School of Communications Alumni | Today at ��Ƶ | ��Ƶ

Amanda Gibson ’21 named PRNEWS 2026 Person of the Year honoree

Tommy Kopetskie — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:30:37 +0000

, director of public relations and business development at Hannah Cranston Media (HCM), has been named a , earning recognition in the publication’s Ones to Watch category.

PRNEWS recognized Amanda Gibson ’21 among the public relations industry’s rising professionals.

The annual recognition honors emerging public relations professionals making their mark on the industry in the early stages of their careers. For Gibson, the recognition gave her a chance to appreciate how much she and HCM have grown in a relatively short time.

“PRNEWS is one of the most respected platforms in the industry, so it’s an honor to be recognized,” Gibson said. “I’ve spent the past few years watching Hannah Cranston Media grow from a team of three to a team of more than 20, and most days I’m too deep in pitching and problem-solving to stop and think about how far we’ve come.”

While Gibson has built her career in public relations, many of the skills that guide her work today were developed through her experiences as a journalism major at ��Ƶ.

The Honors Fellow was heavily involved with ��Ƶ News Network as an anchor and multimedia journalist, while also participating other immersive experiences like FreshTV. Those opportunities helped establish a foundation in storytelling that she continues to draw upon while working on the public relations side of the media industry.

“��Ƶ gave me a passion for storytelling and a tenacious curiosity, both essential to my career,” Gibson said. “Working as a reporter and anchor with ENN taught me what it takes to build a good story, and what makes people actually connect with one – the human element has to come first.”

That journalism background, Gibson said, has proved especially valuable as she develops stories and works directly with reporters.

Gibson was one of eight individuals recognized in the Ones to Watch category.

“It’s shaped how I think about what a good story looks like and made me a better resource to the journalists I work with today,” she said.

Following graduation, Gibson spent three years with Jennifer Bett Communications before joining HCM in early 2024 as senior manager of public relations. She was promoted to director of public relations and business development six months later.

In her current position, Gibson oversees the agency’s consumer packaged goods, women’s health and wellness client roster, with responsibilities spanning client strategy and media relations. Her work can range from developing pitch strategies with colleagues to staffing events with reporters and cultivating media relationships. “My job changes shape depending on the week – which is one of the best parts,” she said.

Gibson credits much of her professional growth to learning the importance of surrounding herself with people committed to their work and to one another.

“Bet on people over playbooks. In an industry built on relationships, we can teach anyone to write a pitch or find the right story – but working alongside people who are passionately determined and hungry to see their teams succeed is an irreplaceable, unteachable quality.”

– Amanda Gibson ’21

Gibson also points to retired ��Ƶ faculty members Rich Landesberg and Glenn Scott as influential mentors. She credits Landesberg with instilling a respect for journalism’s ability to serve communities, an outlook that has influenced the brands and people she chooses to work with. Her research with Scott examining how stories are told around major events also continues to inform her approach to identifying stories and perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.

Those lessons, along with the relationships she developed during her undergraduate years, remain important to Gibson five years after graduating.

“Beyond the classroom, the friendships and mentors I found at ��Ƶ continue to be a bedrock of both my life and my career,” Gibson said, “I’m endlessly grateful for my time Under the Oaks.”

��Ƶ to D.C.: Nyah Phengsitthy ’23 and Sophie Rosenthal ’24 find their footing in the nation’s capital

Tommy Kopetskie — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:16:22 +0000

Before they were reporting news in Washington, D.C., and were breaking stories on ��Ƶ’s campus. Today, the two ��Ƶ alumni are building journalism careers in the nation’s capital, where they credit and the university’s hands-on opportunities with preparing them for the demands of the profession.

Nyah Phengsitthy ’23 (left), a health reporter with Bloomberg Law, and Sophie Rosenthal ’24, a digital editor at WUSA-TV, have built careers in journalism following their time at ��Ƶ.

As digital editor at WUSA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., Rosenthal handles a wide range of responsibilities, from writing for the station’s website and producing social media content to gathering sources and reporting in the field. The journalism major said she fell in love with news reporting when she was in high school, which led her to apply to ��Ƶ.

