the college.For more information on endowments or estate gifts, contact Karen Rohr, CCI development director, at865-974-7073.15

in developmentUniversity launches $1-billionfundraising campaignThe University of Tennessee recently launched the public phase of a $1-billion fundraisingcampaign called “The Campaign for Tennessee: A Spirit, a Vision, a Plan.”This effort, defined by President John Petersenand approved by the UT Board of Trustees inJune 2006, focuses on six areas for the university’scommitment to excellence: student access,student success, world-class research, economicdevelopment, outreach, and preparing our studentsto compete in a global marketplace.Although ambitious, the university’s planincludes benchmarks with yearly fundraising goals for each college, including the Collegeof Communication and Information, through 2011.CCI sets $10-million goalIn the coming months alumni of the college will have an opportunity to take part in the largest fundraising effort ever undertaken by the Universityof Tennessee. With continued public funding constraints, private giving is the infusion that allows us to create exceptional education programs,research projects, and service activities. Your support is pivotal to prepare our students for success in a time when knowledge makes our economy tickand our society thrive.Our college has broad expertise in all the communication and information disciplines. But to lead rather than just remain competitive, mastery inthese dynamic interactive fields is essential.DR. CATHERINE LUTHERAssociate ProfessorSchool of Journalism and Electronic Media• Fulbright scholar, 2007• College of Communication and InformationOutstanding Faculty Research Awardwinner, 2006• Research interests: media–state relations,media impact on foreign policy, and terrorismand the media“With globalization,even young studentscan’t live in a bubbleanymore. It’s criticalthat they learn aboutother countries andthe influence thesecountries have on ourdaily lives. By doingresearch in international communications, wecan bring material and experiences into theclassroom to help broaden students’ perspectivesof what other nations represent.”With your help, CCI will become world renowned for innovative teaching, scholarship, andsocietal engagement. Our alumni work for America’s major newspapers, magazines, radiostations, television stations, websites, digital businesses, and networks. They work at leadingadvertising and public relations agencies, as well as at corporations and nonprofit organizations.They are influential librarians, information managers, educators, policymakers, lawyers,employee relations managers, sales executives, and consultants in the United States andabroad. Your support prepares the next generation of professionals who will advance knowledgein the region and around the world.As you help us achieve the funding priorities that follow, you help leverage our considerablestrengths and links for innovation. Together we will reach new levels of excellence as reflectedin the regional, national, and international rankings that are benchmarks of success.FACILITY SUPPORTCampaign goal: $2 millionTotal funding needs: $22 millionWe must have state-of-the-art facilities to prepare leaders—it’s that simple. Superb facilities area priority, and your support has a transformative impact.Your gift could fund all or part of a $20-million building expansion—a 50,000-square-footfacility, outfitted with essential technological resources—to provide leading-edge teaching andresearch. Funds would support a much-needed 200-seat screening lab and lecture hall. Hightechpublic-speaking laboratories benefit 3,500-plus UT Knoxville undergraduates who annuallytake our oral communications courses.We also plan $2 million in critical renovations to our current facility on Circle Park Drive, which we have occupied since 1969. These renovationsinvigorate our college even as we plan a significant new expansion. Our facility upgrades include three high-tech laboratories to promote innovation:16 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

• a user experience lab, to analyze how audiences receive and processonline messages, and to help content-providers improve theirproducts;• a convergence lab, to discover new possibilities with print, broadcast,and online media; and• a public-speaking lab, to meet the immediate needs of 3,500-plusundergraduates who annually take our oral communications courses.Dr. Kenneth LevineAssistant ProfessorSchool of Communication Studies• Winner, Eastern Communication Association’s Top ThreePaper Award, 2002, 2003, and 2006• Research interests: leadership, organizational communication,and small-group communication“We live in a time right now where communicationis transforming itself almostin front of our eyes. In a sense, we’re aliving experiment, and we need to beable to better understand how thesenew ways of communicating are affectingworkplace relationships.”FACULTY SUPPORTCampaign goal: $6 millionTotal funding needs: $11 millionAs the driving force behind our education, research, and outreach enterprise,our faculty members promote innovation and excellence. Your support allows us to recruit and retain a stellar faculty that pursues interdisciplinarydiscovery and prepares students for bright, successful futures.Your gift may endow a chair or professorship, or it may help establish a visiting-scholars program and a visiting-professionals program tofoster intellectual exchange among guests, our faculty, and our students. Indeed, your support of our faculty is a direct route to an enhancedacademic reputation and a new standard of excellence.in developmentDr. Margaret MorrisonAssociate ProfessorSchool of Advertising and Public Relations• Finalist, University of Tennessee’s NationalAlumni