Bailey Cichon (BA, 2021) had her mini-documentary Life in the Circus screen at the Oneota Film Festival in Decorah. Life in the Circus Arts examines the role the performing arts plays in American culture through the lens of today's circus artists. A commentary on the human condition, effects of capitalism, and play are intertwined in the telling of how circus arts arrived at its current status as a performing art.

Rebecca McKanna (BA, 2007) has written a book named Don't Forget the Girl, a campus thriller that explores sacred female friendships, queer romance, and a barely fictional depiction of our cultural obsession with serial killers. It will be on-sale June 20, 2023.

Lee A. Dorland (MA, 1975) has written a book named G. Washington Slept Here: A Sleepy Hollow Local History. Since 2021, it has been available in paperback on Amazon.com, and is also offered as an eBook on numerous internet sites. He credits the unique UI J-School program circa 1970 for the requisite skills.

Joseph Murphy (BA 1994) For the past 20 years, Joseph has documented the men and women that grow our food. For the past 11 years, he has worked with farmers and organizations that grow and export soybeans. The work has taken him around the world. Most recently, Joseph has documented farmers learning to use U.S. Soy to expand business opportunities and their quality of life through aquaculture in Cambodia. He's also documented farmers in Europe and South America that are involved with the Global Farmers Network. You can view Joseph's website here: https://www.jmurphpix.com/  and read more about his work with agriculture here: https://jmurphpix.substack.com/.

Heather (Willard) Johnson (BA, 1994) is now a full-time food blogger at TheFoodHussy.com. Heather recently appeared on AND WON an episode of Guy's Grocery Games on Food Network. Season 30, Episode 11. (submitted 10/9/2022)

Kelly Q. Anderson (BA, 2003) was named a writer-in-residency at the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She will serve her residency in the Fall, working on a creative nonfiction manuscript titled 'How To Change A Town.'  (submitted 6/10/2022)

Doug Hoenig (BA, 2000) recently joined Brandshare leading brand partnerships and sales. (submitted 5/13/2022)

Vitalis Torwel (PhD, 2007) was appointed Head of Department June 2021, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. (submitted 4/8/2022)

Temba Sipho B. Masilela  (MA, 1987, PhD 1994) is now retired from the Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa (a social sciences and humanities public research organization) and now working as an independent researcher (Laluka Reputation Capital). (submitted 3/22/2022)

Robert (Ted) Gutsche, Jr. (PhD, 2012) has been inducted into the Tomah (Wisconsin) Area School District Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for his work related to journalism, education, and internationalization. He graduated from the Tomah Senior High School in 1999. Gutsche is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department at Lancaster University in the U.K. He is also scheduled to publish an edited volume, The Future of the Presidency, Democracy, and Journalism: After Trump, in 2022 and is hosting and producing “The J Word,” a podcast that connects scholarship to practice for the Journalism Practice journal where he is Associate Editor. (submitted 9/25/2021)

Quentin Misiag (BA, 2016) Quentin Misiag recently took a new role with Goff Public, Minnesota's top public relations and advocacy firm based in Saint Paul. (8/6/2021)

Nicole Kilmer (BA, 2003) made the transition to public relations and marketing after 15+ years as a television news anchor across the Midwest. Nicole is currently serving as the Marketing and Communications Manager at CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank in Iowa City, a nonprofit agency. She can give back to the community where she received her degree. CommUnity was originally founded by two University of Iowa students. Two young freshmen return to their Burge Hall dorm room to find the completely unexpected – their roommate had barricaded the door and attempted suicide. They rushed her to care and after a long and scary night, were sent home knowing she was going to be physically okay. But in the following days, as the two women dealt with both their roommate’s and their own emotional upheaval, they learned there were simply no resources available to help them. That experience launched a campaign of advocacy, for those two young women and on behalf of all University of Iowa students, to establish support services for others in crisis. The students established what would become The Crisis Center of Johnson County, and later CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank. (submitted 5/28/2021)

