Moeller has made a name for herself as a 5x Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment Television, who now works as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew ������Ƶ had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that ������Ƶ was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to ������Ƶ helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers ������Ƶ asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With ������Ƶ’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did ������Ƶ’s inaugural ‘������Ƶ in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller made the switch from the international department to the domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer. Over her 15 years at E! News, she was nominated for five Emmy Awards, and interviewed people like Steve Carell, Charlize Theron and 50 Cent. She also had the privilege of working on the red carpet at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing that’s gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are just normal people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained.  “When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts, I’ve always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.  They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally and give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller credits her continued success to strong relationships with her coworkers, interviewees, and former hosts, always keeping in contact with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the biggest pop culture stages as a top moment.

“I recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars, like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Leslie Mann, to name a few.”

This unforgettable experience solidified for her that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples Center.

“It was just me, my host Will Marfuggi, and a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.  It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Moeller’s journey at E! News was marked by steady growth in leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and opportunity.

“One meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell, who at the time was hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in September, we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,” said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

������Ƶ’s top-notch curriculum and amazing professors helped her feel prepared for the real world, knowing she could succeed outside the classroom. ������Ƶ’s study abroad center helped many students, including Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller has come a long way through courage and perseverance, and now she works for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide show.

“This business, especially out in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that is what keeps you there,” she explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s going to end up where and who can help you down the line. And when you’re on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you, as one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

They stood poised with their hands raised, breathing steady, before their fists began to fly. Jab, cross, right hook, left upper cut.

They noticed the sensations in their body as childhood memories raced through their mind, allowing themself to feel every feeling that remained with them from a time when they didn’t have a voice. With every punch, they stepped closer to regaining their power, closer to a deeper understanding of their full self.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 says the physical movement often allows clients to recognize and begin healing younger parts of themselves that were never fully seen or supported. “Through the movement, through fighting back against that, they were able to trust themself more.”

A licensed professional counselor, Martinelli-Taylor centers her Denver practice, Animo Counseling and Coaching, on healing the whole person. Among the approaches she uses is somatic boxing, a method that connects mind and body to help clients process trauma and strengthen their overall well-being.

“We’re interconnected beings,” she says. “Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.”

A Non-Linear Path

Martinelli-Taylor’s journey toward counseling wasn’t straightforward, but every step helped develop the empathy, critical thinking and global perspective that shapes her work. The Massachusetts native wasn’t familiar with ������Ƶ before stumbling upon it while touring colleges along the East Coast. She was immediately drawn to its arts and sciences foundation, small class sizes and study abroad program.

She enrolled Early Decision, planning to study education, but soon found that teaching wasn’t her passion. She did, however, have a knack for fostering strong one-on-one connections, and she found other ways to build those skills through a strategic communications major and religious studies minor.

“There’s a lot of psychology in strategic communications, learning what are people’s needs, what do they want, why do they do what they do. I loved that aspect,” Martinell-Taylor says. “Then my religious studies minor was just a window to the world of what other people believe, why they believe it and how that directs their decisions, hopes and dreams.”

But it was her semester abroad in London that influenced her most, broadening her worldview and clarifying what she did and didn’t want to pursue post-graduation. She interned for a fashion supplier on Oxford Street but didn’t feel a strong connection to the work. She loved London, though, and wanted to use her communications skills in service of something she cared about deeply.

After graduating, she returned to London for two years, working with an international mission organization that supported churches and other spiritual communities. Martinelli-Taylor spent much of her time connecting with South Asian women, children and teens and found their conversations about life and struggle deeply meaningful. On weekends, she volunteered with a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, a cause that first sparked her interest through an ������Ƶ course examining slavery in the Bible, in American history and in modern times. Again and again, she found herself drawn to work that offered support to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“I was hearing people’s trauma, hearing really difficult life journeys and feeling this pull,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “If people have gone through these really awful things, forced into things they had no control over, how do I step into that world?”

