Thank you to the 2025 TCA Leadership and Robert Davenport/Motlow State faculty and staff for the behind the scenes work to make this conference possible.
Thank you to all the conference presenters and participation.
This conference could not happen without you!
Congratulations to the following students. Our student work is the highlight of the conference.
2025 TCA Undergraduate Paper Winners:
1st place: Eli York, Middle Tennessee State University/Faculty Mentor Dr. Patrick Richey
2nd place: Haley Conde, Northeast State Community College/Faculty Mentor- Dr. Ruth Livingtson
2025 Top Graduate Paper Winner:
1st place: Traci Lively- University of Tennessee at Knoxville/Faculty Mentor- Dr. Michelle Violanti
2025 Student Film Showcase Winners:
Short Film Winner: Garrett Travis, Tennessee Tech University
Audience Favorite: Garrett Travis, Tennessee Tech University
Documentary: Tyler Payne, Tennessee Tech University
Commercial: Chloe Gessner, Aimee Blackburn and Anna Johnson, Volunteer State Community College
2025 TCA Annual Awards:
Educator of the Year: Dr. Janet McCormick, Middle Tennessee State University
Communicator of the Year: Dr. Karen Hill, Volunteer State Community College
Dortha Norton Spirit of Service: Dr. Natonya Listach, Middle Tennessee State University
Horizon Award: Kayla Huber- Walters State Community College
Below, you will find the 2025 TCA Conference Program at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact TCA Executive Director, Dr. Shaq Marsh, at somarsh@pstcc.edu. We look forward to seeing you!
The 2025 Tennessee Communication Association (TCA) Conference will be held on the campus of Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20.
Please use the link below to register for the 2025 TCA Conference and pay for your 2025-2026 TCA membership.
We have reserved hotel rooms for the 2025 TCA conference at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20.
The conference hotel is Hilton Garden Inn & Suites in Smyrna.
Thank you, Robert Davenport, from Motlow State Community College for securing these rooms for us.
You can reserve your hotel room at the link below.
If you have any issues booking a hotel room, please contact Jacob below.
Jacob Hall Area Director of Sales Hilton Garden Inn Nashville/Smyrna Hampton Inn and Suites Nashville/Smyrna O:615-355-6262 M: 629-201-1199 jacob.hall@hilton.com
You will have until Thursday, August 28 to reserve your hotel room.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards, TCA Executive Director, Dr. Shaq Marsh
Friday, September 19 – Saturday, September 20, 2025
Motlow State Community College
Smyrna, Tennessee
“Come Together: Colleagues, Classrooms, and Communities”
The theme for the 2025 conference is focused on the connections an individual makes in multiple aspects of his/her/their life. This theme is designed to explore how communication has evolved and has been utilized within classroom assignments and activities, community involvement, and how we as a society, navigate major historical events. Communication areas to consider might include student support and accommodation, generational perspectives, culture, pop culture, technological advancements, etc. We encourage papers, panels, and GIFTS submissions surrounding the theme.
Please submit to a paper, panel, or GIFTS proposal at the link below.
The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, June 30, 2025.
We seek GIFTS proposals that relate to the basic communication course (i.e. Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking, Introduction to Communication).
All GIFTS ideas must :
Be original to the presenter Not duplicate any other previously published work, including your own previously published work
2. Have been implemented in the classroom
3. Presenters should bring printed handouts with an explanation of the GIFTS activity to the conference/presentation.
4. The GIFTS idea should be able to be explained in 8 minutes or less.
11th Annual TCA Student Short Film Contest and Showcase
Please enter your students’ films in the Tennessee Communication Association’s Short Film Contest and Showcase. Entries are due by Monday, June 30, 2025.
The categories are:
Commercials and PSAs that are 30 – 60-seconds
Documentaries that are 10-minutes or less
Short films that are 10-minutes or less
Submit the YouTube Links and Microsoft Word document with the information below for the 2025 TCA Short Film Contest.
Category
Title of Submission
School
Submitted By
Phone Number
Email
Brief Synopsis
YouTube Link
Submit the information in a Microsoft Word document and email at tennesseecommassociation@gmai.com by Monday, June 30, 2025.
It is free to enter students into Student Film Contest and Showcase.
The top films will be put into a 1.5-hour showcase at the conference on Friday evening.
Judges rate the entries, and the top entries will be in the showcase and the winners will be the top rated per category. All directors of the films chosen to be in the showcase will be given a Selected for Screening certificate.
The director of the winning film in each category will be given a certificate and a cash reward. After the showcase, the audience will vote for their favorite film, and the winner will be given the Audience Favorite certificate and cash award.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Tracy Nichols by email at nicholst@apsu.edu.
