Featured photo: Jerald Ogg (Provided photo)
The University of Tennessee at Martin has many great professors, but there is one who deserves special recognition.
Jerald Ogg is a professor for the department of mass media and strategic communication. He has been a professor at UT Martin for 39 years. He has taught many subjects throughout his time, such as law and ethics and principles of advertising. He has also served in many different positions at UT Martin such as Chairman for the Department of Communications and Dean for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Ogg also participates in many other school and community-related things; he currently teaches at the Ray McWherter Institute–a leadership program on campus–and he volunteers at First Baptist College.
Ogg graduated from UT Martin with bachelor’s degrees in political science and communications. He would go on to receive his law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, his master’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University and his doctoral degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University. He also served in the United States Air Force as a lawyer and retire as a colonel.
Ogg has had an impact on many students and peers. One person who he has impacted is Robert Nanney, chair of the department of mass media and strategic communication. Nanney attended UT Martin back in 1987 and had Ogg as a professor. When Nanney looked for the next step in his career, Ogg mentioned how he received his master’s degree at LSU, which influenced Nanney to attend LSU and receive his master’s in journalism.
“He was at the right place at the right time and encouraged me at just the right time in my career and life,” said Nanney.
“I’ve had Dr.Ogg since I was a freshman and I enjoy learning about different aspects of communications…I think he is a great professor,” said Madison Boyd, a UT Martin mass media and strategic communication student. Boyd is not the only one with this opinion; many of Ogg’s students share the opinion about how Ogg is a great and inspiring professor.
Throughout his life, Ogg has made many contributions to his career and community. He has impacted people in a positive way and continues to do so.
When asked about retirement, Ogg replied, “I’ll be the first to know when I’m no longer connected with the students, but as long as the students seem to be responding, and I still see the light bulbs go off in their eyes, I’m going to stick around a little bit longer.”