Will Silverstein (BA, 2019) was hired a couple months ago by a new company to be the evening anchor in Cheyenne, Wyoming for the local newscasts. Will is also the Cheyenne Bureau Reporter for the station in Casper. (submitted 3/31/2021)

Maddie Bro (BA, 2016, MA 2020) Maddie recently joined the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the Washington, D.C. metro area as a Web & Digital Specialist, where she creates powerful digital content to increase coverage and understanding of science and medicine in journalism and society. Previously a communications fellow at the National Institutes of Health and regional director of Planned Parenthood in Iowa, Maddie strives to make public health information accessible to all and help philanthropists and advocates maximize their community impact. (submitted 6/24/2020)

Meg Rottman (BA, 1974) In 2020 Meg published a second novel (Winnie’s Dream, The Timejump Tale of Parallel Lives), which is now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com.  It has been called “a memsmeriziing blend of historical fiction and futuristic suspense.) She is also the author of The Exchange, a novel, and the co-author of Shoe Time (Random House) (submitted 4/11/2020)

Nick Fetty (BA, 2012) has published two history books about each of the engineering departments I cover as part of my work for Iowa State University: Industrial Engineering: https://www.isubookstore.com/shop/genbooks/featured/Through-The-Seasons  Mechanical Engineering: https://www.isubookstore.com/shop/genbooks/featured/150-Years-of-Mechanical-Engineering-at-Iowa-State-University  (submitted 3/2/2020)

Liz Herman (BA, 1996) Liz was announced as an Associate Fellow in The Society for Technical Communication's 2020 class of Associate Fellows. She was recognized for championing technical communicators through teaching, mentoring, and advocacy, while demonstrating the value of the technical communicator in project management and leadership roles. (submitted 2/19/2020)

William Brinkman (BA, 1990) William's satirical blog, the Bolingbrook Babbler, is located at freethoughtblogs.com/babbler. Started in 1999, the Babbler is a cross between the Weekly World News and the Onion that exposes the unbelievable truth about Bolingbrook and the suburbs of Chicago. He was accepted into the Freethought Blog network for his work promoting critical thinking and Social justice. (submitted 2/7/2020)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Vishwas Gaitonde's essay, “Gandhi and the Mantle of the Mahatma,”  written to mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth (Oct 2, 2019) was published in the New York based magazine The Mantle on Sept 30, 2019. You can read it here: https://www.themantle.com/arts-and-culture/gandhi-and-mantle-mahatma. His essay “Has India Had Its Stonewall Moment?” was published by The Mantle on Sep 6, 2019 to mark the first anniversary of decriminalization of the LGBT community in India. June 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of New York's Stonewall riots which catalyzed the gay lib movement in the States. Gaitonde looks at both in his essay. You can read it here: http://www.themantle.com/international-affairs/has-india-had-its-stonewall-moment (9/6/2019)

Amanda May (BA, 2005) Amanda is a 2005 graduate of the University of Iowa in the schools of Art and Journalism & Mass Communication. She has worked as a photojournalist, reporter, editor, and communications manager prior to her position at Tippie College of Business as Communications Coordinator. As part of her role, she will be taking over as Editor of Exchange and Iowa Ledger magazines. (submitted 8/27/2019)

Chris Dickey (MA, 2009)  Chris has just released his third solo album, titled Inventions, under the Emeritus Recordings label. This album includes an eclectic blend of music written for the tuba and piano. His other albums, Just a Thought (2015) and Dulcet Voice (2017), have garnered critical accolades from members of the brass community. (submitted 8/19/2019)

Tom Clos (BA, 2013) Tom was recently promoted to Senior Bids and Proposals Writer at Amplify Education, a digital education curriculum company based in Brooklyn, NY. (submitted 7/20/2019)

Kevin Boatright (MA, 1975) Kevin has been named to the governing board of his undergraduate alma mater, Nebraska Wesleyan University. He is a director emeritus of external affairs, Office of Research, University of Kansas. (submitted 7/12/2019)

Katie Linder (Stinson) has returned to her roots and is now working as a digital marketer for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, supporting my alma mater. (submitted 7/3/2019)

Jeff Hundley (BS, 1985) Hundley Assumes CEO Post at Allstate Sugar Bowl Promotion Comes After 25 Years of Service to the Organization. 