Outstanding Teaching Award,2002–03• Winner, College of Communication andInformation Outstanding Teaching Award,2002–03• Research interest: effects of tobacco advertisingon teenage smoking“Bringing this type ofresearch into the classroomhelps to highlightthe ethical aspects ofadvertising. Additionally,the public-healthand legal implicationsof this researchtranscend the collegeand offer a great bridge to other disciplineswithin the university. It’s really a way of givingback and doing something for the people ofTennessee.”STUDENT SUPPORTCampaign goal: $2 millionTotal funding needs: $4 millionYour gift can help achieve our collective goal of attracting and retaining the best andbrightest students in Tennessee. Your support boosts diversity in our enrollment, whichbenefits all students; it providesinvaluable research opportunitiesfor undergraduate and graduatestudents; it allows graduate studentsto travel for research presentations;and it provides internshipsand study-abroad opportunities forundergraduates.PROGRAM SUPPORTTotal funding needs:$44 millionA gift from you can boost our newInternationalization and OutreachProgram, which helps students andTennessee constituents flourish ina global economy. This initiativedraws on our considerable expertiseto offer a variety of international study and exchange opportunities, workshops, degreeprograms, and partnerships—all aimed at promoting knowledge and skills crucial to success.With our international and intercultural focus, we eagerly participate in “Ready for theWorld,” the University of Tennessee’s plan to transform our campus into a culture of diversitythat best prepares students for competing in the 21st century.Your support also aids our students in pursuing interdisciplinary work in a digital age.With your gift, we develop best practices and we prepare leaders adept at creating, delivering,and managing vital information for our knowledge-based society.Continued on page 18Dr. Carol TenopirProfessorSchool of Information Sciences• Three Fulbright Awards, including SeniorSpecialist Award, 2005• International Information Industry’s LifetimeAchievement Award, 2004• The University of Tennessee Chancellor’sCitation for Research and CreativeAchievement Award, 2003• American Society for Information Scienceand Technology’s Research in InformationScience Award, 2002• Research interests: information accessand retrieval, electronic publishing, onlineresources, and the impact of technologyon reference librarians and scientists“Research is anessential part ofpractice and teachingand, in anapplied field likeinformation science,research is particularlyimportant to thefuture of publishing,libraries, and information access.”17

in development$1 billion, continued from page 17With your gift, we build collaborations that provide unique opportunities for our students,advance creative activity, spur social and economic development, and fulfill our servicemission. For instance, our partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory exploresreal-time information management to strengthen homeland security. Other partnershipswith government and industry similarly address economic and societal needs.Our ProgressThroughout the campaign, the college will keep you informed as to the progress toward our$10-million goal. When you are called on to participate, please lend your support. Throughthe CCI website, Full Circle, and other communication vehicles, we will share stories aboutour donors and what their gifts mean for the future of our college.Peyton ManningQuarterbackIndianapolis Colts• Bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Tennessee,1997• Sullivan Award winner, 1997• Walter Payton National Football League Man of the Year, 2006• UT College of Communication & Information Donald G. Hileman DistinguishedAlumni Award recipient, 2007• Most Valuable Player in leading the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, 2007“It would have been a lot easier for me to have beena football player and not a student, and, conversely,it would have been much easier to have been just astudent and to have left the football for another timeand place. But it wouldn’t have been as joyous, as rich,or as humbling to have been one without the other. Ican say, without hesitation, that my total college experience,on the field and in the classroom, made me abetter leader and a better person.”Ed Ingle (UT Knoxville ‘83)Managing Director of Government AffairsLegal and Corporate AffairsMicrosoft Corporation“My journalism–PRdegree from UTgave me the singlemost important toolI could ever possess—howto communicatemy ideaseffectively. As thechief lobbyist forMicrosoft in Washington, D.C., many times Ihave only one shot to make my case on anissue to an important government official,either in writing or in person. If I haven’tmade a compelling case by the secondparagraph or within the first minute, I’mtoast.”Larry PatrickPresidentPatrick Communications• Master’s degree in communications fromthe University of Tennessee, 1973• UT College of Communication & InformationDonald G. Hileman DistinguishedAlumni Award recipient, 1996• Nearly $6 billion in sales of more than 500radio and television stations during thepast decade“I had a terrific experienceat UT. The professorscared, thegraduate programwas flexible, and itwas just a great timefor me. Educationwas such an importantelement of mysuccess.”18 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

