Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations

09/02/2026

Dogs with the Dean was a pretty great way to spend the afternoon yesterday! 🌭Students had the chance to spend some time with Dean Mazer and members of our faculty and staff while enjoying hot dogs and great conversation.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon a memorable one!

08/28/2026

Starting the semester fueled up! ☕ Thank you to everyone who joined us for Fuel Up with Faculty, where students had the opportunity to connect with faculty and staff, ask questions, and build relationships beyond the classroom over some treats.

08/27/2026

Please join us in congratulating Associate Professor Sifan Xu, the newest DeForrest Jackson Professor in the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations!

Established through a generous gift from Suzanne Sackleh ('89) in honor of her favorite professor, DeForrest Jackson, this prestigious professorship recognizes a faculty member whose research, teaching, and service make an exceptional impact on the Tombras School, UT College of Communication & Information, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Over the next three years, Associate Professor Xu will use the professorship to further an active research agenda, which explores the role of artificial intelligence, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI-powered conversational chatbots, in transforming crisis communication from mass-broadcast
risk messaging into adaptive, personalized risk education.

He will focus on producing impactful scholarship while helping elevate the Tombras School’s visibility on the national and international stage.

08/21/2026

We're so excited to have Assistant Professor Kyeongwon Kwon and Assistant Professor Sunny Qin on our team! Can't wait to see the impact they have on our students and school. 🧡

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

Associate Professor Matthew Pittman’s class got a special visit from One Knox SC! ⚽️📱Students had the opportunity to hear directly from the team, including Tombras School alum Kasey Fontaine (’17), about what goes into marketing a professional soccer club on social media—from developing a strategy and creating engaging content to connecting with fans and building the team’s brand online.

08/20/2026

Tombras School students, start your semester off right with coffee, donuts, and great conversation! ☕ Join us for Fuel Up with Faculty on Thursday, August 27 from 9–11 a.m. in the Tombras School Suite (COM 476).

Meet your professors, connect with classmates, and enjoy a sweet start to the year!

08/19/2026

Applications for the PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition are still open! 🌟

Students interested in gaining hands-on experience developing a public relations campaign for a real client are encouraged to apply by this Friday, August 21. The Bateman competition offers an opportunity to strengthen skills in research, strategy, and campaign ex*****on while working collaboratively with peers and competing at the national level.

Ready to take your PR experience beyond the classroom? Apply here: tiny.utk.edu/UTKBateman2026Application

08/12/2026

What’s it like to take your advertising skills from the classroom to a real-world campaign? 👀

The 2026-27 National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team gives students the opportunity to work as an agency team, develop strategy and content, collaborate with teammates, earn course credit, and compete on the national stage.

Last year’s team earned first place in District 7 with a campaign for the NFL. This year, the team will take on a new challenge with Rocket Mortgage as its client. 🚀

Ready to be part of what’s next? Apply here: tiny.utk.edu/NSAC2027CompetitionApp

Applications close Friday, August 21.

07/31/2026