NEW ORLEANS – Jeff Hundley will officially take over as the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl on July 1.  He has been with the Sugar Bowl for over 25 years, an era which has been defined by the bowl strengthening its status as one of the premier bowl games in the nation.  He will become the seventh executive director/CEO of the Bowl, succeeding Paul Hoolahan, who has retired after 23 years heading the organization.

“I’m grateful to the Sugar Bowl Committee and its leadership for the confidence they’ve demonstrated in me,” Hundley said, “not just in trusting me with this new role but in the way they’ve demonstrated that faith to me and my family over the years.  We’re excited about the opportunity and are looking forward to working with the Committee and our great staff to achieve big things in the years ahead.”

“The Sugar Bowl’s future is in great hands with Jeff directing our efforts,” said Judge Monique Morial, the President of the Sugar Bowl Committee.  “He has extensive experience with all aspects of the Bowl and his institutional knowledge is second to none.  More importantly, Jeff has the respect and trust of our membership as well as all of our outside partners.”

This year’s Allstate Sugar Bowl will feature top teams from the Big 12 and Southeastern Conferences.  The champions of those leagues are designated to meet in the game unless one or both qualify for the College Football Playoff, in which case replacement teams from the respective leagues will come to New Orleans.

Hundley is also the executive director of the New Orleans Host Committee for the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship in New Orleans.  That game will mark the sixth national championship game for which he has been integral to operation.  Three of those national title games were contested in the Sugar Bowl – Florida’s 1997 win over Florida State; the 2000 win for Florida State over Virginia Tech; and LSU’s 2004 national title victory over Oklahoma.  The other two title games were played in stand-alone Allstate BCS National Championships – LSU’s defeat of Ohio State in 2008 and the

2012 victory for Alabama over LSU.

“In just a few short years, the CFP’s National Championship Game has really developed into a marquee event,” Hundley said.  “The size and scope of the game and its surrounding events has grown dramatically and will continue to do so this year and beyond.  In hosting this event, we have a great opportunity to demonstrate once again why New Orleans is one of the best major event cities in America.  It’s going to be fun.”

“We were delighted to learn that Jeff would become CEO of the Sugar Bowl,” said Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff.  “He intuitively understands intercollegiate athletics and loves

the New Orleans community.   He is a terrific leader and is widely respected. Nobody doesn’t like Jeff Hundley.”

Hundley worked closely with Hoolahan and the Sugar Bowl Committee to finalize a landmark arrangement with the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 Conference to host the top available teams from each league eight times over a 12-year period (2013-2025 seasons).  At the same time, the Sugar Bowl locked itself into four national semifinal games (for the 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023 seasons).

“Jeff Hundley has been an important part of the Sugar Bowl’s success and he is widely respected in the SEC, across college athletics and throughout the football bowl landscape,” said Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.  “Jeff has contributed greatly to the strong relationship that exists between the Sugar Bowl and the Southeastern Conference, and I am excited to work with him as he leads the Sugar Bowl into the future.”

“The relationship the Big 12 enjoys with the Sugar Bowl is significant to our membership,” said Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.  “Under Paul Hoolahan’s leadership a solid foundation has been built.  We are enthusiastic for the future of our Sugar Bowl relationship as Jeff Hundley takes over the reins. Jeff has been integral to our conference’s partnership with the Sugar Bowl and his strong leadership will ensure that the Bowl remains among the best in the industry.”

While the annual college football game is the crown jewel of the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s efforts, Hundley and the bowl’s volunteer membership are involved with competitions at both the prep and intercollegiate level; including basketball, lacrosse, sailing, soccer, volleyball and track and field.  During his tenure, the bowl has nearly tripled its number of ancillary community events to its current level of more than 50 annual competitions and ceremonies.  In 2014, the Bowl landed title sponsorship to all Louisiana High School Athletic Association state championship events and, in 2012, the Bowl added the prestigious Crescent City Classic to its portfolio.