That realization ignited Martinelli-Taylor’s calling to be a counselor. She moved back to the U.S. and earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Denver Seminary in 2019. Her communications, religious studies and study abroad experience from her time at ������Ƶ remained foundational as she forged this new path.

L.D. Russell, senior lecturer emeritus of religious studies at ������Ƶ, remembers Martinelli-Taylor as open-minded, eager to learn and deeply committed to helping others. Her unique counseling approach feels like a natural extension of that spirit. “One of the truest values of an ������Ƶ education,” he says, “is gaining a clearer sense of how others live and move through the world, and how our own gifts can be used to foster the public good.”

The Mind-Body Connection

After obtaining her master’s degree, Martinelli-Taylor again used her skills to support human trafficking victims, providing counseling to survivors with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She later moved to a group practice, helping clients with a broader range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

In graduate school, she began to learn how physical movement, education and preventative work can help set clients up for a healthier life and resiliency amid difficult challenges. That idea coupled with her own personal experience with boxing prompted her to try bilateral boxing as a technique with some clients at the group practice. “It was starting to help people break out of dissociation and get into their body,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “We used it as a tool when they felt stuck or overwhelmed with talk therapy.”

As she saw the approach resonate with more clients, Martinelli-Taylor set out to develop it further and open her own practice. Drawing on her strategic communications background, she built the foundation for her business while consulting with counselors who use somatic therapies that link breath, body and mental health. In 2024 she founded Animo Counseling and Coaching, where she offers treatments such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and her own style of somatic boxing therapy.

Animo means “mind” in Latin, “soul” and “courage” in Italian and “encouragement” in Spanish. “The practice reflects that intentionality, that purposefulness,” she says. “It represents the embodiment of the brain and body’s role in learning about yourself.”

Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both. — Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12

Martinelli-Taylor first teaches her clients the basics of non-contact boxing, using the bilateral movements of boxing but no sparring, just hitting boxing gloves to mitts as the whole body engages. She focuses on proper form and breathwork, guiding clients to concentrate on each motion. The practice becomes a type of moving meditation, stimulating both sides of the body and both hemispheres of the brain.

For many clients, the approach offers another avenue for healing, especially for those who may not feel ready to talk through difficult experiences right away. By focusing on the rhythm of movement and breath, clients begin to notice what their bodies and minds are holding, and shift it out.

Once clients feel comfortable with the technique, she introduces strategies for building courage, managing stress and emotions, and processing difficult memories. The approach encourages people to tune in to the physical sensations that often accompany mental health struggles, opening the door to more holistic healing. Movement and breathwork, Martinelli-Taylor says, can help move through distress, regulate mood and ground the body to allow clients to face and work through deeper challenges.

In addition to continuing to grow her practice, Martinelli-Taylor hopes to conduct larger studies on the impact of somatic boxing on mental health. And while she is there to support her clients in the “ring” when they need it, she doesn’t expect them to rely on a coach forever. Her goal is to help people build the awareness and tools to continue the work on their own — to trust their bodies, their instincts and their capacity to heal.

“I want them to feel like they’re equipped to learn and grow,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “They can take this work, try it out in the world and know that they’re resilient.”

In her role, McKay oversees academic support, development, health care administration, inclusion and belonging and leadership for student-athletes. She champions community service by organizing student-athlete programs during the ACC’s Unity Tours.

The Unity Tour is a conference-wide, immersive learning experience focused on unity, social responsibility, and civic engagement. McKay and her team have introduced over 300 student-athletes, coaches and administrators to different Unity Tour experiences in Washington, D.C., Charleston, South Carolina, and Selma, Alabama.

McKay graduated with a degree in sport and event management from ������Ƶ University before getting her master’s in higher education/student affairs and doctorate in higher education/higher education administration from The George Washington University.

In 2019, she gave the keynote address at the Department of Sport Management senior banquet and awards ceremony, and has served as an ������Ƶ Career Mentor, mentor to ������Ƶ’s Women Influencers in Sport program and as a member of the Women of ������Ƶ Advisory Council.