Student Scholarship
TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invitation along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on the cover page.
We are proud to announce that our 2025 TCA conference will be held at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, 2025. We hope you can join us then! If you have any questions about the conference, please email Dr. Shaq Marsh, TCA Executive Director, at somarsh@pstcc.edu.
Thank you for attending the 2024 Tennessee Communication Association conference on the campus of Austin Peay State University on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21, 2024. Attached to this post, you will find the conference schedule. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Shaq Marsh, TCA Executive Director, at somarsh@pstcc.edu.
Below, you will find the 2024 TCA Conference hotel information.
Doubletree by Hilton Clarksville Riverview 50 College Street Clarksville, TN 37040
615-671-4628
Please ask for the TCA rate. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact TCA President-Elect, Dr. Jessica Morris at morrisjr@apsu.edu or TCA Executive Director, Dr. Shaq Marsh, at somarsh@pstcc.edu.
Friday, September 20 – Saturday, September 21, 2024
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee
Reflect and Relate: Reimagining Communication for ALL This year’s theme is based on a growing and changing understanding of human communication, digital communication, media, culture, and practices. This theme is designed to give researchers and presenters a broad umbrella under which to consider communication history and discuss changes in how we communicate, or the future of communication as a practice. Communication areas to consider might include changes based on race, gender, sexuality, economics, disabilities, law, culture, pop culture, technology advancements, etc. GIFTS panels could include explanation of the way that assignments and practices have been adapted over the years to keep the strength of the past while looking toward the future. PAPERS, PANELS, and GIFTS Submissions
Please complete the form to submit a paper, panel, or GIFTS Session:
The deadline to submit proposals is Saturday, June 15, 2024.
We seek GIFTS proposals that relate to the basic communication course (i.e. Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking, Introduction to Communication).
All GIFTS ideas must Be original to the presenter Not duplicate any other previously published work, including your own previously published work Have been implemented in the classroom Presenters should bring printed handouts with an explanation of the GIFTS activity to the conference/presentation. The GIFTS idea should be able to be explained in 8 minutes or less. 10th Annual TCA Student Short Film Contest and Showcase Please enter your students’ films in the Tennessee Communication Association’s Short Film Contest and Showcase. Entries are due by Saturday, June 15, 2024.
The categories are:
Commercials and PSAs that are 30 – 60-seconds Documentaries that are 10-minutes or less Short films that are 10-minutes or less Only YouTube links format will be accepted.
Submit the YouTube Links and Microsoft Word document with the information below for the 2024 TCA Short Film Contest.
Category
Title of Submission
School
Submitted By
Phone Number
Email
Brief Synopsis
Submit the information in a Microsoft Word document and email it to Dr. Tracy Nichols at nicholst@apsu.edu by Saturday, June 15, 2024.
YouTube Link
It is free to enter. The top films will be put into a 1.5-hour showcase at the conference on Friday evening. Judges rate the entries, and the top entries will be in the showcase and the winners will be the top rated per category. All directors of the films chosen to be in the showcase will be given a Selected for Screening certificate. The director of the winning film in each category will be given a certificate and a cash reward. After the showcase, the audience will vote for their favorite film, and the winner will be given the Audience Favorite certificate and cash award.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Tracy Nichols by email at nicholst@apsu.edu
Student Scholarship TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invitation along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on the cover page.
Friday, September 20 – Saturday, September 21, 2024
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee
Reflect and Relate:
Reimagining Communication for ALL
This year’s theme is based on a growing and changing understanding of human communication, digital communication, media, culture, and practices. This theme is designed to give researchers and presenters a broad umbrella under which to consider communication history and discuss changes in how we communicate, or the future of communication as a practice. Communication areas to consider might include changes based on race, gender, sexuality, economics, disabilities, law, culture, pop culture, technology advancements, etc. GIFTS panels could include explanation of the way that assignments and practices have been adapted over the years to keep the strength of the past while looking toward the future. PAPERS, PANELS, and GIFTS Submissions
Please complete the form to submit a paper, panel, or GIFTS Session:
The deadline to submit proposals is Saturday, June 14, 2024.
We seek GIFTS proposals that relate to the basic communication course (i.e. Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking, Introduction to Communication).
All GIFTS ideas must
Be original to the presenter
Not duplicate any other previously published work, including your own previously published work
Have been implemented in the classroom
Presenters should bring printed handouts with an explanation of the GIFTS activity to the conference/presentation.
The GIFTS idea should be able to be explained in 8 minutes or less.
