Featured image: Professor Tracy Rutledge on Jan. 22, 2026. (Pacer Photo/Miranda Conrad)

From a student intern for University Relations to the new Mass Media and Strategic Communications (MMSC) Department Chair, Tracy Rutledge’s journey at UT Martin has come full circle.

Rutledge is currently in her 18th year of teaching at UT Martin, but her ties to the campus extend far beyond her time as a professor. As department chair, Rutledge will oversee a range of responsibilities, from showing prospective students around the department during Preview Day to coordinating the core schedule for the next semester. Former chair Robert Nanney stepped down from the position Jan. 1, but remains on faculty as a professor.

As a native of Dresden, Tennessee, Weakley County is home to Rutledge. She came to UT Martin as an undergraduate and graduated from the MMSC department with a degree in Public Relations in 1997. During her undergraduate studies, she was a publications intern for University Relations. Upon her graduation, a position opened, and she served as the publications coordinator for four years.

“In a lot of ways, this is home,” Rutledge said.

After earning her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2000 and Ph.D. from the University of Memphis in 2010, Rutledge returned to the classroom. She has also been the program coordinator of the M.A. in Strategic Communication since 2015.

As she steps into her new position, she appreciates that she can remain connected to the students. Across the campus, each department chair is in the classroom with students.

“I would not have agreed to it if they told me I couldn’t be in the classroom,” she said. “I love the classroom.”

For Rutledge, hearing student conversations and seeing their daily challenges firsthand helps her make informed decisions and look for areas of improvement.

“When you’re still in the classroom, you’re seeing students, you’re talking to students and you’re hearing their conversations, which I think helps you make decisions and think through things,” Rutledge said.

Her teaching style makes an impact on students. Aubrey Abbott, a junior studying MMSC, appreciates all that Rutledge does for her and others in the MMSC department.

“She has such a big passion for every single thing she does, and she just puts so much energy into it, and that makes it fun,” Abbott said.

Abbott explained how Rutledge’s Data Storytelling course specifically grew her public speaking and analytical skills through their project called “Hawk Talk,” which simulated a TED Talk. She pushes her students to succeed and put forth their best effort.

“Her being enthusiastic, in turn, makes the other professors enthusiastic,” Abbott said. “Her enthusiasm has made the communications department a better place.”

Her impact doesn’t end when students graduate. UT Martin alumnus Dylan Ingram, who now works as a videographer for University Relations, learned a great deal from Rutledge during his time in the MMSC department as an undergraduate and master’s student.

“I always liked her classes because they had a lot of real-world experience without it being real-world experience, so you didn’t have the high stakes of having to work with a client,” Ingram said.

Ingram explained how Rutledge had his class complete a personal branding project where they created a logo for themselves, and he still utilizes that logo for his freelance work today.

“She cares a lot, and she brings a lot of knowledge and delivers it in a very caring, compassionate and genuine way,” Ingram said.

Ingram now visits her classes as a guest speaker to share about his role as a videographer on campus.

As Rutledge looks toward the future of the MMSC department, she is focused on growth and staying up-to-date with the industry.

“I think we have an opportunity to move the department forward,” Rutledge said.

She is looking at new opportunities not just on campus, but also at the centers and other places the department hasn’t been involved with before.

“That’s an exciting challenge,” Rutledge said.