“Under Paul’s leadership we were able to expand our list of events outside the football game exponentially,” Hundley said.  “Those events all work together to create a significant economic impact for the city and they’re providing great opportunities for young people.  They’ve really become a point of pride for the Sugar Bowl Committee.”

In addition to coordinating the successful bid by the city of New Orleans to host the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship, Hundley served as Co-Executive Director of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.  He also played a pivotal role in landing the rights for New Orleans to host the Women’s Final Four again in 2020.

In addition to its wide array of sporting events, the Allstate Sugar Bowl sponsors the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame; The Manning Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding quarterback; the local chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, which awards over $60,000 in scholarships annually; and the Eddie Robinson National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America.

Hundley was named assistant executive director of the Allstate Sugar Bowl in November 1993 and was promoted to the title of associate executive director in July 1995 and Chief Operating Officer in 2006.

Hundley came to the Bowl from the University of Georgia Athletic Association, where he worked for seven years in the Bulldog sports information office and won several national writing and publication design awards.

A native of Creston, Iowa, where he was an all-state football and basketball player and is a member of the Creston High School Hall of Fame, Hundley did his undergraduate study in journalism at the University of Iowa and his graduate work in sports administration at Western Illinois University.

Hundley and his wife, Janine, a native of Clarinda, Iowa, have two sons, Roman Gabriel, Benjamin Davidson, and a daughter, Carolyn McCall.

“We’ve got work ahead of us to make sure we’re in the best competitive position for the future,” Hundley said.  “I’m excited about working with the Committee and staff in tackling that challenge.”

The Sugar Bowl Committee was founded as the New Orleans Mid-Winter Sports Association in 1934 for the purpose of promoting amateur sporting events that would stimulate tourism and have a positive economic effect on the New Orleans metropolitan area.  Over the last decade, the Sugar Bowl has had an economic impact of over $2.5 billion for the city and state.

-AllstateSugarBowl.org-

Released:  6/27/19 (submitted 6/28/2019)

Miriam Shnycer (BA, 1985) Miriam Segal Shnycer is the author of,  "Of Love and Death:  Young Holocaust Survivors' Passage to Freedom", released by Auctus Publishers. Miriam Shnycer is a graduate of the School of Communications and Theater, now School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She had worked as an editor at North American Publishing Company. (submitted 5/7/2019)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Vishwas Gaitonde's essay “Jaya He! The Story of India’s National Anthem” was published by The Mantle in January 2019. It delves into the history and controversies swirling around the anthem composed by Nobel laureate & polymath Rabindranath Tagore – and also highlights the largely hidden role of an Irish woman’s contribution to the music. You can read it here:http://www.mantlethought.org/arts-and-culture/jaya-h%C3%A9-story-india%E2%80%99s-national-anthem (submitted 4/23/2019)

John Bohnenkamp (BA, 1988) Won the Best Sports Columnist (Daily newspapers — Class II) award in the Iowa Newspaper Association contest. Also took seventh place in column writing in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest in Category D (Under 15,000-circulation). (submitted 4/18/2019)

Brett Roseman (BA, 2001) Brett Roseman (BA, 2001) recently took a job at Des Moines University of Medicine & Health Sciences, where he is currently building a brand new position at the university as Photographer and Videographer for the Marketing & Communications team. Previously, Brett was the first University Photographer for the Marketing and Communications teams at University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, for almost 5 years, and was a Staff Photojournalist & Multimedia Producer at the Chicago Sun-Times for almost 10 years. (submitted 1/9/2019)

John Bohnenkamp (BA, 1988) Took first place in the Football Writers Association of America writing contest in the game story category for the story on Iowa's 55-24 win over Ohio State last season. (submitted 11/6/2018)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Vishwas Gaitonde's short story "Faith" was published in the Fall 2018 issue of the literary journal Santa Monica Review. The issue marks the journal's 30th anniversary of publication, and at the launch event on Oct 14, 2018, Gaitonde was invited to read from his work. (submitted 10/9/2018)