In December, as Anderson presented the agency’s Gold Bear Award – a peer-driven recognition celebrating employees who best represent the company’s culture and values – he lauded Young’s willingness to take on “massive responsibilities,” commending her ability to “effortlessly power through high-pressure projects.”

“She’s the person everyone turns to for answers and support, uplifting every team she touches and quietly cleaning up problems that aren’t even hers to solve,” Anderson told audience members.

As he concluded and Young’s name flashed across the massive screen behind him, the room erupted in applause – a moment captured in a video Young shared on her LinkedIn page.

The award capped off a standout year for Young, who serves as an assistant producer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the global network of agencies responsible for one of the world’s most iconic brands, Apple. Her year included work on major Apple-related projects such as the Mac for Students campaign, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Dua Lipa’s “Shot on iPhone” tour and Apple TV rebranding efforts.

Reflecting on that work, Young said the experience has been both challenging and rewarding.

“I am so incredibly grateful for these experiences and the amazing, incredibly talented teams behind them,” she said, noting how meaningful it was to be part of such high-profile, creatively ambitious work.

Young’s path to TBWA\Media Arts Lab began at ������Ƶ, where a DEI in Hollywood class helped shape her professional direction. Encouraged by former ������Ƶ faculty members J. McMerty and Rachel Ramist, she applied for and landed an internship with the Television Academy. That experience, along with her participation in the ������Ƶ in LA program, led her to move to Los Angeles after graduation. Once on the West Coast, she first worked as a personal assistant, then as a production coordinator at a social media marketing company.

As Young began thinking about her next step, a recruiter from TBWA\Media Arts Lab contacted her about a production coordinator role in the agency’s broadcast production department. During interviews, she learned that her internships – especially with the Television Academy and RadicalMedia – helped her stand out. She was offered the position and later moved into her current role, where she supports lead producers to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.

As part of her work, Young organizes security plans, tracks creative assets, coordinates meetings with production companies, and supports communication among producers in editorial, finishing and mix. Her goal, she said, is to make sure every project has what it needs to succeed.

Working at a global creative agency has reshaped how Young views storytelling. She said she was surprised by how much care goes into even the shortest pieces of content. Creative teams analyze work frame by frame, fixing even the smallest details before releasing it into the world. Seeing that process firsthand has made her more aware of the thought, precision and responsibility behind creative work.

When she learned she had received the Gold Bear Award, Young said she felt grateful more than anything else. “I consider myself lucky to work with the teams I have,” she said. “The whole production team is a bunch of rockstars, not to mention our creative department and account teams. To be recognized by them makes me feel like I am doing something right.”

As she reflects on her journey from ������Ƶ to one of the world’s most influential creative agencies, Young emphasizes the importance of attitude, effort and openness to opportunity. Her advice to current ������Ƶ students is simple: say yes often and show that you are willing to work. Some of the best projects, she said, come from teams who are fully committed to making something great – and who bring a positive attitude, even when things get stressful.

“What I’ve found in internships and entry-level roles is that folks who show that they are passionate and team-oriented seem to do well,” Young said. “When I first started at MAL, the people who stood out to me, who had clearly left their mark on the agency, were those who were team players, focused on supporting others and achieving the best final result.”

The School of Communications community gathered March 5 in Snow Family Grand Atrium for the third annual Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence, an interactive event highlighting projects and initiatives advancing inclusive storytelling and media practice.

The program featured table conversations where attendees moved throughout the space to engage with students, faculty and staff about ongoing initiatives and projects.

Take a closer look at our Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence with our .

Assistant Dean Vanessa Bravo opened the event by emphasizing that inclusive excellence remains a core priority within the School of Communications and across ������Ƶ.

“Inclusive excellence is deeply important to us,” Bravo said. “These values have always mattered and will continue to matter.”

Throughout the program, attendees explored a range of subjects, including work by student organizations, projects from Live Oak Communications — the school’s student-run communications agency — student journalism and research efforts, faculty scholarship and coursework connected to the university’s Advancing Equity Requirement.

