As communications specialist, Randall Brown has been writing and sharing the Tickle College of Engineering’s stories since 2012.

“I tell friends that I get to write about people who are saving the world,” said Brown, who graduated from UT in 1995 with a BA in creative writing.

The position has evolved over seven years, but currently he manages the college’s social media platforms; compiles @TCE, the weekly email newsletter that goes to faculty, staff, students, and cross-campus subscribers; writes feature articles for Tennessee Engineer, the college’s website, and annual departmental magazines; and is the primary on-staff photographer.

“I’ve always been a shutterbug and once had an exhibit at Tomato Head of travel photos. But in recent years, I’ve made a concerted effort to improve my skills behind the camera. I think I’m getting pretty good at it,” he said.

Before UT, Brown worked for the Knoxville News Sentinel for 13 years, starting out as a part-term clerk maintaining events calendars before becoming a staff writer focusing on concert reviews and interviewing rock stars. He also wrote a blog called “Ramblin’ Man.” He said his work with the newspaper prepared him for his position with the college.

“For instance, I spent years honing the skill of writing single-sentence synopses of every movie playing in town. I now apply this to concisely describing in-depth engineering research,” he said. “I also draw a direct line from my events column and blogging days to the newsletter and social media presence that I maintain for the college.”

When he’s not promoting the college, you can find him on-stage playing guitar with his rock band Quartjar, which has been together in its present format for almost 10 years and has released three albums and an EP. Brown has been writing songs and performing with local bands for around 35 years, since he was a teenager in west Knox County. He currently lives in South Knoxville with his wife Becky Napier-Brown. Their son Will White just started his senior year at UT.