Alexander Solsma (BA, 2011) In August 2018, Solsma was named the Director of Communications for the historic Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The parish was established in 1795, which makes it the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Virginia. (submitted 10/6/2018)

Daniel Gonzalez (BA, 1983) was a lead reporter for the Wall Project, which won a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism for The Arizona Republic and USA Today Network. (submitted 4/16/18)

Vanessa Shelton (PhD, 2007; MA, 1994) Vanessa Shelton has been recognized by the Journalism Education Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award for significant contributions to scholastic journalism throughout her career. She retired in July 2017, and was most recently an adjunct professor and executive director of Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists, based in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. (submitted 2/22/18)

Cathy Orrick Luders (BA, 1974) retired from The Gazette in Cedar Rapids on Dec. 31, 2017, after 30 1/2 years as content coordinator/obituaries. (submitted 2/8/18)

Jarrett Hothan (BA, 2009) Jarrett's band The Trolls released their debut album "Vs. The Shadow Pyramid." When a student, he wrote for the Arts & Culture section of the Daily Iowan and primarily focused on music—album reviews and concert previews. He is also a script writer for Demo Duck, a video production company in Chicago. (submitted 2/8/18)

Madelyn Andree (BA, 2016) landed an exciting job in Silicon Valley. She credits the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the excellent training she received. (submitted 1/4/18)

Emily Grosvenor (MA, 2008) After nine years as a freelance magazine journalist and editor with credits in Sunset, AAA publications, the Atlantic, Good Housekeeping, Publishers Weekly and Marie Claire, Emily will assume the role of editor for Oregon Home magazine. (submitted 12/21/17)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) has published a feature article, "The Grand Piano Chase" (Link: http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-grand-piano-chase/article20004323.ece) in The Hindu, one of India's leading newspapers, on November 9, 2017. This feature focuses on the music prodigy Lydian Nadhaswaram through the pianos he has played, and follows Gaitonde's earlier multi-media essay on Nadhaswaram, "King of Melody, Lord of Rhythm" (http://www.mantlethought.org/arts-and-culture/king-melody-lord-rhythm-lydian-nadhaswarams-musical-journey) published in May 2017 in The Mantle, New York. (submitted 11/20/17)

Adam Kempenaar (MA, 2005; BA, 1998) was promoted to Vice President, Digital Content for the Chicago Blackhawks, July 18, 2017. (submitted 7/23/17)

Vishwas R Gaitonde (MA 1989)  Vishwas Gaitonde's multimedia essay "King of Melody, Lord of Rhythm: Lydian Nadhaswaram's Musical Journey" (link to essay: http://www.mantlethought.org/arts-and-culture/king-melody-lord-rhythm-lydian-nadhaswarams-musical-journey) on India's remarkable 10-yr-old music prodigy was published in "The Mantle" on May 18, 2017. The essay contains representative video clips of music to provide a visual commentary to the text. (submitted 5/23/17)

Bill Theobald (BS, 1979) Bill has been named Deputy Washington Editor in the USA TODAY Washington Bureau. Theobald has been in the Washington Bureau since 2005, both as a reporter and editor. (submitted 5/16/17)

Sarah Larson (BA, 2013) In June, Sarah began working at her favorite place in the world, Universal Orlando Resort. It has been amazing to work at such an incredible destination. (submitted 1/23/17)

Shawna McDonald (BA, 2004)  Shawna leads Strategic Planning and Communications for Google's Executive Development Team (part of Learning and Development). In her role, she works with critical leaders and teams to provide powerful development experiences to help Google's business and culture thrive. (submitted 1/16/17)

Julie Deardorff (BA, 1989)  Julie is the director of communication and outreach at Northwestern University's School of Education and School Policy following a 23-year career as a reporter with the Chicago Tribune. (submitted 1/11/17)

Jay Hamilton (PhD, 1993)  Jay's third book has just been published, Explorations in Critical Studies of Advertising, co-edited with Robert Bodle and Ezequiel Korin (Routledge, 2017). Prior books include Democratic Communications; Formations, Projects, Possibilities (2008) and, co-written with Chris Atton, Alternative Journalism (Sage, 2009). (submitted 1/8/17)