Board of Visitors welcomes new membersat fall meetingin developmentThe college’s Board of Visitors convened last fall in Knoxville for a 2-day fallmeeting filled with new faces and updates on the college’s progress.Meeting attendees were provided with updates on CCI student enrollments,technology, and funding. They also discussed the future of the communicationand information fields and how coursework across the schoolscan better prepare students for their careers.Eight new board members were welcomed this fall. The new members are• Paul Abraham, vice-president, finance, Knoxville News Sentinel (UT/MBA ’96)• Gil Duff, CEO, Publicis New York (BS/ADVPR ’83)• Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap, president, Poynter Institute (PhD/CCI ’82)• Stephen Land, CEO, Jupiter Entertainment Inc. (BS/ADVPR ’76)• Cindy McConkey, senior vice-president, Corporate Communications,Scripps Networks (BS/JEM ’80)• Jim Sexton, senior vice-president, editorial director, SPC Digital (BS/ADVPR ‘76)• Eric Ward, president, EricWard.com (BS/CEHHS ‘83)After two long days of meetings, BOV members Bonnie Carroll, George Devault, KarenBrown Dunlap, Tom Adkinson, and Paula Casey prepare to cheer on the football Vols.• Dhyana Ziegler, assistant vice-president for instructional technology and academic affairs and professor of journalism, Florida A&M UniversityRice named BOV chairAlumnus Dean Rice (BA/CS ’94) recently took on the role of chair of the college’s Board of Visitors.Rice chaired his first meeting at the spring BOV gathering. He is the vice-president of Pratt, Pratt &Rice Inc., a consulting firm based in Knoxville, Tennessee.“Dean Wirth, along with each of the outstanding faculty and staff in CCI, has done a tremendousjob building strong momentum for the college. It has been an honor to serve on the Board of Visitorsover the past several years and have the chance to watch the college grow and become poised forso many successes,” said Rice. “The enthusiasm of the BOV as a whole underscores the strength of thecollege, and I look forward to working with the dean and the board as chairman in promoting andsupporting the college and each of its schools.”The new chair most recently served as the South Carolina campaign manager for Fred Thompsonduring Thompson’s bid for the presidency. He was also the campaign manager for Duncan for Congress 2006.Rice completed the Republican National Committee (RNC) Campaign Management College and was named “2006 Statesmanof the Year” by the Tennessee Republican Party.He is a member of the Chancellor’s Associates, the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors, East Tennessee EconomicCouncil Board of Directors, and Downtown Optimist Club—Knoxville Board of Directors.Rice is a lecturer in the School of Communication Studies. He won the Phi Eta Sigma Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004.19

esearch notesJune–December 2007BooksInformation and Emotion: The Emergent Affective Paradigm inInformation Behavior Research and Theory by Diane Nahland Dania Bilal was recently published by ASIS&T.Refereed journal articlesElizabeth Avery’s paper “Public relations practitioners’relationships with media and each other as moderatorsof excellent health information and the localpublic health agenda” has been published in Public RelationsJournal. Avery coauthored the paper with RuthannWeaver Lariscy.Ben Bates’s paper “Value and digital rights management:A social economics approach,” has been publishedin the Journal of Media Economics.Mark Harmon’s research article “Papers endorseincumbents four-to-one over challengers” was publishedin the summer 2007 edition of Newspaper ResearchJournal. His article coauthored with Dan Foley, “Meetthe press congressional guests: 1947–2004,” was publishedin Electronic News, a journal of the Radio TelevisionJournalism Division of AEJMC.Mariea Hoy’s article, “Disclosures exposed: Bannerad disclosure adherence to FTC guidance in the top100 U.S. websites,” has been published in the Journal ofConsumer Affairs. Hoy coauthored the article with MayO. Lwin of the Nanyang Technological University,Singapore.Barb Kaye and Tom Johnson, Texas Tech, had theirpaper, “Every blog has its day: Politically interestedinternet users’ perceptions of blog credibility,”published in the Journal of Computer MediatedCommunication.Mike Kotowski’s coauthored paper “Using the EPPMto create and evaluate the effectiveness of brochures toincrease the use of hearing loss protection in farmersand landscape workers” has been published in the Journalof Applied Communication Research.Eric Haley and Yoon-Joo Lee were coauthors for doctoralstudent Sora Kim’s paper “Does consumers’product-related involvement matter when it comes tocorporate ads?” The paper has been published by theJournal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising.Ken Levine and coauthors Cynthia Hoffner and RizaToohey have had their manuscript, “Socialization towork in late adolescence: The role of television andfamily,” published in the Journal of Broadcasting and ElectronicMedia.“Breast health education for working women in Appalachia:Insights from focus group research” by SallyMcMillan, Eric Haley, and Elizabeth Johnson Averywas published in the July 2007 issue of Cancer Control:Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center. The faculty memberscoauthored the study with Paige Zollman-Huggler,Melissa G. Winchenbach, and John L. Bell MD of UTMedical Center.Bharat Mehra’s paper “The library-community convergenceframework for community action: Libraries ascatalysts of social change” has been published in Libri:International Journal of Libraries and Information Services.Mehra coauthored the paper with R. Srinivasan.Michael J. Palenchar and Robert L. Heath’s (Universityof Houston) journal article “Strategic risk communicationcampaigns: Insights from a decade of publicrelations research” has been published in the Journal ofPublic Relations Research.Margaret Morrison was lead author on the study“Under the radar: Smokeless tobacco advertising inmagazines with substantial youth readership,” whichhas been published in an early online issue