Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations

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Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations The Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations represents two of the most popular majors at UT. Check us out! https://adpr.utk.edu/ and

The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations represents two of the most popular majors on campus. We have over 350 undergraduate students, equally divided between the two disciplines, and more than 30 master’s and doctoral students. The school has 14 full-time faculty members and is internationally recognized for its excellence in education and research. Separate academic tracks are maintained for advertising and for public relations students. Whether you are a current student, a prospective student, an alum, a supporter, or just an interested observer, we hope you will find this page informative and engaging. DISCLAIMER: THE TOMRAS SCHOOL OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, BRANDS, OR ADVERTISEMENTS YOU MAY SEE WHEN VIEWING THIS PAGE.

10/23/2026

It’s been a week since we launched the Tombras School of Thought Speaker Series with Terence Reilly, Chief Branding Officer at Crocs, Inc.

We’re revisiting three key takeaways from his conversation with our students on building iconic brands, understanding consumers and culture, and knowing when to challenge expectations.

Thank you again to Mr. Reilly for sharing his experience and insights with our students, and to Tombras for making this series possible.

And we hope he enjoyed watching the Vols take home a win last Saturday! đź‘Ź

Two of our members are taking over our stories from PRSA’s ICON 2026 conference in Orlando! Follow along as they connec...
10/19/2026

Two of our members are taking over our stories from PRSA’s ICON 2026 conference in Orlando! Follow along as they connect with PR professionals, learn from industry leaders, and share their experience with us: https://www.instagram.com/tombrasutk/

Yesterday, Tombras School students had the opportunity to learn firsthand from Terence Reilly, Chief Brand Officer of Cr...
10/16/2026

Yesterday, Tombras School students had the opportunity to learn firsthand from Terence Reilly, Chief Brand Officer of Crocs, Inc. Through stories from his career—and the decisions behind some of his most iconic brand moments—he delivered a masterclass on listening to consumers and connecting with culture.

He shared the pride he feels walking around campus and seeing brands he and his teams have helped build—including Stanley, HEYDUDE, and, of course, Crocs—in the hands and on the feet of our students. His wide-ranging experience offered meaningful career lessons, including the power of finding people who believe in you and how important it is to follow your intuition.

In a student Q&A, he left us with this advice: “The world is built by people who think differently. Cut through the clutter.”

We are deeply grateful to Mr. Reilly for sharing his time, knowledge, and experience with our students. We’ll always remember the chair!

And thanks to Tombras for making the Tombras School of Thought possible. This is just the first in a series of industry leaders who will take part in the Tombras School of Thought Speaker Series, so stay tuned for more!

Tombras School students connected with industry leaders, gained valuable career insights, and refined their professional...
10/14/2026

Tombras School students connected with industry leaders, gained valuable career insights, and refined their professional networking skills on CCI’s NYC Networking Trip!

During the trip, our students visited leading companies across the industry to learn more about their work and gain insight into career opportunities. The trip also included a reception hosted by Tombras, connecting our current students with our NYC-based alumni.

These company visits taught our students important lessons in working in the field of advertising and public relations, provided opportunities to network with leaders in the industry, and gave them a sneak peek into life in the city. We’re so grateful to the industry partners who welcomed our CCI community and provided valuable opportunities to learn from professionals across the field.

Interested in going on a networking trip? Applications for our Spring 2027 Networking Trips are now open, offering opportunities to visit NYC, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. Find more information about our networking trips here: tiny.utk.edu/5uQS6

Introducing Tombras School of Thought! The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations is launching a new speaker...
10/12/2026

Introducing Tombras School of Thought! The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations is launching a new speaker series that brings top industry leaders to campus to talk candidly with our students about their career paths, how major brand decisions get made, and the challenges of leading well-known companies.

Our inaugural speaker, Terence Reilly, Chief Branding Officer of Crocs, will present "Remember This Chair" this Thursday, October 15 at 2:30 p.m. To enrich students' learning experience, each School of Thought speaker will be hosted by a Tombras School class or student organization. However, be on the lookout for opportunities for students to sign up to join the particular class sessions.

This series is made possible by our partnership with Tombras. Through its relationships across the industry, the agency is generously connecting our school with high-profile leaders, giving students direct access to the people behind the brands they know.

Although all students are welcome, we only have 50 seats open, so claim yours soon! RSVP here: tiny.utk.edu/eq1DF

If you can't make this one, be on the lookout for an invitation for our next speaker coming next month.

Last week, the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations welcomed our alumni advisory board back to campus! Our...
10/08/2026

Last week, the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations welcomed our alumni advisory board back to campus! Our alumni gathered for in-depth discussions, engaged with students in The Orange Room Agency, attended our Board of Visitors reception, and joined us at our alumni tailgate on Saturday.

Our alumni discussed new pathways to prepare students for the workforce, how to maximize our students' time in the Tombras School, potential new courses, and updates from the school.

We are grateful to our incredible alumni for continuing the Volunteer spirit of giving back by preparing our students for future careers through serving as educational resources and valuable networking opportunities!

10/07/2026

Day two in NYC from junior advertising major Maggie Meier’s POV! :sparkles: Full day of learning and connecting with LG and then an evening of networking with our awesome alums.

Emma and Saloni are taking over our stories from New York City! 🏙️ Follow along today to see our students' perspective o...
10/05/2026

Emma and Saloni are taking over our stories from New York City! 🏙️ Follow along today to see our students' perspective on networking, career exploration, and experiences in the city. Check out our Instagram story to see the takeover: https://www.instagram.com/tombrasutk/

Earlier today, Victoria Ledford, Assistant Professor at Auburn University’s School of Communication and Journalism, join...
09/28/2026

Earlier today, Victoria Ledford, Assistant Professor at Auburn University’s School of Communication and Journalism, joined us to host Tombras’ first Lunch & Learn event. Victoria, the recipient of a Spencer Foundation grant as a Co-PI alongside Tombras’ own Assistant Professor Jeannete Iannacone, discussed her research on the intersection of health, education, communication, and artificial intelligence, focusing on how faculty have implemented AI in the classroom.

Faculty, staff, and students were present to hear her insights on the presence of AI in communication and public relations courses, and how policies regarding its use are shaped by faculty’s beliefs and attitudes towards AI. We are grateful for her sharing her time and insight!

Earlier this week, Donnie Smith, UT Knoxville Alumni and former CEO of Tyson Foods, came to speak to our students in Ass...
09/24/2026

Earlier this week, Donnie Smith, UT Knoxville Alumni and former CEO of Tyson Foods, came to speak to our students in Assistant Professor of Practice David Norman's class! He gave insight into applications of communication in leadership, crisis management, and how effective communication influenced his tenure as a leader of an expansive global company.

We’re grateful to Donnie for sharing his experience and lessons learned with our students and helping them see the impact communication can have across industries and throughout their careers.

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1345 Circle Park Drive
Knoxville, TN
37996

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

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