Robin Johnson (PhD, 2010) was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at Sam Houston State University, where he is currently the graduate program coordinator for the Mass Communication Department's Digital Media Studies and Digital Media Production degrees. (submitted 1/7/17)

Sonja West (BA, 1993) Sonja was named as the inaugural holder of the Otis Brumby Distinguished Professorship in First Amendment Law at the University of Georgia, a post shared by the law school and UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. (submitted 1/2/17)

Kevin Boatright (MA,1975) Kevin retired in 2016 as emeritus director of external affairs in the Office of Research, after 14 years at the University of Kansas and a 41-year career overall. (submitted 1/1/17)

Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier (BA, 1981) Heidi was named by AZ BUSINESS magazine among 2016 Most Influential Women for Arizona Business community and "Best Phoenix Gaming Lawyer for 2016" by Best Lawyers in America. She is a senior partner with the law firm of Snell & Wilmer, where her practice emphasizes Native American Law, Gaming Law and Business Litigation. (submitted 12/30/16)

Glenn R. Townes (BA, 1986), writer for South Jersey Journal.  Glenn recently visited the U of I J-School as a Professional-in-Residence and shared a riveting and haunting personal experience of how his career in journalism almost ended before it started 30 years ago. Townes visit to the J-School marked the second time in less than 10 years he has visited the J-School as a PIR---a rare honor. While he was a student at the U of I, Townes worked as a reporter for the Daily Iowan.Since graduating, he has worked at the Kansas City Start, the Kansas City Call, The Daily Record in New Jersey and Black Enterprise and Essence magazines. (submitted 11/8/16)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989). Vishwas Gaitonde's short story "Pigs is Pigs and Eggs is Eggs" (published by The Iowa Review, Spring 2015) was cited as a Distinguished Short Story in the anthology 'Best American Short Stories 2016' guest-edited by Junot Diaz (series editor: Heidi Pitlor).  (submitted 10/27/16)

Curt Hills (BA, 1989) is Managing Editor of Investigations and Special Projects, The Villages Daily Sun.  The Villages Daily Sun's "Redefining Justice" project was named the Inland Press Association's national Community Service Award winner among newspapers of all circulation sizes. The honor was presented Oct. 25 at Inland's annual meeting in Chicago. The Central Florida newspaper's project revealed that 74 percent of Florida's death row inmates were sentenced to death row without an unanimous jury verdict after they reviewed all of the 389 death row case files, which no one had previously done. The project also revealed sentencing inequities that exist throughout the state, showing some areas are more aggressive at pursuing the death penalty than others. The Daily Sun's reporting was later introduced in Florida Senate hearing proceedings. Hills was the project's editor and also authored some stories for the project. His project team has received multiple state journalism awards for this and other projects as well. The Villages Daily Sun is defying industry standards as a rapidly growing, 7-day daily print product. It is routinely one of the fastest-growing dailies in the U.S.

Julia Janssen  (BS, 2006) was promoted to Admissions Marketing and Communications Director at Michigan State University. (submitted 9/23/16)

Daniel Gonzalez (BA, 1983) is Senior Reporter-Immigration, U.S.-Mexico border, minority communities for The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com. Daniel Gonzalez was a lead writer for The Arizona Republic's Pipeline of Children series awarded the 2015 Hillman Prize for newspaper journalism and the 2015 Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism from the University of Oregon. He also was named the 2014 Arizona Virg Hill Journalist of the Year for his coverage of the child migrant border crisis and other work. He won the same award in 2010 for his coverage of the rise of global migration. (submitted 9/20/16)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) has published an essay, "An Ecological Movement Sprouts From Literature" (Link: http://www.mantlethought.org/world-literature/ecological-movement-sprouts-literature) in The Mantle, on September 6, 2016. (submitted 9/7/16)