“I joined my high school newspaper club in ninth grade, and it was the 2016 election season,” Rosenthal recalled. “There was a ton of news, and I got the ‘news bug,’ and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

At ��Ƶ, Rosenthal found opportunities through student media to develop her reporting skills outside the classroom.

“I feel like the hands-on experience that I got working with my peers and friends, and actually going out and doing reporting, and putting together a paper every week showed me more of the skills that I use on a day-to-day,” Rosenthal said.

She also credits The Pendulum’s critique sessions with teaching her how to receive feedback and use it to improve her work.

“You don’t need to qualify a mistake or qualify a reason why you did this or that,” Rosenthal said. “What I learned so much from critique was how to take feedback and move forward and use that in the next piece. Now I’m somebody who asks for feedback all the time because, I think, in part, because of those critiques.”

Those lessons have followed Rosenthal into her professional career. Earlier this year, she spent three weeks covering a murder trial in Fairfax, Virginia, an assignment she described as a significant learning experience.

Rosenthal works as a digital editor at WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C., contributing to the station’s digital coverage while also reporting in the field.

“My station sent me to a murder trial in January, and I spent three weeks covering a very high-profile case every day in court, and that has been a huge learning and teaching moment for me,” Rosenthal said. “I feel like I learned so much from covering this trial, especially as somebody who has covered many court hearings and smaller things.”

For current ��Ƶ students interested in journalism, Rosenthal recommends getting involved in student media early and pursuing the subjects that interest them.

“My biggest advice is to be involved in student journalism,” she said. “Just start doing stories and meeting people and doing things that are out of your comfort zone. When I was at ��Ƶ, I was interested in courts. I would go to the courthouse in Graham to pick up court documents for stories, and go to the police station, and pick up crime numbers, and things like that. If there’s something that you’re interested in, just start doing it.”

Like Rosenthal, Phengsitthy discovered her love of writing through her high school newspaper, where she served as editor-in-chief. She brought that interest to ��Ƶ, double majoring in Communication Design (now Visual Communication) and Media Analytics while becoming heavily involved with ��Ƶ News Network.

“I’ve always been a writer,” Phengsitthy said. “I know that people don’t really like talking about high school when they talk about their experience, but high school is when I really started.”

Phengsitthy served as design chief of The Pendulum during her sophomore year and managing editor as a junior. She credits those experiences with providing the foundation for her professional journalism career.

Everything I did in ��Ƶ News Network is what set me up for my journalism experience today. I joke with my friends that ENN was like my third degree in college because I got so much done and learned so much there. From just writing every single day, that’s what helped me get better.

— Nyah Phengsitthy ’23

While at ��Ƶ, Phengsitthy interned with Bloomberg Law on its environment desk. Following graduation, she returned to the organization through a rotational program and now works as a health reporter. In that role, she has covered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug pricing and other complex issues affecting the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

Her work at Bloomberg Law requires reporting on complex subjects, but Phengsitthy said young journalists shouldn’t feel pressure to become experts on every topic they cover. Instead, they should focus on developing the skills necessary to find knowledgeable sources, understand complicated information and explain it clearly to readers.

“Be an expert in being a reporter and writing and learning how to break down information for your readers,” Phengsitthy said.

Phengsitthy also encourages ��Ƶ students to complement their campus journalism experience with internships that allow them to apply their skills in professional settings.

“You can have all the skills, and you can have all the clips that you have from ENN, but it’s more powerful if you go and get to apply them somewhere else,” she said, noting the value of internships. “The more experience you have, the better.

“The job market is really hard right now, but I feel like if you’re able to show that you can get your foot in the door somewhere, that’s good.”

Matt Belanger ’05 discusses anchoring award-winning news on ‘��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks’

Brandon Talton — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:50:39 +0000

Matt Belanger ’05 begins most weekdays when much of the Twin Cities is still asleep.

