McLure Library has been a familiar presence at The University of Alabama, serving students and faculty since 1925. But starting 50 years ago, conversations about reimagining and fully realizing the library’s potential resurfaced, shaped by shifting needs, advancing technology, and the evolving role of information studies. What existed functioned well, but the idea of what McLure could become remained. That long-awaited…
Transformative research rarely happens by itself. What begins with ideas, then can grow through collaboration, mentorship and connection. This spirit of interdisciplinary work is at the heart of The University of Alabama’s (UA) Transformative Human-centered Research for Impacting Vulnerabilities Everywhere (THRIVE) Initiative. Jihoon Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, has been selected as one of only 10 faculty members across campus to serve as a 2025–2026 THRIVE Fellow. Housed within UA’s Institute…
When Jonathan Biles arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2013, he knew two things: he wanted to work in sports media, and he wasn’t afraid to take a different path to get there. While many of his peers built their resumes through The Crimson White, the University’s storied student newspaper, Biles stacked up multiple paid writing gigs, covering football, basketball, gymnastics and just about any other sport he could cover. …
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, C&IS hosted the Alabama Science Communication Initiative (ASCI) Summit, bringing together leading science communication experts from across the country for a day of discovery and collaboration. This summit reflects C&IS’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, advancing research and strengthening leadership in the communication field. Held at the Byrant Conference Center, communication leaders from various institutions across the country examined key questions shaping the science field. Each topic…
The College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) continues to distinguish itself as a place where students experience opportunities with global impact. On Sept. 19, Alabama Public Radio (APR), stationed inside The University of Alabama’s Digital Media Center (DMC), welcomed its first State Department delegation. The event brought international voices and perspectives directly to campus. …
When Dr. Heather Ashley Hayes walked into her eye doctor’s office for a routine checkup, she expected the usual: a few uncomfortable flashes of light, the puff of air that startles the eye, perhaps the dilation drops that require sunglasses indoors for the rest of the day. Instead, she walked out with news that would…
To some, summer means a break from classes or a chance to reset; to others, it’s an opportunity to take on a short-term job. To College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) students Aubri Wherry and Salome Montague, it meant transformation. Their summer in New York City offered mentorship, growth and a view of what…
At The University of Alabama, Minerva is more than just a classroom experience, it is a launching pad for the next wave of advertising professionals. Created in 2015, Minerva, centered around creative advertising, was created to help students graduate with a competitive portfolio, giving them an advantage when applying to work at top agencies. Led by Associate Professor Mark Barry, the course has become a creative hub where students, alums and faculty work together to push…
At the University of Alabama, the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) is more than a collection of classrooms and lecture halls; it’s a launchpad for dreams. Within its walls, ambition meets preparation, and passion is sculpted into purpose. Professors don’t just lecture; they mentor, nurture and ignite a fire within their students. Projects…
A journey from the quiet streets of Tuscaloosa to the glowing lights of the red carpet came to life for a remarkable group of students. The University of Alabama’s Center for Public Television received six nominations at the Southeast Emmys; an honor made more extraordinary by the fact that five of those projects were both…