of the AmericanJournal of Public Health. The study also appeared inthe March 2008 print version of the journal. Morrisonwas a coauthor for the paper “Behind the smile: Readingcultural values in Thai advertising,” which has beenpublished in the latest issue of Asian Journal of Communication.Chompunuch Punyapiroje (MS/CCI ’97, PhD/CCI ’02), Burapha University in Chomburi, Thailand,was the lead author.Book ChaptersBharat Mehra’s book chapter “Affective factors in informationseeking during cross-cultural learning of internationaldoctoral students in library and informationscience (LIS) education” has been published in Informationand Emotion: The Emergent Affective Paradigm in InformationBehavior Research and Theory. The book is edited byDiane Nahl and SIS Professor Dania Bilal.Suzy Prentiss has published “Parenting in the interracialfamily: More alike than different,” a chapter in thebook “Family Communication: Theory and Research.” Thebook is edited by Lorin Arnold.ExhibitsRob Heller’s “Living On” exhibit was displayed at theEast Tennessee State University Reece Museum in fall2007.Other publicationsMark Littmann’s article “From Chaos to the KuiperBelt” is the lead feature story in the September 2007 issueof Sky & Telescope magazine. The issue also included a sidebarby Littmann, “Planetary slingshots.” The November2007 issue of Sky & Telescope included Littmann’s featurestory “Dark beasts of the Trans-Neptunian zoo” andsidebar “From theory to reality.”PresentationsElizabeth Avery presented three papers at the 2007National Communication Association Convention:“Time to warn the Surgeon General? Public informationofficers’ and journalists’ perceived barriers to providingexcellent health information,” “Impact of politicaladvertising message sponsorship, strategy, and valenceon perceptual bias of members of the young electorate,”and “Videostyle analysis of music and its relationshipswith sponsorship and valence in the 2006 TennesseeSenate race advertising.” Avery served as coauthor withdoctoral student Antoneta Vanc for the third paper.Ben Bates presented two papers this summer at theInternational Association for Mass CommunicationResearch: “Driving under the influence: The role ofpolicy in media convergence,” coauthored with PhD studentScott Wells, and “Shifting power through expandingfocus: The social economics approach to informationand media policy research.” Bates also presented “Copyrightand convergence: Enabling, limiting, motivatingand/or inhibiting. Implications of current trendsin intellectual property law and policy on a convergingsociety” at the Convergence and Society: Media Ownership,Control, and Concentration conference.Naeemah Clark, Ken Levine, and Dan Haygoodpresented their coauthored paper, “Too late to makeit right? Country music, patriotism, and the DixieChicks,” at the 2007 Association for Education inJournalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)Convention.Ed Cortez presented the paper “Sustaining economicdevelopment through knowledge management practicesin the Caribbean region: Challenges and opportunities”at the Association of Caribbean University, Research andInstitutional Libraries (ACURIL). Cortez also presented“Forging Partnerships across the world: International collaborativeinitiatives between library and informationsciences programs” at the International Federation ofLibrary Associations and Institutions conference.Lisa Fall presented two papers at the 2007 Associationfor Education in Journalism and Mass Communication(AEJMC) Convention. The first paper, “Knowledge ispower: Examining how general public relations traininginfluences non-major graduate students’ attitudesabout our profession,” was coauthored with graduatestudent Jeremy Hughes. The second paper, “Strengtheninginternal relations among the United States ArmyNational Guard Soldiers: Testing predictors of employeesatisfaction,” was coauthored with Lt. Col. Erich Randall,U.S. Army National Guard. Fall and Randall alsopresented the research paper “Andragogy comes to life:Examining adult student satisfaction of a three-weekendaccelerated format” at the annual Lilly Conference onCollege and University Teaching in October 2007.John Haas presented his paper “Negotiating unit survivalduring organizational downsizing: A case study”at the 2007 National Communication AssociationConvention.Eric Haley, Margaret Morrison, and Ronald Taylorpresented “Excellent account planning: What awardwinning planning cases tell us about planning’s utilityin advertising” at the 2007 Association for Educationin Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)Convention. Haley, along with Robyn Blakeman, alsopresented “Advertising educators’ advice about guestspeakers: Making the most of visits by ad professionals”at AEJMC.“A comparative perspective of online disclosure presentationfrom websites in United States and Singapore,” byMay O. Lwin, Nanyang Technological University, andMariea Grubbs Hoy, was presented at the Cross CulturalResearch Conference.Barb Kaye and Tom Johnson, Texas Tech, presentedtheir paper, “Choosing is believing? How web gratificationsand reliance affect internet credibility amongpolitically interested users,” to the 2007 Association forEducation in Journalism and Mass Communication(AEJMC) Convention. The pair also presented “Stillcruising and believing? An analysis of online credibilityover three presidential campaigns” to the 2007 MidwestAssociation for Public Opinion Research annualconvention.Mike Kotowski presented three papers at the 2007National Communication Association Convention:“Using the EPPM to create and evaluate the effectiveness20 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