His alarm sounds at 2 a.m. By 4:30, he is on the air at KSTP-TV, anchoring three hours of live morning news for viewers across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The schedule requires discipline, but for Belanger, the responsibility is also a privilege. In the latest episode of “��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks,” he tells President Connie Ledoux Book that thousands of people rely on his newsroom to explain what happened overnight, prepare them for the weather and commute ahead, and provide the information they need to begin their day.

“We set people up for success every morning,” Belanger said. “That commitment to serving the public is really what it’s all about.”

As a student, Belanger worked across both television and print journalism through ESTV and The Pendulum.

Belanger’s commitment to journalism began at ��Ƶ, where the promise of hands-on learning helped convince him that he had found the right university. He knew he learned best through experience and was drawn to the opportunity to work with cameras and begin developing his skills from the start of college.

As a student, Belanger worked across both television and print journalism through ESTV and The Pendulum. That crossover experience taught him that a strong story begins with the same essential facts, even when it is adapted for television, print, web or social media.

“I just thought a good story was a good story,” Belanger said. “It turns out that’s actually true.”

��Ƶ also provided the supportive environment and direct feedback he needed to grow. Belanger remains connected with former faculty members, including Professor Tom Nelson, and credits those relationships with giving students a foundation that extends well beyond graduation.

After ��Ƶ, Nelson encouraged Belanger to begin his career at KELOLAND Media Group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At the smaller-market station, Belanger reported, filmed stories, worked on the assignment desk and produced weekend newscasts. The ability to experience nearly every role in the newsroom gave him what he describes as a strong foundation for his television career.

That foundation later supported his investigative work in Pennsylvania.

While waiting for an interview on the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Belanger and a photographer noticed paper clips and folded pieces of paper wedged into lawmakers’ electronic voting buttons. The discovery led to months of reporting on “ghost voting,” a practice through which some lawmakers could appear in the official record as present and participating even when they had not traveled to Harrisburg. Because attendance records could be tied to taxpayer-funded travel reimbursements, the reporting raised broader questions about accountability and public trust.

Belanger compared investigative journalism to building a legal case: reporters must gather enough evidence and research to feel confident in what they present to the public. That deeper work, he said, distinguishes investigative journalism from the basic updates audiences can find throughout the day on their phones.

Belanger is a six-time regional Emmy Award winner.

Today, Belanger continues to bring that same sense of responsibility to his work in the Twin Cities, where he has reported through some of the region’s most difficult and consequential moments. He said the work requires journalists to remain authentic, approach painful stories with care and never lose sight of the people whose lives are affected by the news.

Near the end of the conversation, Belanger recalled another lesson from ��Ƶ—and from President Book, who taught him as a communications professor.

“You have to do the work in life,” he said. “You have to put in the time. You have to do the research. You’ve got to do the work in order to succeed.”

For Belanger, that work now begins at 2 a.m., helping ensure his community is informed and prepared when a new day begins.

Learn more about “��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks” online.

Variety names Joyce Choi ’19 among Hollywood’s rising entertainment leaders

Tommy Kopetskie — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:15:01 +0000

��Ƶ alumna , vice president of film at Imagine Entertainment, has been named to Variety’s “” recognizing 34 emerging executives, producers, agents and entrepreneurs who are helping shape the future of the entertainment industry. The annual list honors professionals age 40 and younger who are driving innovation and excellence across film, television, music, technology and digital media.

��Ƶ alumna Joyce Choi ’19 was named to Variety’s “Hollywood’s New Leaders: Class of 2026,” recognizing 34 rising executives, producers, agents and entrepreneurs making an impact across the entertainment industry. Photo courtesy of photographer Michael Buckner.

Founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer, Imagine Entertainment is one of Hollywood’s most respected film and television production companies, with acclaimed credits including “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13” and “Friday Night Lights.”

Since joining the company more than six years ago, Choi has risen from an executive assistant to vice president of film, where she leads development across the department’s slate. Her projects include “Dangerously Funny,” a feature about the Smothers Brothers’ battle with CBS censors, and she secured the rights to the books “200 Monas” by Jan Saenz and Rebecca Yarros’ “The Last Letter” for Amazon. Imagine’s upcoming releases include “How to Rob a Bank,” “Whalefall,” “The Mosquito Bowl” and “Spaceballs 2.”

