Category Archives: Faculty News
ADPR Ranked Top 10 Worldwide
ADPR AMONG MOST VISIBLE IN THE WORLD IN LEADING ADVERTISING RESEARCH JOURNALS
There’s another TOP 10 in town. But this time, it’s tops in advertising research. According to a July 2021 publication in the Journal of Business Research, UTK is tied with Michigan State University as the 4th most visible program in top-tier advertising research journals in the US and 8th worldwide for the most recent decade 2010 – 2019. The independent study profiled program visibility in the world’s top three advertising journals.
“This is a special accomplishment for our program,” said long-time UTK advertising program professor … Read more “ADPR Ranked Top 10 Worldwide”
Researchers, Bread Company Explore Attitudes Toward Ex-Offenders
A multidisciplinary research team from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, investigated how messages about a fresh start might improve public attitudes toward individuals with a criminal background.
Knowing from prior research that the US perspective often associates drug addiction with a blemished character, the team of UT researchers hypothesized that framing a messaging campaign in terms of the fresh start mindset might counteract the blaming attitude that can make people feel less inclined to help addicts and ex-offenders.
To test their theories, the team—marketing doctoral student Tyler Milfeld of Wichita, Kansas, and Dan Flint, Regal Professor of Marketing in UT’s … Read more “Researchers, Bread Company Explore Attitudes Toward Ex-Offenders”
Industry-experienced Lecturers Bring New Perspectives
Lecturers bring real-world experience to bridge theory and practice in an important way. Practitioners from the industry are experts that have lived in the workforce and can integrate new strategies and tactics into our classes. Many of our adjunct lecturers facilitate experiential-learning and community outreach through their real-world clients and cases. The following illustrates the accomplishments of four ADPR lecturers.
Ellie Amador
Ellie Amador is the director of marketing for the University of Tennessee System. She engages with Tennesseans and university stakeholders across the country to promote the UT brand. Amador provided strategy, development, and execution of the “Everywhere … Read more “Industry-experienced Lecturers Bring New Perspectives”
Beth Avery Foster and Courtney Childers #ChooseToChallenge
March was Women’s History Month – All month ADPR highlighted the women in ADPR who #ChooseToChallenge. Two faculty members from the School of Advertising and Public Relations are doing that by fighting the opioid epidemic.
Under the direction of UT President Randy Boyd, the University of Tennessee System is working to combat the TN opioid crisis. In August 2019, UT held its first Summit for Opioid Addiction and Response (SOAR).
To diminish opioid fatalities, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded faculty members at UT a grant to strengthen opioid prevention resources in rural Appalachian communities, to understand community … Read more “Beth Avery Foster and Courtney Childers #ChooseToChallenge”
ADPR Celebrates International Women’s Day
March 8 was International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness against bias, and takes action for equity. The IWD 2021 theme was #ChooseToChallenge, which encourages us to question stereotypes and help forge an inclusive world. The UT ADPR office was pleased to recognize this deserved focal point for women that is crucial to the women’s rights movement. To engage in the celebration, ADPR shared the accomplishments of its amazing faculty and staff who rewrite the narrative every day. Throughout Women’s History month ADPR is sharing the stories of students, faculty, and alumni who have helped us achieve … Read more “ADPR Celebrates International Women’s Day”
ADPR Graduate Student and Assistant Professor Published

Graduate student Shelby Luttman and ADPR Assistant Professor Dr. Sifan Xu have recently been published in New Media & Society for their research paper about how people developed online networks in protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. The two worked on social media and coding to research this.
“I was learning how to do it [coding] as we went along. Dr. Xu was incredible the whole time and I learned so much,” Luttman said.
The research paper was presented at the International Communication Association Conference digitally.
“It was a long process but it’s been so exciting. When I visited Tennessee there
CCI Presents at 2020 AEJMC Conference
Faculty and graduate students from the University of Tennessee College of Communication and Information (CCI) presented 10 peer-reviewed research papers at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) annual conference, which was held virtually Aug. 6-9.
In addition, six CCI faculty served as panelists, moderators, and discussants during the conference.
Faculty serving in AEJMC leadership roles include: Amber Roessner, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, who was elected to the Standing Committee on Research, and Joy Jenkins, JEM assistant professor, who is the incoming head of the Magazine Media Division. Moonhee … Read more “CCI Presents at 2020 AEJMC Conference”
ADPR Virtually Presents at American Academy of Advertising Conference
School of Advertising and Public Relations has a strong presence at the recent American Academy of Advertising Conference, March 26-29, 2020.
Professor of Advertising, Eric Haley assumed his official role as President of the American Academy of Advertising, March 27. Prior, he served as the Vice President of the Academy from March 2018 to March 2019, and President-Elect from March 2019 – March 2020.
Interim Director and Professor Sally J. McMillan received the American Academy of Advertising Ivan L. Preston Outstanding Contribution to Research Award, March 28, 2020. The Ivan L. Preston Outstanding Contribution to Research Award honors individuals who … Read more “ADPR Virtually Presents at American Academy of Advertising Conference”
Eric Haley Named AAA President
HALEY NAMED AAA PRESENT-ELECT: ADPR Professor Eric Haley was chosen President-Elect of the American Academy of Advertising (AAA), the leading international organization for the advancement of advertising scholarship, education and practice. He is currently serving as Vice President and will assume his new role during AAA’s annual conference, March 28-31 in Dallas, Texas. Haley will serve as AAA president in 2020.
Interim Director of ADPR Announced
Sally McMillan: Interim Director of the School of ADPR, written by Cara Hunter
After 20 years at the University of Tennessee serving as a faculty member, associate dean in the College of Communication and Information and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sally McMillan will serve as interim director of the School of Advertising and Public Relations starting on June 1, 2019.
McMillan did not always plan on pursuing a career in academics. After changing her major many times, McMillan graduated with a degree in English from Southern Adventist University and went on to teach high school students for two … Read more “Interim Director of ADPR Announced”