of brochures to increase the use of hearing loss protectionin farmers and landscape workers,” “Searching forSuper Diffusers: Refining a method for locating influentialswithin a social network,” and “Television and Gratification:The role of sex in predicting media uses andgratifications and television program preferences.”Virginia Kupritz presented two papers at the InternationalEnvironmental Design Research Association(EDRA) Conference. Kupritz co-presented “Quantitativeassessment of individual and group privacy needs”with Teresa Bellingar of Haworth Inc. Kupritz also presentedthe paper “Organizational culture” as part of apanel of communication faculty, business strategists,architects, and urban planners. She presented a coauthoredpaper “Productive management communication:Online and face-to-face” at the 2007 National CommunicationAssociation Convention.Ken Levine presented three papers at the 2007 NationalCommunication Association Convention. The first,“Multitasking in organizational meetings: A new componentof the process variable,” was coauthored withdoctoral student Alla Kushniryk and faculty membersSuzie Allard, and Carol Tenopir. Tenopir and Allardalso contributed to Levine’s second paper, “Communicatingin the 21st century workplace: A theory of communicationnexus.” Andy Tollison (BS/JEM ’03, MS/SIS ’05) served as lead author on the third paper, “Sarcasm,smiling and sincerity: Creation of the nonverbalpoliteness scale,” which Levine and Abby Brooks (PhD/CCI ’07) coauthored. At the annual meeting of the Associationof Internet Researchers, Levine presented thecompetitively selected paper, “Measuring Internet usagewithin organizations: The collection and sharing ofInternet research,” with Allard.Catherine Luther and coauthors Nathan Kirkham(BS/JEM ’95, MS/CCI ’05) and Robin Hardin (MS/CCI ’06, PhD/CCI ’00), an assistant professor in UTKnoxville’s Department of Exercise, Sport, and LeisureStudies, presented their paper, “Differential newscoverage of female and male athletes during the 2004Olympic Games,” at the 2007 Association for Educationin Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)Convention.Sally McMillan and Beth Avery presented their paper,“From have-nots to watchdogs: Understanding therealities of senior citizens’ use of the Internet for healthinformation,” at the 2007 Association for Educationin Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)Convention.Michael J. Palenchar presented his paper “Risk communicationand community right to know” at the 2007National Communication Association Convention.He also presented “Using real time cases” in a pre-conferenceworkshop called “Learning to thrive when youteach public relations courses: Public relations bootcamp.” Palenchar was a coauthor on the paper “Universityreputations and campus health education campaigns:Managing strategic stakeholder relationships”with doctoral student John Brummette, which was presentedat the 2007 Association for Education in Journalismand Mass Communication (AEJMC) Convention.Lu Tang presented “Openness vs. secrecy? The effects ofprofessional culture on academic-industry knowledgesharing” at the 2007 National Communication AssociationConvention.Carol Tenopir presented an invited talk, “Measure formeasure, or, much ado about nothing? Measuring thequality and value of online journals,” in June 2007 at theUnited Kingdom Serials Group program in London.Michelle Violanti presented her paper “Sex communicationbetween mothers and daughters” at the 2007National Communication Association Convention.Peiling Wang presented three coauthored papers at the2007 Meeting of the American Society for InformationScience and Technology: “Information-seeking behaviorsof academic researchers in the Internet Age: A userstudy in the United States, China and Greece,” “Miningweb search behaviors: Strategies and techniques for datamodeling and analysis,” and “Modeling web sessionbehavior using cluster analysis: A comparison of threesearch settings.”Honors and RecognitionsBen Bates presented a lecture, “Value, information, andintellectual property,” at the University of Sheffield inEngland.Dorothy Bowles was a guest on Knoxville’s WATE–TVto discuss the state Sunshine Law as it related to a trial inwhich the Knoxville News Sentinel sued the Knox CountyCommission.Lisa Fall and Erich Randall, U.S. Army National Guard,won first place for their scholar-to-scholar presentation,“Strengthening internal relations among the UnitedStates Army National Guard soldiers: Testing predictorsof employee satisfaction,” in the public relations divisionof the 2007 Association for Education in Journalism andMass Communication (AEJMC) Convention.Daniel Haygood won second place in the Most PromisingProfessors competition at the 2007 Association forEducation in Journalism and Mass Communication(AEJMC) Convention.Bonnie Hufford and doctoral student Jim Miller presentedtwo sessions each at the Tennessee High SchoolPress Association’s annual student media workshop heldin fall 2007 at Vanderbilt University.Catherine Luther received a Fulbright Scholar grant toperform research in Japan during the fall 2007 semester.She spent the semester doing research on the topic ofanti-terrorism surveillance measures in Japan and publicopinion on privacy issues.Michael Palenchar’s paper “Risk communicationand community right to know” was named a “TopThree Paper” in the public relations division of the2007 National Communication Association Convention.Palenchar also won the NCA public relations division’sPride Award for best published article in 2006–07.The article, “Disclosing special interests: Constitutionalrestrictions on front groups,” was coauthored with KathyFitzpatrick, professor at Quinipiac University. At the 2007Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication(AEJMC) Convention, doctoral student JohnBrummette and Palenchar won first place in the publicrelations