As our centennial celebrations for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications conclude, we reflect on a century of excellence, innovation, and leadership. Our history is rich with stories of alumni who have shaped the media landscape, and our commitment to preparing the next generation of communicators has never been stronger. I highly encourage you to view the centennial video produced by faculty member Randy Covington. He captures the history while also underscoring the sweat equity faculty and staff have contributed over the years to make the school a leader as we pivot into our next century.

Looking to the future, we are embracing the transformative power of artificial intelligence. AI is reshaping just about every field — but especially our fields, those of information and communication. Without hesitation, I can assure you that we are at the forefront of integrating these advancements into our curriculum. Our students are learning to responsibly harness AI to enhance storytelling, improve media production, and analyze data with unprecedented precision. This prepares them not just for today’s industry, but for the rapidly evolving challenges of tomorrow.

We remain committed to ensuring that our graduates lead with integrity, creativity and a deep understanding of the ethical implications of AI in media, libraries, agencies and beyond. As we honor our past, we are equally excited about the future and the role our alumni and students will play in it.

Thank you for your continued support and for being a vital part of our story. 

Forever to thee and the CIC!

Tom Reichert