Other discussions focused on topics such as women in sports, student research featured in academic journals, and projects examining how communications and media can amplify diverse voices and perspectives.

Bravo said the event helped the school community better understand the breadth of inclusive excellence initiatives taking place across the School of Communications.

“This is a great opportunity to learn about the many diversity-, equity- and inclusion-related efforts happening throughout the School of Communications,” she said. “From student organizations and faculty research to journalism projects and alumni work, these efforts demonstrate how our community is engaging these issues in meaningful ways.”

“The discussions highlighted how quickly the communications landscape is evolving — and why questions of equity and representation remain central to that change,” said Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee. “Our students, faculty and alumni are actively examining how media systems shape who is represented and whose voices are heard.”

Bravo thanked the faculty members who organized the event through the school’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, including Ahearn, Young Do Kim, Sydney Nicolla, and Lee Bush, as well as the students, faculty and staff who hosted conversations during the program.

More than 130 students gathered in Snow Family Grand Atrium on March 3 for the Communications and Sport Management Meet & Greet, an event designed to connect ������Ƶ students with industry professionals, internship opportunities and career insights.

Hosted in partnership with the Student Professional Development Center and the School of Communications, the event brought together employers from across the communications and sport industries. Representatives from organizations including APCO, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Carolina Core FC, SportsMEDIA Technology and the Burlington Sock Puppets met with students interested in exploring career paths and building their professional networks.

For photos of the Meet & Greet, visit our .

A defining feature of this year’s event was the strong presence of ������Ƶ alumni, who participated both in person and virtually to mentor current students and share insights from their professional journeys.

Alumni representatives included Shanna Van Beek ’12 of APCO and Laker Figueroa ’25 of the Burlington Sock Puppets, who attended in person, as well as Jack Taylor ’21 of Golin, Catherine Nester ’22 of The Walt Disney Company, Lexie Flood ’21 of Edelman, Luke LeSourd ’13 of NFL Films and Elena Kyriakos ’18 of NBC Universal, who joined virtually to connect with students.

Ryan Taube, associate director of corporate and employer relations for the School of Communications, said the event’s alumni participation added a meaningful dimension.

“What made this year special is the number of fantastic alumni who participated,” Taube said. “Our alumni always want to give back to current students, and this networking opportunity provided them a chance to speak about their current roles and how ������Ƶ prepared them to be successful in a competitive job market.”

In total, 138 students attended the event, engaging in one-on-one conversations with employers about internships, entry-level roles and career preparation. The event was coordinated with support from Ross Wade, Amber Moser, Alison Doherty, Kameryn Taylor and Taube.

Participating organizations – In-Person

APCO
Burlington Sock Puppets
Campus Greensboro
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Carolina Core FC
������Ƶ – Athletic Department
������Ƶ – Isabella Cannon Global Education Center
������Ƶ – Office of Alumni Engagement
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT)

Participating organizations – Virtual

Columbus Blue Jackets
Edelman
NBC Universal
Golin
NFL Films
The Walt Disney Company

Emmanuel Tobe ’21 always knew he wanted to major in communications, but the success that came after his graduation was something he never saw coming.

“When I was in high school, I was looking at schools, knowing that I wanted to go into communications,” Tobe said. “I started out as a journalism major because, in high school and middle school, the only career option I knew of in communications was journalism. It wasn’t until I got to ������Ƶ and started taking some more classes that I was able to see the different levels of communication and the large number of fields and work that you can do in communications.”

After getting into ������Ƶ and experiencing all the majors and fields the university offered, Tobe switched to a double major in media analytics and cinema and television arts, with a minor in political science. Tobe got involved with campus organizations from the start. During his first year, he joined ������Ƶ Phoenix Weekly, and by his second year, he and his roommate were producing.

