The College of Communication and Information Sciences is proud to announce that Dr. Miriam Sweeney has been selected as the incoming director of the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). Dr. Sweeney will be stepping into this administrative role on July 1st as Dr. Jamie Naidoo returns to the faculty in Fall 2026 after concluding…
On a Friday evening in late March, a room full of curious minds gathered to hear C&IS assistant professor Dr. A.J. Bauer talk about his latest book, Making the Liberal Media: How Conservatives Built a Movement Against the Press. The conversation that unfolded was as timely as it was historically rich. As a historian, ethnographer and former journalist, Bauer brought a unique perspective to the discussion, tracing how…
The College of Communication and Information Sciences’ (C&IS) Andrew Billings, Ph.D., was named one of the 2026 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award recipients. Selected by the SEC Provosts, recipients of this award are elite professionals who expand the boundaries of research, enhance their university’s reputation and embody stellar performance. Since 2012, the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards have honored one faculty…
Adding to a growing list of accolades, Mark Barry was recently honored with a Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation (AAF), demonstrating once again the caliber of talent within the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS). The award is the highest honor the AAF can give members who have exemplified long-term contributions to the advertising industry…
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) associate professor and poet Jeff Weddle has earned national recognition with a silver medal in the 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards for his poem collection Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj. Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj is the condensed English edition of the collection of poems first published in Albanian translation. The project reflects an ongoing international dialogue in Weddle’s work, particularly his literary connection to Kosovo. The book has received high praise from American…
On the evening of January 29, at The University Club, College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) faculty, students and community members gathered to celebrate the publication of Searching for Solidarity: Revolutionary Dreams and Radical Social Movements, a new book by Communication Studies assistant professor Noor Ghazal Aswad, Ph.D. The event marked more than a book launch; it created space for storytelling and connection. The evening…
The College of Communication & Information Sciences (C&IS) at The University of Alabama announces that Chandra Clark, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism and creative media, has been selected as one of 150 journalism leaders for the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont’s 2026 class of Faculty Champions. The designation recognizes leadership…
Each year, communities across Alabama are faced with the possibility of water-related emergencies like floods, droughts, hurricanes and extreme storms. Before the public is alerted, there is work that goes into how information about natural disasters is distributed for optimal safety to those that could be affected. That is where someone like Travis Loof, Ph.D., comes into play. Loof is a social and communication scientist for the Cooperative Institute…
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…
The Clarence E. Cason Award in Nonfiction Writing is a prestigious honor that celebrates the intersection of outstanding journalism and the deep-rooted cultural landscape of Alabama. Presented annually by the College of Communications & Information Sciences (C&IS), this award is more than just a recognition of literary achievement; it is a tribute to a legacy…