division for their high-density research presentation,“University reputations and campus healtheducation campaigns: Managing strategic stakeholderrelationships.”Carol Tenopir has been awarded the Contributions toInformation Science and Technology Award by the LosAngeles Chapter of the American Society for InformationScience (LACASIS). Tenopir also received the 2007Whittier College Alumni Achievement Award at the college’sannual Poet Awards Gala. She earned her bachelor’sdegree from Whittier.Michelle Violanti was named Outstanding CommunicationEducator of the Year by the Tennessee CommunicationAssociation (TCA) at the TCA conference held infall 2007 in Nashville. Violanti received the award for herwork in both graduate and undergraduate education.Peiling Wang’s paper “Information-seeking behaviorsof academic researchers in the Internet Age: A user studyin the United States, China and Greece” was selectedas the runner-up for the 2007 ASIS&T Special InterestGroup-Information Needs Seeking and Use (SIG-USE)Best Information Behavior Conference Paper Award.Wang garnered another award for her project, “ANGELPICKS ME: An approach to naturally gauged emotivelearning towards proficiency in information and computationalknowledge and skills—maximizing education,”won a 2007–08 UT Professional Development andResearch Award. She also served as an invited internationalscholar at the Nordic Research School in Libraryand Information Science (NORSLIS) in fall 2007. Wangdelivered three lectures at the NORSLIS PhD course onresearch methods at the Royal School of Library andInformation Science in Aalborg, Denmark: an introductorylecture on research methodologies in LIS, observingusers using experimental design, and web search loganalysis.Candace White and Greg Rumsey (PhD/CCI ’06),Southern Adventist University, won honorable mentionfor their scholar-to-scholar research presentation, “Strategiccorporate philanthropic relationships: Nonprofits’perceptions of benefits and corporate motives,” in thepublic relations division of the 2007 Association for Educationin Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)Convention.Mike Wirth, Ben Bates, and alumnus Todd Chambers(PhD/CCI ’00), an associate professor at Texas Tech University,were named to “Who’s Who of World’s LeadingExperts in IDTV, Media Management and Economics”in 2007.The Communication Institute for Online Scholarshipincluded several CCI faculty members and schools on itslist of leading scholars and leading research programs.The leading research programs, listed by topics, includethe following from CCI: Advertising and Public Relations—Computer;Communication Studies—Aging; andJournalism and Electronic Media—Asia, Economics, Language,Political-Elections, Radio. CCI faculty memberswere listed as leading scholars in the following areas:Ben Bates—Broadcasting and Media, Economics, Television;Barb Kaye—Computer, Language, Politics andGovernment, Technologies, Television; CatherineLuther—Print Journalism; Sally McMillan—Computer,Technologies; Michelle Violanti—Education; CandaceWhite—Computer; and Mike Wirth—Economics.research notes21

class notesKey: ADVPR—Advertising & Public Relations CCI—College of Communication & InformationCS—Communication Studies JEM—Journalism & Electronic Media SIS—School of Information SciencesReceived by January 1, 20081960GEORGE NELSON (BS/JEM) is enjoying both hisretirement from the army in 1981 and his retirementfrom the Texas A&M University System in 2006.1962KEN BOMAR (BS/JEM) is the editor of Net News, thebimonthly magazine of the 80,000-member AtlantaLawn Tennis Association.1964LINDA JENNINGS HIGGINS (BS/JEM) was recentlyelected Madison County Historian by the MadisonCounty (Tennessee) Commission. Higgins, who isretired from freelance work and grant writing, isonly the third Madison County resident to hold thishonorary position.1965FRED JONES (BS/JEM) is currently serving asadvertising director for DisciplesWorld magazine, theofficial journal of news, opinion, and mission for theChristian Church (Disciples of Christ).1976R.A. “Tony” Stephens (BS/CCI) is president andgeneral manager of Professional CommunicationsSystems, a broadcast and audiovisual systemsintegration firm based in Tampa. He and his wife,Nicki Piot Stephens (BS/CCI ’76), reside in Tampa.1978KAREN WEYHER GAVIGAN (MS/SIS) is thedirector of the Teaching Resources Center at theUniversity of North Carolina—Greensboro. She isworking toward a PhD in curriculum and instructionwith a literacy concentration.JANET CALONGE LAMB (BS/JEM) is a staffattorney for the Tennessee Commission on Aging andDisability.1981MARK BANKS (PhD/CCI) serves as professor andassistant chair of the Communication Departmentat Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.In 2006 he completed a sabbatical as a visitingprofessor at Victoria University in Australia and hassince presented research coauthored with his VUcolleagues, both in Australia and the United States.MICHAEL CAMPBEL (BS/ADVPR) is the searchbusiness lead for Scripps Networks Interactive, wherehe leads a team in the development of innovativesearch functionality for the organization’s websites(HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living,HGTV Pro, and GACTV).MARTHA WHITE (MS/SIS) is the assistant directorof the Lexington Public Library in Lexington,Kentucky. White also earned a master’s degree insocial science education from UT Knoxville in 1979.1983ED COOK (MS/CCI) is the director of fieldcommunications at Medco Health Solutions, apharmacy-benefit management firm. As partof the company’s public affairs and corporatecommunications team, he is responsible for allcommunications to Medco’s account managementand sales organizations.CAROL RAY WETMORE (BS/JEM) is the owner ofFinicky Kitty Care pet-sitting services, which