Choi said the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the relationships she has built throughout her career.

“You can’t succeed in a vacuum, and I think the best part of this industry is the camaraderie and community that you can find if you look for it,” Choi said. “To be recognized by the company where I grew up as a producer is incredibly meaningful, and even more than that, to look around and be celebrated by my peers and creative partners is everything.”

In her profile, the ��Ƶ graduate reflected on the experiences that sparked her passion for filmmaking.

“Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to watch many movies, so the ones I did manage to see felt especially meaningful,” she told Variety. “That experience shaped the kinds of stories I gravitate toward today.”

Reflecting on her career path, Choi – a Leadership Fellow at ��Ƶ – offered advice for others hoping to break into the film industry.

“No matter how you got into the room or what room you’re in, make the most of it,” she said. “Do everything you can to hone your craft so that, in an industry where opportunities are increasingly harder to come by, you’re the most prepared you could be to take full advantage of whatever comes your way.”

��Ƶ alumnae stars shine bright at inaugural ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival at Sony Pictures Studios

Brad Lemack — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:17:54 +0000

��Ƶ alumnae filmmakers Bex Evans ’16, Julia Boyd ’15 and Mirai ’07 at the world premieres of their ��Ƶ Los Angeles grant award-winning short films at the Inaugural ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival, at Sony Pictures Studios.

Three ��Ƶ Los Angeles area alumnae attended the world premiere of their grant-funded films at the sold-out inaugural ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

Julie Boyd ’15, Bex Evans ’16 and Mirai ’07 were recipients of $3,000 each through the 2025-26 ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall.

Grant recipients were selected through a review and ranking process by a selection committee comprised of industry leaders, including several ��Ƶ alumni. The selection committee was co-chaired by Jordan Roman ’15.

To view photos from the festival, .

Production of the three short films – Boyd’s “The Life and Times of,” Evans’s “Shadow Dusk” and Mirai’s “#StopAsianKate” – took place in the spring and included opportunities for spring 2026 ��Ƶ Los Angeles students to participate in and observe the production process.

In addition to the screenings of the three films, the festival included a panel discussion with ��Ƶ alumni Lindsey Emerson, vice president of streaming, global strategy & operations at Paramount Skydance and Alex Stevenson, account lead at Creative Artists Agency. They each offered perspective and advice to both current students and alumni about creating job opportunities and career growth in a shifting industry landscape.

A meet-and–connect reception on one of the studio’s back lot streets followed the festival screening program.

Unique alumni engagement opportunities for ��Ƶ Los Angeles students are at the core of the ��Ƶ Los Angeles experience. Based in the heart of historic Hollywood, applications are now being accepted for students to participate in the spring 2027 and National Campus Programs Los Angeles experience that also features specific LA-focused academic courses, site-based internships and community service.

��Ƶ alumni Gabe Salvador ’18, Eric Hernandez ’16 and Jordan Roman ’15 at the Inaugural ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival. Salvador was a crew member on alumna Bex Evans’s film “Shadow Dusk.” Roman was co-chair of the short film grant competition selection committee.

��Ƶ alumni and spouses Miranda Romano ’16 and Frankie Campisano ’16 at the inaugural ��Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival, where the world premieres of three ��Ƶ Los Angeles grant-funded short films took place. Campisano was a member of the short film grant competition selection committee.

Internship Spotlight: Rylee Marchand ’28 goes behind the mic at 98.5 The Sports Hub

Tommy Kopetskie — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:55:53 +0000

As part of an ��Ƶ Sports Vision broadcast, sport management major Rylee Marchand ’28 (right) interviews former ��Ƶ men’s basketball player Nick Dorn.

Calling the biggest fan of “The Joe Murray Show,” 98.5 The Sports Hub’s weeknight program, might be an understatement. The sport management major estimates she tuned in to the Boston-based program nearly 300 times last year. So, when the station offered her an internship this summer, she knew it was the perfect fit.

“It’s just a really well-rounded internship, and that’s what I think is truly going to help me,” the aspiring sports broadcaster said.