10th Annual TCA Student Short Film Contest and Showcase
Please enter your students’ films in the Tennessee Communication Association’s Short Film Contest and Showcase. Entries are due by Saturday, June 15, 2024.
The categories are:
Commercials and PSAs that are 30 – 60-seconds Documentaries that are 10-minutes or less Short films that are 10-minutes or less Only YouTube Links format will be accepted.
Submit the Youtube Links and Microsoft Word documents with the information below for the 2024 TCA Short Film Contest.
Category
Title of Submission
School
Submitted By
Phone Number
Email
Brief Synopsis
YouTube Link
Submit the information in a Microsof Word document and email it to Dr. Tracy Nichols at nicholst@apsu.edu by Saturday, June 15, 2024.
It is free to enter. The top films will be put into a 1.5-hour showcase at the conference on Friday evening. Judges rate the entries, and the top entries will be in the showcase and the winners will be the top rated per category. All directors of the films chosen to be in the showcase will be given a Selected for Screening certificate. The director of the winning film in each category will be given a certificate and a cash reward. After the showcase, the audience will vote for their favorite film, and the winner will be given the Audience Favorite certificate and cash award.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Tracy Nichols by email at nicholst@apsu.edu
Student Scholarship
TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invitation along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on the cover page.
The National States Advisory Council (NSAC) is accepting nominations for the following awards, to be presented at the National Communication Association (NCA) 2023 convention in National Harbor, MD. NSAC is a council supporting state communication associations that holds meetings annually at the NCA convention.
Please submit all nominations to Dr. S. Brad Bailey, 2nd Vice Chair of NSAC, at brad.bailey@mgccc.edu by November 4, 2023. PLEASE INCLUDE “NSAC AWARD NOMINATION” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
Service to the State Award (The nominee must have made a significant contribution to her/his state communication association.)
Scholar of the Year Award (The nominee must have had an article published in the state journal of the nominator during the past calendar year. The contribution of the article to her/his discipline should be noteworthy )
High School Teaching Award (The nominee must have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and/or co-curricular environment )
Administrator of the Year Award (The nominee must have demonstrated recent contributions and support for Communication Arts, Forensics and/or Theatre activities. )
The persons applying for these awards do not have to be members of NCA to receive an award.
The application must include a letter of recommendation that directly addresses the nominee’s contribution to the category in which they are nominated. We welcome all submissions that meet the admissions criteria.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Brad Bailey at brad.bailey@mgccc.edu.
The 2023 TCA/KCA conference hotel is the LaQuinta Inn 7 Suites by Wyndham Cookeville located on 1131 South Jefferson Avenue, Cookeville, Tennesee 38501.
You must call the hotel at 931.520.3800 to receive the TCA/KCA hotel rate. You cannot receive the hotel rate by booking it online using a code.
The 2023 TCA/KCA conference will take place on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023 on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Hello Tennessee Communication Association members,
The 2023 TCA/KCA conference program can be found below.
We look forward to seeing you on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Hello Tennessee Communication Association Members,
Please use the link below to register for the 2023 TCA/KCA conference held on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Hello Tennessee Communication Association members and guests,
Below, you will find the 2023 TCA/KCA Conference Program.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023 on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Theme: Looking Forward: Exploring the Future of Communication Education
Higher education is shifting and adapting to the evolving needs of students. With change comes opportunity. This year’s theme is aimed at looking at the future of communication education. When submitting ideas for proposals, please think about this theme. This year’s annual conference will be a partnership conference with the Kentucky Communication Association. We encourage scholars and practitioners from Tennessee, Kentucky, and nearby states/areas to submit proposals to the conference. Everyone is welcome!
The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, June 30, 2023.
We seek GIFTS proposals that relate to the basic communication course (Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking).
All GIFTS ideas must
Be original to the presenter,
Not duplicate any other previously published work, including your own previously published work
Have been implemented in the classroom.
Presenters should bring printed handouts with an explanation of the GIFTS activity to the conference/presentation.
The GIFTS idea should be able to be explained in 8 minutes or less.
9th Annual TCAStudent Short Film Contest and Showcase
Please enter your students’ films in the Tennessee/Kentucky Communication Associations Short Film Contest and Showcase. Entries are due by Friday, June 30, 2023.
The categories are:
Commercials and PSAs that are 30 – 60-seconds
Documentaries that are 10-minutes or less
Short films that are 10-minutes or less
Only YouTube links and/or video files encoded H.264 MP4 in landscape 16×9 format will be accepted.
Include a word document with a short synopsis, category, college or university, and a title for each submission. Also include the name, email, and phone number of the director AND of the person entering the film. Label the document file with the same name as your video file/title.