servesthe Washington-state cities of Kingston, Hansville,Indianola, Poulsbo, and Port Gamble.1985HOLLY PLANELLS MCKENNA (BS/JEM) recentlyjoined the faculty of the University at Albany in NewYork as an adjunct journalism professor. She continuesto do freelance writing for Reuters and other mediaoutlets.VEON SUSSEWELL (BS/JEM) is the director ofresearch for WTBS/Atlanta, where he reports tothe senior vice-president of Turner EntertainmentResearch. WTBS is the local Atlanta broadcastplatform for TBS.LYNN YOFFEE (BS/JEM) is the owner of EditorialMatters LLC, a full-service communications firm thatspecializes in developing custom content for a varietyof clients.1988STEVEN B. MORRELL (BS/JEM) is the graphicsdirector for Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville,Tennessee. He also holds a master’s degree from OhioUniversity.DAVID W. RICHARDS SR. (BS/ADVPR) is themanager of retail marketing at Memphis–basedFedEx.JOE YOUNGS (BS/ADVPR) is vice-president ofstrategic branding for Equifax Inc. in Atlanta.SHA LI ZHANG (MS/SIS) is the assistant director forcollections and technical services at the University ofNorth Carolina—Greensboro Libraries.1990JILL BREWER STERLING (BS/JEM) is the directorof scholarship programs for the Ronald McDonaldHouse Charities of Chicagoland and northwestIndiana.DEBBIE DERDA WILLIAMS (BS/JEM) has workedfor Federated Media, an independent radio grouplocated in northern Indiana, including SouthBend and Ft. Wayne, since 1996. Her latest project,Federated Media Engaged, helps charities byproviding air time to tell compelling success stories.1991ZOE HOYLE (MS/SIS) is an editor and sciencewriter for the U.S. Forest Service Southern ResearchStation in Asheville, North Carolina. Hoyleedits and writes articles for the station’s researchmagazine, Compass.RACHEL TIGHE SHORTT (BA/CS) is an associateprofessor of communication studies at the Universityof Virginia’s College at Wise. She is the chair ofthe college’s new Department of CommunicationStudies.1993CHRIS WILMORE (BS/JEM) has joined the corporatepublic relations team at CarMax after spending 8years in public relations at CNN in Atlanta. Wilmoreis involved in the development and implementation ofCarMax’s social media strategy.1994JANET RICKS MCCONNELL (BS/JEM) is strategicbrand manager at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennesseein Chattanooga.ALLISON MILLER (BS/JEM) is the assistant directorof public relations for the Fee/Hedrick FamilyEntertainment Group in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.MARY LYNNE “MOLLY” PROCTOR (BS/JEM) is aproduction accountant for Country Music Television(CMT) in Nashville. She married UT alumnus JonZirkle (Engineering, ’95) in August 2007.ELIZABETH SCOTT (MS/CCI) has been appointedthe associate vice-president of marketing andeBusiness for Norton Healthcare, where she isresponsible for team and strategic management ofmarketing initiatives, the marketing contact center,and eBusiness programs.1995JEANIE COSTA TORCHIO (BS/JEM) plans eventsthroughout several states and Washington, D.C., as asenior regional event specialist for the Washington,D.C., regional staff of ALSAC/St. Jude.ED SULLIVAN (MS/SIS) has published his thirdbook, The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop theAtomic Bomb (Holiday House, 2007), a history of theManhattan Project aimed at middle- and high-schoolreaders.1996STEPHANI BROOKS (BA/CS) is a corporate travelconsultant with World Travel Services in Knoxville,Tennessee. She has been with the company since 2003.JOHN PALMER (MS/SIS) is a senior referencelibrarian at the Bryan+College Station Public LibrarySystem in Texas. He married Cynthia Alford inAugust 2004.KEVIN RYAN (BS/JEM) is the managing editor atRivals.com, a website known for team-specific college22 UT College of Communication and Information Full circle Spring 2008

sports coverage and college football and basketballrecruiting news.ROBERT F. “ROBBY” TINDELL (BS/JEM) is a realtorwith Signature Homes. He is also an organist at CityView Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.1997MARK MURDOCK (BS/JEM) has been promoted todirector of marketing for Broadway Across America—Kansas City. Mark and his wife, Nicole, reside inLouisville, Kentucky.ADRIENNE ROBERSON (BS/JEM) is the BowieBaysox in-house announcer. She also works as aninstructor and personal trainer at the Severn TennisFitness Center.1998MURRAY BROWNE (MS/SIS) is a media contentanalyst for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta.HUNTER QUILLEN GRESHAM (BS/JEM) isemployed as the director of special events at VirginiaTech. She and her husband, Aaron, welcomed theirfirst child, Peyton Abigail, in October 2006.1999SHERRON LUX (MS/SIS) is a part-time librarian,tutor, and Upward Bound instructor at San JacintoCollege’s North Campus in Houston, Texas. Lux alsoholds a master’s degree in English from UT Knoxville.2000AIMEE COTA (MS/CCI) has been promoted toassistant materials manger at Johnson Controls,Madison, Mississippi, Nissan Seating Plant. Cotaearned a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences fromUT Knoxville in 1998.STACY GRAY (MS/CCI) has been promotedto assistant vice-president in the marketingcommunications organization of Chattanooga–basedUnum, an employee benefits provider. Gray earneda bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences from UTChattanooga in 1996.JOHN CHADWICK LONG (BS/ADVPR) is anattorney with Forsythe Title and Escrow out ofHendersonville, Tennessee. He is the head attorneyfor the Nashville office.Professionals of Knoxville.LEE FREEMAN (BS/ADVPR) has been promotedto account executive for the Staffing SolutionsCorporation, a division of the EmployBridgeCorporation in Knoxville, Tennessee.KIMBERLY MALONE DAVIS (BS/JEM) is the publicrelations and marketing