UTK Communication Studies

Graduate student Jenna Pauly with Dr. Elizabeth Carlson, Dr. Emily Paskewitz, and Dr. Elizabeth Hurst Marold (UTK alum!) collecting data on National Weather Service Integrated Weather Team workshops, June 10, 2026, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA

Don't forget - the deadline to RSVP for the School of Communication Studies graduation reception in Neyland is Monday, May 4! Please let us know if you plan to attend by scanning the QR code or emailing [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

✨Attention all graduating seniors!✨
You are invited to the School of Communication Studies' graduation reception on Thursday, May 14 from 3-5pm at the Lauricella Center in Neyland Stadium! Please RSVP by either scanning the QR code or emailing [email protected] by Monday, May 4. We can't wait to celebrate you!

The School of Communication Studies & Lambda Pi Eta hosted The McClung Public Speaking Contest on Wednesday evening. Five incredible speakers showed off their talent to both a panel of judges and 900 of their peers. The event was emceed by Communication Studies majors, Lexi Fitch & Lauren Hiatt.

Here are the contest results:
1st Place: Ariel Soudry-The Great Emu War
2nd Place: Hailey Solomon-The Cultural Factors Behind Costa Rica’s Blue Zone
3rd Place: Marlie McLellan-Italian Coffee Culture
4th Place: Grace Sullivan-Chinese Street Food
5th Place: Coco Allen-Día de los Mu***os

Congratulations!

Great time at the Southern States Communication Association’s annual conference! 📸 It was a privilege to share our latest research and engage in such thoughtful dialogue with colleagues across the field. Proud to represent our School and contribute to evolving conversations in communication.

On Tuesday, April 7th, we welcomed a record 42 new members to our Alpha Gamma chapter of the Lambda Pi Eta national communication honor society. Student leaders Alexa Fitch, Marissa Ruiz, and Lauren Hiatt led the event with the support of faculty advisor, Lindsay Harrison. Graduating members were celebrated with a congratulatory (sparkling cider) toast and received their honor cords for graduation. In addition, we honored the CMST faculty mentors who were paired this year with a student mentee. A big thank you to the family, friends, and faculty who joined our Lambda Pi members to celebrate their many accomplishments. We are so proud of our students!

Today, Dr. Ryan Beaty's CMST 352 Communication Theory course welcomed Coach Karen Weekly, head coach of the #7 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols softball team () for their discussion on group and team communication. Coach Weekly shared her wisdom from her over 30 years of coaching and work in universities on the role communication plays in team cohesion, vision, discipline, and other group dynamics. Students were thoroughly impressed with her authenticity, thoughtfulness, and candor. Thank you, Coach Weekly for investing in students!

Dr. Ryan Beaty, assistant professor of communication studies, hosted Knoxville Police Communications Manager Scott Erland, and UTK Emergency Services Public Information Officer, Ryan Moore, for a discussion on crisis communication in CMST 352 Communication Theory on Tuesday, March 31. Erland and Moore shared how decisions are made regarding communication during crisis, priorities for disseminating information, and stories from their careers. Students were able to pose questions and hear how versatile their studies are for their future careers.

Spring 2026 Smokey Talks: CMST 240/247 Public Speaking Competition, which was held at the Student Union on March 25, 2026.

🥇 1st Place: Tucker Riley - Argentina: The Almost Perfect Melting Pot
🥈 2nd Place: Jacob Broxterman - Dark Kitchens and Food Delivery in Russia
🥉 3rd Place: Ayaan Hemani - After Hours Socializing: Amsterdam vs. the United States
4️⃣ 4th Place: Stella Mulloy - Operation Smile in the Philippines