She rushes around the classroom at breakneck speed. In her web design class, she is known for the diagrams she draws on the dry erase board from corner to corner and top to bottom, while simultaneously fielding students’ computer questions and keeping the rest of the class entertained by running back and forth from her laptop to the projection screen. A class with Simmons is like an educational pinball game, as she moves around the room at a pace she must have learned while training for her marathons.

Simmons graduated in May 2005 with her doctorate from UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. After applying to several schools for teaching positions, a friend suggested she might be interested in UTC.

She was attracted to the UTC communication department because it was small and yet had ample resources. She liked the fact that she could actually get to know every faculty member and have more personal relationships with students. She was particularly impressed that UTC is a “teaching school,” which means it emphasizes teaching over the other faculty responsibilities of research and service. “That’s what I liked about UTC--that the emphasis was teaching, but there was still an opportunity to do research,” she said.

Simmons also liked the courses she would teach if she chose UTC. She has always wanted to teach intro to mass communication because it was her favorite class as a student. And she enjoys teaching web publishing.

The city of Chattanooga itself attracted Simmons because of its affordability and outdoor opportunities. It is also closer to her family in South Carolina. The week before she came to interview for the position, Chattanooga was featured in her running magazine. “[Chattanooga] had everything I wanted,” she said.

Simmons is intrigued with how the media incorporates technology and how different forms of technology are used together. This passion, along with her love of the past and her interest in the future, come together in her intro class.

She is especially fascinated by the history of radio. She has a dream of maybe one day teaching a general history of the media class separate from the intro class.

Not surprisingly, her research focus is also on history and technology. She has done extensive research on how early radio interactivity has shaped the way we think about today’s interactive media. To develop knowledge in this area, her hope is to find and study the archives of a radio station in Chattanooga. She would also like someday to study cell phone use.

Simmons can most often be found on the BBC website listening to the radio and keeping up with world news. Curiously, her other obsession is Barbie, an interest sparked by a Happy Meal Barbie doll who has traveled the world with her and brought her much luck and encouragement since high school. She has an “office Barbie,” “home Barbie,” “car Barbie,” Barbie watches, several collectable Barbies in her office, and a Barbie pen that she uses to sign all important documents.

Dr. Simmons already has a developing fan base. Josh Branum, who graduated in May, was one of many students who really enjoyed having her as a professor.

“Classes that deal with technology can be really tough,” he said. “Dr. Simmons took the time during our web publishing class to answer all of my questions, and I had quite a few.”

Fellow faculty are fans of their new member as well. Dr. Betsy Alderman said, “As a brand new full-time teacher, Dr. Simmons is making significant contributions to our faculty and students.   Her willingness to jump right in on projects is demonstrated through her obvious commitment to students and to our program. We are fortunate to have her at UTC.”