Dr. Kristi Gatto has recently finished her first year as a professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and she is soaring like a Skyhawk.
Gatto is the assistant professor of media design in the Mass Media and Strategic Communication department at UT Martin. She teaches classes such as Digital Media Production, Film Appreciation, Web Design and other media design and production courses.
“She brings fresh experience [to the department] from her area of multimedia and media design,” said Dr. Robert Nanney, the chairman of the department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication. “She brings fresh skills that our department always needs as we change to keep up with the times.”
Gatto is originally from New York and going from a big city to a small town like Martin was a big jump for her, but she has been enjoying many of the changes. Two big changes she enjoys are the quietness and lack of traffic in Martin.
“I have a big family and we all live together, and it’s so loud,” she said. “I really enjoy the peace and quiet [in Martin]. I also enjoy how I can come to work on cruise control, and there’s never traffic. But while it’s nice to have everything at your fingertips, it’s also overwhelming.”
While she enjoys the community and people here, she did face a few challenges her first year.
“The most challenging thing was just learning about the community. School-wise, it was just a lot on my plate, not necessarily challenging to do, just a lot,” Gatto said. “And just getting familiar with the school and where everything was, just exploring more.
Before coming to Martin, Gatto received her bachelor’s degree in Music Management from Baruch in New York, master’s degree in Film Production from LIU Brooklyn, and PhD in Media and Communication from Texas Tech, where she also taught while receiving the degree. She also worked with multiple production companies, such as Dick Clark Productions, Jigsaw Productions, and Just Jenn Productions, providing vital experience for her as a professor.
When in search for a new job, she applied to multiple places but never expected to end up here. It was when she was invited for her job interview and met everybody, seeing how everyone worked together, that she decided UT Martin was the place for her.
Even though she just finished her first year, she has already created a class of her own (immersive storytelling) and built a strong reputation.
“She’s very personable, always smiling, always wanting to do stuff for others and she brings food,” said Nanney. “She’s a great colleague, great faculty member, she’s as good, better even, than we thought she would be, and we are very pleased.”
Not only has she made a name for herself with the faculty, but she has also made one with the students on campus. She is known for being giving and wanting every student she passes to do well, and it shows through her students.
“Dr. Gatto has been very important in letting me explore my creative side,” said Jacob Sullivan, a Mass Media and Strategic Communication major who has taken multiple classes with Gatto. “Dr. Gatto has created a fun, hands-on learning experience that has been both helpful to my future career and the future of other students.”
Aside from being an amazing teacher, Gatto is also a huge Disney fan. Everyone who has ever met her or been to her office will know how strong her love for Disney is. She has Disney-themed posters, books and figurines all around her office. She even goes to Disney and spends time with her family every year.
“I grew up with Disney in my life, whether it’s the princesses or going to the theme parks. Once I got into college and had my own money, I started going every year, even multiple times a year,” she said. “I really grew up with the magic of Disney and believing. I feel like I have progressed in my life, especially in this field, because I took that mentality of ‘if you can dream it, you can do it.’”
Gatto has been an amazing addition to the campus, and there is a bright future for her here at UT Martin.
“I think the sky is the limit,” said Nanney. “If she continues to grow, has the great professional skills and has the great attitude she has, as I know she will, the future is incredibly bright.”
Gatto cares immensely about the campus and students. She loves the campus and the students she has interacted with during her time at UT Martin.
“As someone whose family wasn’t super supportive of my career choices, do what you want to do, as long as it’s feasible,” she said. “And, if you can dream it, do it, try it.”