“Being involved in Phoenix Weekly gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “There are a couple of things I did there that I’m really proud of. For one, we strapped the camera to the back of a golf cart for an interview. We also did some really fun stuff, like when we traveled to South Carolina and did a feature on kids who were BMX bikers. We also interviewed David Stern, who’s the commissioner of the NBA.”

“I’m really thankful to Max Negin (the advisor of Phoenix Weekly) for letting us make mistakes and letting us learn from them. I think that it’s so easy to stay in a lane, but I think that is a disservice to both yourself and also to whatever you’re creating,” said Tobe.

Tobe says it’s important to get involved on campus early on and look for the smaller campus and off-campus organizations to offer your expertise.

“One thing that I also recommend is utilizing the community,” he said. “I think that a lot of people underestimate the connection that ������Ƶ and Burlington have. I worked at Ace Speedway, a racetrack 40 minutes from campus. I was the communications intern, and I did that for a summer, and it was a great experience that not many ������Ƶ students know about.”

Tobe was a communications fellow and credits the program for allowing him to explore multiple fields in communications and meet industry professionals.

“To be a freshman and to get the chance to go to a bunch of advertising agencies and hear from account directors and producers and listen to them talk was so cool,” he said. “At the time, I wasn’t planning on working at an agency, but things shifted and moved, and now I am working at an agency. I never expected going to those agencies to be as beneficial as it was, but I think that’s the cool thing about being exposed to a lot of different things as a communications fellow.”

Immediately after college, Tobe was thrust into the professional world with a three-week internship for the Tokyo Olympics, which faced a lot of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, he began working for the NBA in broadcast operations.

One of his top experiences while working for the NBA was being able to work out of Las Vegas.

“I was able to go to Las Vegas and help out with the summer league tournament, which was incredible,” he said. “I’d never been to Las Vegas, and my dad actually came out as well. So it was really cool to be out there and have him there as well. He was really excited!”

Tobe does warn that some challenges can come from working for a legacy company like the NBA, such as how it can be easy to feel like “another cog in the machine.”

While Tobe has also started his own company, Ecsetera, the effort is on hold for now. He is currently working for Droga5, an award-winning advertising agency based in New York City. His favorite work to date with the company is working on a video for a charity called HT40.

“We had a video for the NHL, and it was for this charity called HT40, which was founded by these two parents whose son was a high school hockey player who unfortunately committed suicide,” he said. “The thing they wanted to get out of the video was that hockey is this very masculine sport where people are, a lot of times, afraid to be who they are, or they are afraid to reach out and say they need help or need someone, but that doesn’t have to be the case.”

The agency created a video for this charity with the NHL that had high schoolers and then a couple of NHL professional players singing “Lean On Me” while skating on the ice. Tobe says the message was that, if you need someone to lean on, there are people around you, and there’s no struggle you have to go through on your own.

Tobe also worked on the for this year’s Super Bowl, which starred Guy Fieri and aired during the game’s second quarter. The ad centers on Guy Fieri becoming “Justaguy,” a boring version of himself. After using Bosch appliances, “Justaguy” transforms back into his exciting counterpart, Guy Fieri. The ad was a major success, even winning the “Readers’ Choice Best Ad” award from Ad Age.

“I was responsible for producing some of the digital banners and social media for the campaign,” said Tobe. “It was an incredible experience and gave me such insight into how large campaigns are made and what happens when people work together to accomplish a goal.”

Tobe says working in advertising is different from how it used to be, but it makes the field exciting.

“We can fast forward, we can skip, we can go on a streaming service, we can pull out our phones and look at something else,” he said. “Because of how technology and the media have changed and evolved with us while growing up, we are a generation that must be really advertised to and marketed in creative, cool ways.”

Tobe has taken the lifelong learner approach when it comes to his career. His advice to recent graduates is to stop stressing about titles and roles you see on LinkedIn, what he called “LinkedIn watching.” He says that everyone is on their own path, and it’s important not to get distracted by others and to be true to yourself.

