About

The College of Communication

The Texas Program in Sports and Media is part of U.T.’s College of Communication, the largest and most comprehensive entity in the field and one of the highest ranked as well.

In an age requiring information literacy and polished interaction skills, the College has nationally ranked programs in Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication Studies, Journalism, and Radio-TV-Film while also providing communication, critical thinking, and writing skills to other disciplines across campus.

Its graduates have spanned the globe and include U.S. ambassadors, corporate CEOs, media entrepreneurs, state and federal legislators, nineteen Pulitzer Prize winners, researchers, filmmakers, actors, and one First Lady of the United States.

The Belo Center for New Media

The Texas Program in Sports and Media will eventually be housed in the Belo Center for New Media, a building scheduled to be opened in March of 2012.

In its basic design and structure, the Center will cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and create new forms of communication and collaboration. The Belo Center will be situated at a major intersection that will serve as a gateway to the northwestern side of The University. Such a location means that the Center will be highly visible to University personnel as well as to the people of Austin.

The Center will combine cutting-edge technology, trans-disciplinary programs, and international perspectives. It will enable students to combine traditional methods with progressive media to shape ideas that will change the face of communication throughout the world.

Board of Advisors

In its formative stages, the Texas Program in Sports and Media will need all the advice it can get. Accordingly, a small but carefully chosen Advisory Board has been assembled to help light the way:

Cappy McGarr (BA 1973, BJ 1975 MBA 1977), a Dallas-based financier

Dr. Steven Ungerleider (BA 1970), a clinical psychologist and widely published author

Dr. Isabella Cunningham, chair of U.T.’s Department of Advertising and Public Relations

Tracy Dahlby, Frank A. Bennack Chair in Journalism

Josh Davis, a College alumnus, entrepreneur and winner of 10 Olympic medals in swimming

Kiki De Ayala (BS 1987), President of De Ayala Properties, LLC and former UT football standout

Suzanne Halliburton (BJ 1983), sports reporter for the Austin American-Statesman

Mark Pannes (BS 1991), an Outstanding Alumnus of the College and Director of Sport at HSBC Private Bank in London

Jim Ritts (BS 1976), former Commissioner of Ladies Professional Golf Association

Steve Underwood (BJ 1973), Senior Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Titans

Chris Plonsky, Women’s Athletics Director

DeLoss Dodds, Men’s Athletics Director