Marchand sits inside the 98.5 The Sports Hub studio, where she is spending the summer learning from broadcasters at Boston’s leading sports radio station.

While Marchand’s shift at the radio station doesn’t start until 6 p.m., she has her hands full with a wide range of duties the rest of the night. She answers incoming calls from listeners, assists with the station’s YouTube stream and creates graphics for social media. But what excites her the most is the chance to go live on the air.

“That’s probably the biggest opportunity I’ve had,” she said. “It’s really nice that they trust me to go on the radio with thousands of people listening.”

Early in the internship, the show’s producer wrote an entire segment for Marchand, giving her the chance to discuss the New England Patriots on the air. A few weeks later, she was helping the station’s social media team cover one of the most consequential days in Boston sports, following the Celtics’ blockbuster trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Those opportunities grew from a connection Marchand had pursued long before the internship began.

Because internships at 98.5 The Sports Hub aren’t publicly posted, Marchand said networking is essential. In fact, when Marchand initially sent Joe Murray a message on LinkedIn during her freshman year, securing an internship wasn’t on her mind.

“Funny enough, he left me on ‘read’ the first time I messaged him,” Marchand said. “A year later, I reached out again and said, ‘Hey, I waited a year. I’d still love to find time to chat. I know you’re really busy.’ The second time, he answered.”

When he finally responded, Murray asked a question that changed everything.

“Do you know Katie Bennert?” he wrote back, referencing the 2024 ��Ƶ graduate who both interned and worked at the station. Marchand had never met the ��Ƶ alumna, but had heard positive things about her from friends involved with ��Ƶ Sports Vision. That shared ��Ƶ connection prompted Murray to invite Marchand to tour the studio over Winter Break. That’s when he offered her a spot to join his production team.

“I decided that this would be the best opportunity for me, working at a major market Boston sports radio station, and it’s been amazing,” she said.

Marchand credits much of her success at ��Ƶ to the support she has received from faculty members in the Department of Sport Management, including Professor Cara Lucia.

While her internship began this summer, Marchand is no stranger to sports broadcasting. During her first two years at ��Ƶ, she has contributed to more than 50 ��Ƶ Sports Vision broadcasts as a play-by-play announcer, sideline reporter and more. This past year, she became the youngest of three student hosts to call ��Ƶ Division I football games on the radio and co-hosted her own sports radio show with Scott Katz ’26. She has also worked more than 90 shifts with ��Ƶ Athletics, gaining additional behind-the-scenes experience in game-day operations.

“Being able to have that on my resume at just 19 years old, where a lot of people may not have those opportunities … I think that that’s really what ��Ƶ has helped me with,” Marchand said. “I don’t think I would have gotten those opportunities anywhere else.”

At ��Ƶ, Marchand has sharpened her on-air delivery and become comfortable working in a studio environment. Now she’s learning how to be more creative producing content centered on sports conversations rather than live competition. She’s also learning to separate her professional responsibilities from her passion as a fan.

Growing up just an hour outside Boston, Marchand has been a fan of the city’s professional sports teams since she was young. In August, she’ll attend Patriots training camp to capture photos and create content for the station.

“You do have to separate being a fan from your professional work, so I can’t fangirl over them when I’m there,” she said. “I have to be professional.”

While Marchand’s own initiative opened the door at 98.5 The Sports Hub, she credits the guidance she received at ��Ƶ with helping her walk through it. Assistant Professor of Sport Management Khirey Walker, in particular, played an important role in her internship search.

“He is just one of the most passionate, hardworking, selfless and kind people that I know at ��Ƶ,” she said. “He will literally drop anything to help any of his students.”

This fall, Marchand will continue her journey through The Sport Experience in Charlotte, where she’ll live, intern and study while expanding her experience in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports business markets.

Caroline Cirby ’19 brings ��Ƶ roots to FIFA World Cup role

Tommy Kopetskie — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:05:16 +0000

Caroline Cirby ’19 captured a packed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium ahead of the United States’ July 1 Round of 32 matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Cirby has served as a ticketing operations manager for FIFA during the tournament.