Robert E. Gutsche Jr. (Ph.D., 2012) is Assistant Professor, Florida International University College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts.  From images of mass disaster to police militarization in the U.S., entertainment to news, a new book, Visual Culture for a Global Audience, coedited by Robert Gutsche Jr. (Ph.D., School of Journalism and Mass Communication, ‘12), addresses new technologies and dominant processes of meaning-making related to visual signs and symbols of the everyday. With a focus on issues of race, gender, and control in recent events of violence and resistance throughout the U.S., the book challenges media creators to apply critical thinking and interpretation to their field of work and study and comes from the perspective of an editor who has hands dipped in both making media and studying it. (submitted 8/7/16)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Every musical instrument has a history - a birth, an evolution, even a death and an afterlife. Vishwas Gaitonde's multimedia essay on the harmonium, "The Birth, Death, and Reincarnation of the Harmonium" (http://www.mantlethought.org/arts-and-culture/birth-death-and-reincarnation-harmonium) was published in The Mantle on July 14, 2016; it includes representative video clips of harmonium music to accompany the text. (submitted 7/17/16)

Matthew Cecil (Ph.D., 2000) Matthew Cecil, Ph.D. (Mass Communication, 2000) has been named Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Minnesota State University, Mankato. From 2013 to 2016, Cecil was Director of the Elliott school of Communication at Wichita State University. Cecil assumed his new duties on July 1, 2016. (submitted 6/21/16)

Andrej Sagaidak (BA, 2012) is SEO Expert and CEO of Reckonsoft and webmaster of education website Healthcareadministrationdegree.co. HealthcareAdministrationDegree.co, a non-commercial organization, came to be in 2014 with the mission to provide Healthcare Administration community resources or those considering a career in Healthcare Administration or those currently employed in the industry. Our free materials and tools span topics such as jobs and careers, educational program options and financial aid, pre-professional experience, and state and local government health administration resources. We have been featured by several local and state health administration offices and top universities across the U.S. Feel free to check http://healthcareadministrationdegree.co/ and http://healthcareadministrationdegree.co/masters-degree/ to get more info. (submitted 3/15/16)

Vishwas Gaitonde (MA, 1989) Vishwas Gaitonde's recent publications include a short story, "Pigs is Pigs and Eggs is Eggs," published in The Iowa Review, Spring 2015 issue; "Remembering Dr. Solomon," (a profile of Dr Suniti Solomon, the savant & physician who pioneered the HIV/AIDS movement in India) which was published in The Hindu, a leading newspaper in Indiato mark World AIDS Day 2015; and an essay, "With No Inkling of the Contents:Viewing Narnia Through A Hindu Lens," which was published in The Mantle in March 2016. (submitted 3/13/16)

Robert E. Gutsche Jr. (Ph.D., 2012) has published a new book, Media Control: News as an Institution of Power and Social Control (Bloomsbury), which examines the role of media in recent cases involving race and police shootings as well as government and corporate surveillance of citizens. Read more about the book at http://tinyurl.com/otz863h.

Katelyn Balling (née McBride) (BA, 2010) Katelyn manages communications, publications, and web projects as the content specialist for Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music in Evanston, Ill. (submitted 11/23/15)

Shelbi Thomas (BA, 2005) Senior associate editor, University of Iowa Alumni Association. Shelbi is celebrating 10 years with Iowa Alumni Magazine. (submitted 11/23/15)

Curtiss Hills (BA, 1989) Managing Editor of Special Projects at The Villages Daily Sun, Lady Lake, FL. Expanded leadership role at the nation's fastest-growing print newspaper as Managing Editor of Special Projects and recently (July 2015) appointed to lead the launch of digital platform coordination that benefits the growing print audience. Part of a leadership team that is defying national circulation declines and taking a different approach that is generating profit, increased audience and challenges current newspaper industry downward trends by leading the charge for hyper-local news coverage and special reports (many award-winning) every single Sunday - illustrating that newspapers are still viable. Our success supports a staff of more than 25 reporters and photographers and our work is displayed in a healthy publication boasting 56 to 72 pages on average, every day of the week. (submitted 9/25/15)