coordinator for the TennesseeValley Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.MARY CHRISTINE “CHRISTY” WHITE (BS/JEM)is a human-resources supervisor with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Birmingham.2003JENNIFER PIPER FERN (BS/JEM) handles mediarelations for the Knoxville Utilities Board inKnoxville, Tennessee.LAUREN JONES LONG (BS/JEM) is the marketingdirector for Wallace Enterprises, a surgical supplycompany, in Nashville.LEO JEFFREY WEDDLE (PhD/CCI) is a facultymember in the School of Library and InformationStudies at the University of Alabama. His book,Bohemian New Orleans: The Story of the Outsider andLoujon Press (University Press of Mississippi), won the2007 Eudora Welty Prize for interpretive scholarshipin the humanities. His wife, JILL GROGG, (MS/SIS ’02) works as electronic resources librarian at theUniversity of Alabama and was named a 2007 Moverand Shaker by Library Journal. The couple has one sonand is expecting their second child in early 2008.2004TASNEEM YUSUF BERG (BS/JEM) serves as a videoproducer for Power-Systems in Knoxville, Tennessee.She married UT College of Law alumnus Darren V.Berg in August 2007.SAMUEL R. CASAD (MS/CCI) serves as aninvestment consultant with Fidelity Investmentsin Brea, California (Orange County). He previouslyworked as a marketing coordinator for the Bank ofIreland in Dublin.STEPHANIE BEALE FOST (BS/ADVPR) returnedto her home state of Pennsylvania, where she is anassociate director in the Department of Developmentand Alumni Relations at Penn State. She is married toUT Knoxville alumnus Brooks Fost (CASNR ’04, ’06).LAURA PACK (BS/JEM) is an editorial assistant atGlamour magazine, a CondeNast publication based inNew York City.REBECCA THEWS (BS/JEM) is a publicist in thecorporate communications department at CMT inNashville.AMY SELF WHEATLEY (MS/SIS) serves as thelibrary media specialist at the K-8 White Pine Schoolin White Pine, Tennessee. She earned a bachelor’sdegree in arts and sciences from UT Knoxville in2003.2006JOY BLOCKSMA (BS/ADVPR) is performing marketresearch for the U30 Group, a national researchcompany located in Knoxville, Tennessee.DAVID HAJDIK (MS/SIS) is an assistant professorand distance-learning reference librarian in theAngelo and Jennette Volpe Library at TennesseeTechnological University in Cookeville, Tennessee.MEGHAN KERR-TISINGER (BS/ADVPR) is thedirector of communication for U.S. RepresentativeJohn “Randy” Kuhl (R–NY). She is working towarda master’s degree in political communications fromJohns Hopkins University.2007ELIZABETH CRISP CRAWFORD (PhD/CCI)is an assistant professor at the University ofWisconsin—Oshkosh.ROGER HAGY (MS/CCI) serves as the directorof college relations at the University of Virginia’sCollege at Wise. He is also the editor of the UVa-WiseMagazine.ERIN HAUCK (BS/ADVPR) works for PrometheusMedia Services in its New York City office.MILDRED “MIBBIE” WRIGHT MAJORS (BS/ADVPR) is an assistant media planner at Carat inAtlanta.CASSIE STOFFER (BS/JEM) is a sales associate withESPN Radio in Los Angeles.class notes2001JENNIFER ALEXANDER (BS/JEM) is the middayhost on WJXB-FM B97.5 in Knoxville, Tennessee.ERIN REICH (BS/JEM) is working as a contractpsychotherapist.2002ERIN BURNS FREEMAN (BS/JEM) has beenpromoted to director of communications forthe Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation.Freeman is a member of the inaugural class of Young2005ARICA BAKER (BS/JEM) is a client servicerepresentative for the Eastern Radio Division ofArbitron Inc. in the company’s Atlanta office. Shewas previously an account executive with WBAL–Hearst Corporation in Baltimore.HEATHER HALEY (BS/JEM) is the morning newsanchor and daily reporter at WYMT–TV in Hazard,Kentucky.JILL ECKERT MCPHERSON (BS/ADVPR) isthe chapter coordinator for Trinity Habitat forHumanity in Fort Worth, Texas.Have a new job? Another degree?Just have news you want to share?Let us know! Visit cci.utk.edu andclick on Alumni and Friends.Complete the “Keep in Touch” formand we’ll add your information tothe next edition of Full Circle.23

Where are you now?Whether you are alumni or friends of the College of Communication and Information, we want to keep track of where you are and what you are doing.Please take a few minutes to complete the form below and return it to the College of Communication and Information, The University of Tennessee,302 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0332. Or visit our website at www.cci.utk.edu, click the “Alumni and Friends” link, then click the“Keep in Touch” link and fill out the form there.Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________________Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone_________________________________________________________________________________________________________E-mail________________________________________________________________________________________________________Place of employment_ _____________________________________________________________________________________________Position_______________________________________________________________________________________________________Is it OK to publish your current position and employment information on the CCI web site? _ _____Yes_____ NoRelationship with CCI (mark all that apply): _ _______________________________Alumna/Alumnus (Please list year and degree)______Current student ______Intern sponsor _____ OtherContributions____ Enclosed is a contribution to the College of Communication and Information: $__________To learn more about how you can support the college, visit cci.utk.edu.Full CircleOffice of the DeanCollege of Communication and Information302 Communications BuildingKnoxville, TN 37996-0332NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT #481KNOXVILLE TN