It is free to enter. The top films will be put into a 1.5-hour showcase at the conference on Friday evening. Judges rate the entries, and the top entries will be in the showcase and the winners will be the top rated per category. All directors of the films chosen to be in the showcase will be given a Selected for Screening certificate. The director of the winning film in each category will be given a certificate and cash reward. After the showcase, the audience will vote for their favorite film, and the winner will be given the Audience Favorite certificate and cash award.
If you have questions, please contact James Livingston at livingjm@etsu.edu.
Student Scholarship
TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invite along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on the cover page.
Please upload student paper(s) here: : https://forms.gle/nY3eyzPRnSq52QKs5 You will need to sign in with a Google account to upload the student paper(s)
Submission Deadline for Proposals 11:59 PM EDT Friday, July 29, 2022
Hotel Information:
Hilton Garden Inn Gallatin, TN
1460 Tulip Polar Drive, Gallatin, TN 37066
THEME
Momentous Moments: Growth through Uncertainty
We have persevered through challenges these past couple of years. This year’s theme is aimed at celebrating the moments where we have grown when we did not where we were heading. When submitting ideas for proposals, please consider sharing the accomplishments and successes you have experienced as a scholar and/or practitioner. We encourage scholars and practitioners from Tennessee and nearby states/areas to submit proposals to the conference. Everyone is welcome!
We are adding two new interest groups to the conference program.
Race and Gender
Great Ideas for Teaching Students (GIFTS).
We seek GIFTS proposals that relate to the basic communication course (Fundamentals of Communication, Public Speaking).
All GIFTS ideas must
Be original to the presenter,
Not duplicate any other previously published work, including your own previously published work
Have been implemented in the classroom.
Presenters should bring printed handouts with an explanation of the GIFTS activity to the conference/presentation.
The GIFTS idea should be able to be explained in 8 minutes or less.
We seek to be inclusive of all groups and hope that you submit a proposal to our conference.
SHORT FILMS
Please enter your students’ films in the eighth Tennessee Communication Association Short Film Contest and Showcase by 11:59 PM EDT Friday, July 29, 2022.
Presently the categories are:
Commercials and PSAs that are 30 – 60-seconds
Documentaries that are 10-minutes or less
Short films that are 10-minutes or less
Podcasts that are 5 minutes or less
Requirements
Only YouTube links and/or video files encoded H.264 MP4 format will be accepted.
Include a word document with the following:
A title for each submission.
A short synopsis,
Identify the Category for the submission
Identify the college or university of the submission
The contact information (email address, and a phone number) of the director and additional production personnel
Label the document file with the same name as your video file/title.
All directors of the films in the showcase will be given a certificate of participation and winners will be given a certificate and cash reward.
Student Scholarship
TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invite along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on the cover page.
Please upload student paper(s) here: : https://forms.gle/CY2BmaC4H2Tws5rN9 You will need to sign in with a Google account to upload the student paper(s)
Fees/Membership/Conference Registration
Please complete this form https://forms.gle/GfyTWAYALACsjyBn8 to find out how to pay for your membership and conference registration fees online.
For additional information contact:
Shaquille Marsh, Ph.D. President-Elect Pellissippi State Community College 10915 Hardin Valley Road Knoxville, TN 37933 somarsh@pstcc.edu
Ruth Livingston, Ph.D. Executive Director Northeast State Community College P.O. Box 246 Blountville, TN 37617 rclivingston@northeaststate.edu
There will not be a short film showcase at this year’s conference.
Theme
This year’s 2021 Tennessee Communication Association theme is Adapt and Adjust: Communicating in an Evolving World. The Covid-19 pandemic caused our daily interactions to change. As communication practitioners and scholars, we had to adapt and adjust the ways we communicate. When submitting ideas for panels, papers, and posters, please consider sharing your ideas on how the pandemic has caused a shift in the ways we communicate.
Student Emphasis
TCA prides itself for its support of student scholarship. Please pass this invite along to your students. Remember there are top student paper awards for undergraduate and graduate students. Please notate all student submissions as Undergraduate or Graduate student on cover page. Please upload student paper(s) here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OjNKuZVZrwhR8IVdXrI8sVgujGP7vG7Gir-BSr-6pnU/edit/ You will need to sign in with a Google account to upload the student paper(s)
We have reserved hotel rooms for the 2025 TCA conference at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennesse Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20.
The conference hotel is Hilton Garden Inn & Suites in Smyrna.
You can reserve your hotel room at the link below.
Tennessee Communication Association 