As thousands of soccer fans streamed toward San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, draped in national flags and chanting hours before kickoff, the energy was palpable.

Cirby poses ahead of a FIFA World Cup 2026 match day on June 25. As a ticketing operations manager for FIFA, she has helped oversee ticketing operations, support stadium staff, and assist fans.

Swiss fans dressed as cows rang cowbells, Australian fans carried enormous inflatable kangaroos, and Jordanian supporters congregated early outside the gates, waving oversized flags and singing in unison. Together, they created the spectacle that makes the FIFA World Cup unlike any other sporting event.

For , those moments were part of her daily routine during the tournament’s opening stages.

As a ticketing operations manager for FIFA, the ��Ƶ graduate spent several months helping fans enjoy the FIFA World Cup. While much of her work happened behind the scenes, Cirby handled everything from validating each seat in the stadium and accessible seating requests to one of the tournament’s toughest challenges: helping fans who unknowingly purchased counterfeit tickets.

“The more games have been played, the more variations of fake tickets have come out,” she explained.

While resolving ticket issues is part of the job, it represents only a fraction of Cirby’s experience. For all six Bay Area matches – including Team USA’s Round of 32 win – she served as the stadium ticketing manager and welcomed more than 410,000 fans to the region she grew up in.

Cirby stands outside FIFA headquarters in Miami on her first day with the organization in January.

“It’s the World Cup,” she said. “It’s once in a lifetime to be able to be part of an event like this.”

Cirby joined FIFA in January after nearly six years with the San Francisco Giants, where she built a career in ticket operations and services with her hometown team. But the opportunity to work the World Cup was one she couldn’t pass up.

“I was just kind of looking for jobs casually, just to see what was out there, and I threw in an application – and then it worked out,” Cirby said.

Her responsibilities have stretched far beyond match days. Cirby helped hire local stadium staff, prepare cross-functional training for various departments, and ensure FIFA’s ticketing spaces were ready before fans arrived. Once matches began, she moved between entrances and ticket offices, supporting staff and assisting fans whose tickets would not scan, who needed accessible seating accommodations, or who could not locate their tickets.

The role also gave Cirby a front-row view of the tournament’s global fan culture.

During the FIFA World Cup 2026 play-in tournament in March, Cirby visited Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, to evaluate obstructed-view seating as part of FIFA’s venue preparations.

“It’s mesmerizing to see these fans and the passion that they have,” Cirby said. “I don’t get to see the full fan marches, but I get to see them arrive at our entrance and go through our turnstiles, and they’re still chanting and cheering.”

Cirby’s path to FIFA began at ��Ƶ, majoring in sport management. She fondly remembers attending MLB’s Winter Meetings with her classmates, where she placed resumes in the mailboxes of organizations with job openings.

“I probably put 20 to 30 resumes in and got a couple of interviews, but that’s how I got my first job with the Atlanta Braves right out of college,” Cirby said.

That first role with the Braves eventually led to opportunities with the Giants and, ultimately, FIFA. Looking back, Cirby encourages students interested in the sport industry to cast a wide net.

“Honestly, just apply,” Cirby said. “Putting yourself out there and applying can make a real difference.”

Cirby stands at field level inside San Francisco Bay Area Stadium during a non-match day on June 30.

Her World Cup assignment also demanded resolution. For nearly two months, Cirby was based at a hotel in Santa Clara with other FIFA staff because of the long hours and the proximity to the stadium. The work has been especially demanding because Cirby has been doing it with a torn ACL, an injury she sustained this spring playing in a rec league kickball game. After consulting with doctors, she decided to postpone surgery until after the tournament.

“It’s really funny to be like, ‘Not only am I working the World Cup, but I’m walking like 25,000 steps a day on a torn ACL,’” Cirby laughed.

With surgery scheduled for late August, Cirby is looking forward to a well-earned break – and where her career will take her next. But this experience has reaffirmed why she chose a career in sports.

“I grew up playing soccer through high school, and I’ve continued to be a big fan,” Cirby said. “Seeing supporters from so many different countries bring that passion to every match has been the best part of the job.”

