Sally J. McMillan is a professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.  From 2005-2015, she served in administration at UT – first as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Communication and then as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.  In both roles, she led data analysis and strategic planning efforts in areas such as enrollment management, retention, and graduation. She spearheaded the development of One Stop Student Services as well as a suite of initiatives that led to a 20% increase in four-year graduation rate in less than a decade.

Sally also has 15 years of experience in advertising and public relations in roles ranging from co-director of a non-profit organization to president of a software research and development company. She directed a salesforce that increased profits seven-fold and also managed strategic and creative functions of an internal advertising agency.

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Before joining UT in 1999, Sally taught at Boston University, the University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  Her primary teaching areas are advertising and public relations management, media planning, social media, public relations writing, and communication theory and research. Her research explores the impact of new communication technologies on individuals, organizations and society; examines factors that lead to academic success for students from diverse backgrounds; and evaluates approaches to communicating with underserved populations.  She has published and/or presented more than 100 scholarly studies and has received multiple awards for teaching, research, and service.

Sally has a bachelor's degree in English from Southern Adventist University and a master's degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Maryland. She earned a doctorate in communication and society from the University of Oregon. 

Sally's passions including travel, reading, cats, and data-informed decision making.

sally@torchstared.com