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Live sports may be the last true mass audience in media – and the future of how fans watch them is rapidly changing. That was the focus of the 2026 Sport Management Symposium, where award-winning sports writer and broadcaster Seth Davis headlined a conversation about the evolving business of live sports.

Held Feb. 25, in Turner Theatre, the annual symposium explored how live sports continue to adjust across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms – and what those changes mean for leagues, networks and fans. Davis joined the symposium virtually after a blizzard in the Northeast disrupted his broadcast schedule.

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In a wide-ranging conversation with Assistant Professor Bill Squadron, Davis offered students an unfiltered look at how disruption – from digital media to NIL to legalized sports betting – is transforming the industry.

Davis reflected on two major inflection points that transformed sports media during his career: the rise of the internet and the advent of the iPhone and social media. He described how legacy media companies were slow to adapt to digital distribution models, fundamentally altering the economics of journalism. Yet despite rapid technological change – and the emergence of artificial intelligence – Davis emphasized that the fundamentals of storytelling endure.

“There is still an appetite, particularly in the world of sports, for compelling programming and good storytelling,” he said.

He also addressed the growing challenge of misinformation and AI-generated content, noting that journalism has never been more important as audiences navigate an increasingly fragmented information ecosystem.

Turning to college athletics, Davis described the NIL and transfer portal era as a “mass disruption,” shaped by long-standing legal vulnerabilities in the NCAA model. He discussed how expanded athlete compensation and annual free agency have made programs more transactional, complicating roster stability and culture-building while also increasing athletes’ earning power and freedom.

Davis also addressed the normalization of legalized sports betting and its impact on media coverage. Once referenced subtly during broadcasts, betting lines and odds are now openly discussed, creating new revenue streams while raising new ethical and regulatory questions for leagues and media companies alike.

Throughout the conversation, Davis returned to a central theme for students preparing to enter the industry: adaptability matters, but strong reporting is essential. In a media landscape crowded with podcasts and commentary, he urged aspiring professionals to focus on credibility and expertise.

“Become a good reporter, become an expert, develop your sources, develop your traction in the space, and you got a chance to stand out and move forward,” Davis said.

The symposium continued with two expert panels that examined the industry from league, network and technology perspectives.

The first panel, “League TV Rights Strategy in a Shifting Media Landscape,” featured Tyler McBride of the Atlantic Coast Conference, sports media consultant John Kosner and Sports Business Journal reporter Austin Karp. The discussion centered on the delicate balance leagues must strike between revenue and reach as traditional cable subscriptions decline and streaming platforms multiply.

The panelists emphasized that media rights negotiations are no longer solely about dollars. Exposure, demographic reach and production quality now play critical roles in determining the right partner.

Framing live sports as the industry’s last true mass audience driver, Kosner made the stakes clear: “You can’t be in the advertising business going forward, if you’re not big in sports,” he said.

The group also examined the growing influence of technology companies in the sports rights marketplace. While legacy networks once relied heavily on subscriber bundles, streaming platforms operate under different economic models, with advertising and global scale driving long-term strategy. Panelists noted that must-have properties – such as the NFL, NBA and major college football – continue to command escalating fees, while mid-tier and regional properties face growing pressure in an increasingly selective marketplace.

The second panel, “Tech Companies, Streaming and Sports Content,” shifted the focus to distribution, content creation and the changing nature of sports media careers. Media executive and journalist Michele Steele, former Amazon Prime Video sports strategy executive Michael Morris and ������Ƶ alumnus Alex Day ’16 shared perspectives from traditional broadcast, streaming and digital-first content environments.

Panelists explored how streaming platforms and social media have lowered barriers to entry while simultaneously increasing competition. Steele described the ongoing shift away from linear television, noting that sports remain one of the few forms of content that consistently drive live audiences. Morris provided insight into how tech companies evaluate sports rights as part of broader entertainment and advertising strategies.

Day, a rising voice in New York sports media, offered a firsthand account of building a career at the intersection of social media, brand partnerships and live sports coverage, explaining that content creators are increasingly operating as independent media brands.