Nick Cooper ’94 turns curiosity into a global career coaching music’s biggest stars

Joshua Renza — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:30:10 +0000

Nick Cooper ’94 never planned on attending ��Ƶ.

In fact, he spent much of his college search focused on a different path. But after encouragement from an aunt who worked in higher education, Cooper visited ��Ƶ and quickly realized he had discovered something he hadn’t expected.

“It was far greater than what I wanted,” Cooper said. “I thought I knew what was best for me, but ��Ƶ introduced me to possibilities that were completely outside my scope of understanding.”

More than two decades later, that willingness to embrace the unexpected has taken Cooper around the world. The broadcast communications graduate has built a career as a vocal coach, creative strategist and entrepreneur, working alongside artists such as Beyoncé, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Jon Batiste and Kehlani. Today, he coaches performers on Broadway productions around the globe, advises international entertainment companies and leads several ventures focused on artist development and creative strategy.

Nick Cooper ’94 poses for a photo with Grammy Award-winning singer Usher during a previous entertainment industry event.

Yet Cooper believes the foundation for that success began in the classrooms of ��Ƶ.

As a broadcast communications major with minors in business and Japanese, Cooper immersed himself in disciplines that challenged him to think differently. He originally planned to move to Japan after graduation, becoming fluent in the language and preparing for an international teaching opportunity. Although those plans never surfaced, the experience shaped the way he approached the world.

“Language gave me the confidence to speak to anyone from any culture,” Cooper said. “Business taught me how to navigate opportunities and communications taught me how to articulate my thoughts. Those three things changed my life.”

Cooper often found himself as the only African American student in many of his classes. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, he credits professors with pushing him to develop his voice and perspective.

“They would ask me, ‘Nick, what’s your perspective?'” he said. “What they didn’t know was they were helping me build resilience and teaching me how to articulate who I was.”

Those conversations became some of the most important lessons of his college experience.

“It wasn’t about what I knew,” Cooper said. “It was about learning how to communicate with people who didn’t necessarily think like me.”

Outside the classroom, ��Ƶ’s emphasis on hands-on learning provided opportunities to put those skills into practice. Cooper hosted programming on ESTV and explored interests in media, performance and leadership while developing the communication skills that would later become central to his career.

“��Ƶ gave me an agnostic toolbox,” Cooper said. “It prepared me to go into any room and communicate effectively. More importantly, it taught me how to write. There’s nothing I can’t write.”

After graduation, Cooper entered the entertainment industry, initially pursuing opportunities as a performer and creative professional. Over time, he discovered a talent for helping artists unlock their potential, leading him into vocal coaching and artist development.

Nick Cooper ’94 poses for a portrait during a photo shoot.

His client list eventually grew to include some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. However, Cooper said his defining career moment had nothing to do with celebrities.

“The breakthrough wasn’t working with famous people,” he said. “The breakthrough was looking in the mirror and knowing who I was.”

That lesson became especially important when he was first asked to work with Beyoncé. Before the session, Cooper was warned that she would quickly decide whether he was the right fit. Instead of feeling intimidated, he focused on what he could offer.

“She didn’t show up for me to cower in front of her,” Cooper said. “She showed up because I had something that could help her.”

That mindset has guided his career ever since.

Whether coaching Grammy-winning artists, mentoring Broadway performers or advising global entertainment organizations, Cooper approaches every relationship the same way: helping people discover what they are capable of becoming.

Among those he has worked closely with is Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste. Cooper describes their relationship as one built not only on music, but on personal growth and purpose.

Nick Cooper ’94 poses for a photo with Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste during an entertainment industry event.

“It starts as music,” Cooper said. “Then it becomes a lesson in life, a lesson in business and eventually a friendship.”

Today, Cooper continues expanding that philosophy through multiple ventures, including Creative Village, a mentorship and development platform designed to provide emerging artists with access to the same guidance and resources often reserved for industry insiders.

“I wanted to create opportunities for people who wouldn’t normally have access to them,” Cooper said. “My goal is to help people maximize their potential while they’re alive.”

As he reflects on his journey, Cooper sees a direct connection between the uncertainty he experienced as a student and the success he enjoys today.

