Last week, TXADPR proudly hosted the annual Jerome Williams Lecture, a signature event honoring the late ADV&PR professor and trailblazer in multicultural consumer research. This year’s lecture brought a unique global dimension, featuring keynote speaker May O. Lwin, a professor of strategic and health communication from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Accompanied by a group of 20 graduate students, Lwin offered fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of advertising and public relations through the enriching international exchange.

Jim Keyes gave a virtual talk at UT Austin on Thursday, February 20, for Mark Bunting’s class. Keyes, the author of Education is Freedom and former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, previously spoke at UT Austin in 2023 as part of Professor Hunt’s class. During his recent session, he shared insights from his journey, discussing the transformative power of education and lifelong learning.

Could you walk us through your educational journey and explain why you decided to pursue the degrees you did? 

The University of Texas at Austin is kicking off the New Year with a celebration, earning the prestigious title of the #1 Advertising Program in the nation, as ranked by College Transitions. This recognition reflects the university's innovative curriculum, strong industry connections, and proven track record of producing leaders in the advertising field. This accomplishment is a proud moment that underscores UT Austin’s reputation as a leader in advertising education.

A Tradition of Excellence 

TikTok, the wildly popular social media video app, may soon be banned in the United States. The app’s future has been hanging in the balance since President Biden signed legislation that required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell to a U.S. owner. The legislation argues that the Chinese-owned company poses a threat to the nation’s security. 

In the dynamic world of digital advertising, few understand the interplay between trends and human behavior as well as Sieun Ha, a PhD researcher at UT Austin. With her roots in strategic planning and a focus on digital consumer perceptions, Ha offers unique insights into how people engage with today’s ever-changing landscape.

Nike’s “Dream Crazier” campaign is one of the most well known ads in the world. From the moment Jacqueline Cimino saw Serena Williams in that campaign, she knew that advertising can be more than a platform to sell a product—it can be a medium that changes the world. Jacqueline is in her final year of the Masters in Advertising program here at UT Austin, and upon her graduation is looking to continue carving a path for what advertising is capable of achieving. Not only for brands, but for the communities they reach as well. 

Madelyn Haden is a current master's student in the Texas Creative and Texas Strategy tracks.

The University of Texas at Austin's famous slogan “What Starts Here Changes the World” has long been recognized as a reflection of the University’s global impact. The Forty Acres has churned out world-renowned individuals such as Michael Dell, Matthew McConaughey, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Renée Zellweger, among others. Now, as AI begins to change the world, the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations is also being recognized for shaping the future of advertising. 

When Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations associate professor of practice Terry Hemeyer begins his classes, he asks his students to decide on one name to call him. He says that they can pick anything from “Professor” to “Terry” and even just “Hey, you!” as long as they all address him the same way.

Almost every class lands on “Colonel” — a title he earned after 20 years of service in the Air Force.