“There’s not a great barrier to entry right now, so you have to come up with some creative ideas to do it a little bit differently, get people engaged,” Day said, encouraging students to differentiate themselves in a crowded digital landscape.

������Ƶ’s participants at the might avoid the term “three-peat” – since it is a registered trademark owned by former NBA coach Pat Riley – but the sentiment fits all the same. For the third consecutive year, an ������Ƶ student captured the top prize in the conference’s , continuing a remarkable run of national recognition for the Department of Sport Management.

Seven ������Ƶ students and two faculty members traveled to Temple University in Philadelphia for this year’s ASMA Conference, held Feb. 11–13, joining more than 300 academics and industry professionals for three days of research presentations, panels and case study competitions. All seven students presented original research, with four competing in the undergraduate research competition against peers from top sport management programs across the country.

This year’s top honor in the undergraduate research competition went to , who earned first place for her project, “Does Conference Realignment Pay? Evidence from NCAA Division I Institutions,” advised by Assistant Professor of Sport Management Alex Traugutt. Logue’s win follows first-place finishes by Lena Gunn ’25 in 2024 and Sarah Dawkins ’25 in 2025, marking three straight years atop the competition.

For Khirey Walker, assistant professor of sport management, the sustained success reflects more than strong results – it signals a culture of preparation, curiosity and confidence among ������Ƶ students.

“There is something truly special about watching our ������Ƶ students compete at the ASMA Conference and present research they have genuinely poured themselves into,” said Walker who accompanied the students with Traugutt to Philadelphia. “You can hear it in their voices when they present – this is not just any project to them, it is a reflection of who they are as future sport management professionals. To then see them compete in the research competition against some of the strongest sport management programs in the country and take home top honors three years in a row … that doesn’t happen by accident.”

Walker credited the students’ success to a culture of curiosity and the program’s high standards for undergraduate research.

“That’s a testament to the intellectual curiosity these students bring into the classroom and the standards set within the ������Ƶ sport management program,” Walker said. “Dr. Traugutt and I are extremely proud of this group and excited to continue bringing our students to ASMA.”

The 2026 conference offered ������Ƶ students a professional stage to present research on topics ranging from NIL policy and international student-athlete experiences to minor league hockey attendance patterns and the impact of conference realignment. The seven ������Ƶ presenters included:

• , “Are MLS Teams Spending Wisely? An Empirical Analysis of Player Performance and Salary Allocation” (advised by Traugutt)
• , “Beyond Borders: NIL Rights and the International Student-Athlete Experience” (advised by Walker)
• , “Building the Fan Base: Season Ticket Holder Perceptions and Attendance Motivations in Minor League Hockey” (advised by Traugutt)
• , “Does Conference Realignment Pay? Evidence from NCAA Division I Institutions” (advised by Traugutt)
• , “The Transfer Portal Era: Crowding Out High School Opportunities in Power Four Football” (advised by Traugutt)
• , “International Student Athletes in NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer: Motivations, Aspirations, and Issues” (advised by Walker)
• , “From Transactions to Insights: Modeling Attendance Patterns in Minor League Hockey” (advised by Traugutt)

For students, the conference offered more than a platform to present research — it provided meaningful professional exposure and a chance to connect classroom learning with real-world conversations in the field.

“ASMA is more than a poster presentation,” said Anabella Shpak ’26, a sport management and business analytics double major. “It’s about networking with others in the field, listening to dissertations and presentations of professionals in their area of interest. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, and if any student has the opportunity to do undergraduate research and attend ASMA in the future, I would highly recommend it!”

Lucy McAfee ’26, a sport management and exercise science double major, said presenting at a national conference as an undergraduate helped her better understand the professional relevance of her work.

“I valued the opportunity to engage in conversations with professionals in the sport industry and learn from other researchers’ work,” McAfee said. “And I am extremely grateful that ������Ƶ – specifically the Department of Sport Management – promotes opportunities like this for students.”

For Maddy Baird ’27, the competition and feedback process reinforced her academic and career interests.