“There were many times at ��Ƶ when I didn’t know what was next,” he said. “But that uncertainty forced me to develop curiosity.”

For Cooper, curiosity remains one of the most valuable traits a person can cultivate.

“When I look back at ��Ƶ, it created the framework for my success,” he said. “More importantly, it created the curiosity that still drives everything I do.”

For current students hoping to build careers of their own, Cooper offers simple advice: don’t wait for someone else to validate your potential.

“Don’t wait for the world to say yes to what you can say yes to first,” he said.

U.S. Soccer comes to ��Ƶ Los Angeles

Brad Lemack — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:20:31 +0000

Atlanta-based ��Ƶ alumna Abbie Skladan ‘23, who is the manager of sporting and specialty retail development at U.S. Soccer, reunited with her ��Ƶ Los Angeles roots during a visit with summer ��Ƶ Loss and local alumni to discuss Angeles student U.S. Soccer’s initiatives in retail partnerships and community engagement. Skladan spent a semester at ��Ƶ Los Angeles during her academic career at ��Ƶ.

Abbie Skladan ’23 serves as manager of sporting and specialty retail development at U.S. Soccer.

Los Angeles has been serving as one of the key U.S. locations for the FIFA World Cup 2026; Skladan’s work responsibilities have brought her to LA for the duration of the games this summer.

Students and alumni guests had the opportunity to learn about her impressive career in sports so far and her journeyposition to her current . “It is wonderful to be back at ��Ƶ LA’s home base at The Preserve, in the same space where my classes were held and from where I began the journey to launch my post-graduation professional career,” Skladan told the gathered group.

Each semester, ��Ƶ Los Angeles brings together alumni and students for conversations that benefit emerging young professionals in a wide variety of career fields. The program offers an exciting, immersive and robust spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through ��Ƶ’s ��Ի� National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Abbie Skladan ’23 chats about her work with U.S. Soccer with a group of summer ��Ƶ Los Angeles students.

Behind the scenes of a successful entertainment career with Jenny Austin ’12

Lauren H. Shoffner — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:43:00 +0000

From interviews with big-name celebrities like Will Ferrell to assisting with casting for hit television shows like “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Jenny Austin ’12 is living out her dreams.

Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn’t have to follow a single path.

“I intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,” said Austin.

Jenny Austin ’12 at ��Ƶ’s Commencement.

In a way, ��Ƶ found her. Alumnus Royall Spence ’42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin’s extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.

“He always spoke so fondly of his experience at ��Ƶ and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,” she said.

The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. “When I visited ��Ƶ, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.”

She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but ��Ƶ had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew ��Ƶ was the place for her.

As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, ��Ƶ’s student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in ��Ƶ in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.

“One of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I’d track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,” she said.

One opportunity at ��Ƶ that greatly impacted Austin’s career was her experience with ��Ƶ in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.

“During the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,” said Austin.

Austin interviewing actor Kate Hudson for the movie “Mother’s Day”.

Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.

“Like many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I’ve built,” she explained.

She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.

Austin (bottom row, second from left) and her colleagues at the Oscars.

In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region’s rapidly growing entertainment industry.

“I joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including ‘Outer Banks’, ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, ‘The Walking Dead’ and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,” said Austin.

One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

“During the introduction, the production assistant announced me as ‘Jenny Austin from CBS Sacramento,’ and Will Ferrell immediately joked, ‘Jenny Sacramento from Austin.’ It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,” Austin said.

Austin poses with the cast of “Stranger Things”.

She’s also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.

Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They’ve titled the platform . While it’s still a new project and they’ve already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.

Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she’s been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at ��Ƶ, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.

“Nearly every major opportunity I’ve had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,” she explained.

Austin interviews T.I. for her interview platform, The Peach Tea.

She credits ��Ƶ’s experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.

“��Ƶ in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I’d dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,” she said.

It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was “realizing that I didn’t have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.”

Austin encourages ��Ƶ students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.

“That’s what I love most about ��Ƶ. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,” she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn’t followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Behind the scenes of Austin being filmed on the set of “Or Die Trying”.

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