“Engaging in meaningful conversations, receiving thoughtful feedback, building connections, and learning from fellow students and faculty as they presented their research made this conference both inspiring and impactful,” the sport management and data analytics double major said. “Experiences like the ASMA Conference continue to fuel my passion for sport management, data analytics, and research.”

������Ƶ students and faculty captured 13 awards in the , an international competition recognizing excellence in digital media and broadcasting. The honors included 10 student awards and three faculty/staff awards, selected from more than 2,250 entries representing over 300 colleges and universities across categories such as audio, film and video, documentary, news and interactive multimedia.

The school’s top student finish came from , a cinema and television arts B.F.A. major, who placed third in the Narrative Audio category for “.” The project explores the roots and history of NASCAR in rural North Carolina and was recognized for its storytelling and production quality.

Additionally, ������Ƶ News Network’s “ENN Tonight” program earned an Award of Excellence in the Television Newscast (3 Days a Week or Less) category for its , featuring coverage of SNAP benefits, ������Ƶ’s announcement to establish a grade school for children with dyslexia, and an SGA fireside chat with ������Ƶ President Connie Book.

Faculty honors followed, led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects, who earned two awards in the faculty/staff competitions. Baker received an Award of Excellence in the Promotional Video category for the School of Communications’ , a nearly seven-minute retrospective produced as part of the school’s Homecoming celebration. He also earned Best of Competition in the Social Media category for a , which was shared on the school’s Instagram page on June 23, 2025.

The awards also included recognition for “Forward,” a short-form documentary by Alex Luchsinger, associate professor of journalism. The film documents U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ashley Christman’s battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer and her determination to live for her wife and young son, and continue serving in the Marine Corps. The film highlights resilience across military, LGBTQ+ and cancer communities, offering a powerful portrait of perseverance and hope. Luchsinger worked closely with Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Max Negin and cinematographer Drew Glickman. The film is scheduled to be shown at the in late February.

������Ƶ award recipients

Student Audio Competition

Narrative Audio Category
3rd Place: The Timebomb Podcast; Molly Clayton, ������Ƶ
Award of Excellence: The Atlanta Fox Theatre; Lucy Samuels, ������Ƶ

PSA, Promo, or Commercial Category
Award of Excellence: C&R Ski and Outdoor commercial; Jackson Bennett, ������Ƶ
Award of Excellence: Maker Hub Promo; Kira Hancuff, ������Ƶ

Student Documentary Competition

Micro-Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: A Terribly (Ab)Normal Kid; Mackenzie James, ������Ƶ

Student Film & Video Competition

Mini Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: We’ve Been Here Before; Christian Kelly, ������Ƶ

Short Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: Lonesome Tune; Kelly Locke, ������Ƶ
Award of Excellence: On Guard; Will Calkins, ������Ƶ

Student News Competition

Television Anchor Category
Award of Excellence: Charlotte Pfabe Anchor Reel; Charlotte Pfabe, ������Ƶ

Television Newscast (3 Days a Week or Less)
Award of Excellence: ENN Tonight, Nov. 10, 2025; Olivia Berger & Fiona McAllister, ������Ƶ

Faculty Documentary Competition

Short-Form Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: Forward; Alex Luchsinger, Drew Glickman & Max Negin, ������Ƶ

Promotional Video Category
Award of Excellence – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: ������Ƶ School of Communications 25th Anniversary; Bryan Baker, ������Ƶ

Faculty Interactive Multimedia Competition

Social Media Category
Best of Competition – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: Kaitlyn Hannan, Student Profile; Bryan Baker, ������Ƶ

About the Festival of Media Arts:

The is an international refereed exhibition of faculty creative activities and a national showcase for student work. The festival provides a venue for exhibition of winning submissions, including recognition of project authors, through showcase and awards sessions held during BEA’s annual convention in Las Vegas. The festival seeks to enhance and extend creative activities, teaching, and professional standards in broadcasting and other forms of electronically mediated communication.