Liz Crokin (BA, 2001) Liz Crokin published her first novel, Malice, in March.  The political romantic thriller, inspired by true events, details a tabloid journalist's journey chasing a scoop so explosive involving the Republican presidential nominee's tawdry affair with a prostitute that it could've altered the outcome of the election.  Her millionaire boyfriend's love and support gives her strength during her roller coaster assignment - until her entire world suddenly collapses.  Us Weekly calls her novel "Fifty Shades of Grey meets House of Cards" and other critics compare the book's political shenanigans to something you'd find in the hit show Scandal.  Liz has a worked as an investigative journalist, a columnist and senior editor for various publications for over a decade.  Her work has been featured in the RedEye Edition of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times: Splash, Us Weekly, In Touch Weekly, Star, National Enquirer, Life & Style, Radar, OK!, Closer and Elite Daily. (submitted 6/7/15)

Roy Alden Atwood (PhD, 1984) After 15 years servicing as President and Senior Fellow of Humanities at New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, ID 83843, Roy stepped down as president and accepted a new distinguished professorship named after the great Dutch Reformed prime minister, journalist and classicist, Abraham Kuyper, at Morthland College in southern Illinois. My new appointments begin July 1, 2015. He will also be the director of the Founders Institute for Public Policy in Illinois. From March to May 2015, Roy was on sabbatical leave from New Saint Andrews College and served a Visiting Professor of Educational Leadership at Nehemiah Gateway University in Bucimas, Pogradec, Albania. (submitted 5/17/15)

Forrest Benjamin Saunders (BA, 2009) Forrest is a reporter at KCRG TV 9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and recently received a 2014 Midwest Regional Emmy for General Assignment Report - 24 hours for story entitled "Poisoned Dogs in Prairieburg". (submitted 12/25/14)

Adam Kempenaar (MA, 2005) Slate.com ranked episode #300 of his podcast and radio show Filmspotting at #15 on its list of "The 25 Best Podcast Episodes Ever." (submitted 12/17/14)

Brett Roseman (BA, 2001) After 10 years as a Staff Photojournalist and Multimedia Producer at the Chicago Sun-Times, Brett lost his job when they eliminated the whole photography staff in 2013. In May 2014, Brett started a newly-created Media Specialist position at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, WI where he is the University Photographer, heading up visuals for the Marketing and Communications offices.(submitted 10/26/14)

Kirsten Jacobsen (BA, 2011) Kirsten, an Editor at China International Publishing Group, says "Having returned for my second stint in China since graduation, I am currently working as the culture section editor for a state-owned weekly news magazine and writing monthly articles about life in modern China for the Des Moines Register. The contrast between the two news outlets - what I am allowed to report, how stories are framed, where I get my statistics and more - has given me a new appreciation for the journalistic freedoms we enjoy in the U.S. Conversely, it's exciting to be a part of the new media "opening up"across China. (submitted 10/22/14)

Alyssa Young (BA, 2010) Alyssa Young (formerly Alyssa Cashman) recently received her Master of Communication Leadership from Drake University. (submitted 10/16/14)

Heather Burns (BA, 1991) Heather recently moved from espnW to the ESPN.com NFL team. She is the assignment editor for eight team reporters for NFL Nation. Burns handles reporters in the NFC and AFC West, so she had two teams covering the 2014 Super Bowl in New York City. (submitted 10/16/14)

Mike Owen (BA, 1980) Mike has become executive director of the Iowa Policy Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research organization based in Iowa City. Owen previously served as assistant director of the organization since 2001. (submitted 3/21/14)

Nickkita Pik-man Lau (BA, 2007) Lau taught a master-level public relations writing course at Hong Kong Baptist University in spring. She will leave her current corporate communications job at a Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate in April. She will move to Auckland, New Zealand where she will pursue her Ph.D. in Media, Film and Television at the University of Auckland under the supervision of Dr. Nabeel Zuberi. (submitted 3/8/14)

Matthew Cecil (PhD, 2000) Matthew Cecil's book, Hoover's FBI and the Fourth Estate: The Campaign to Control the Press and the Bureau's Image, was published by the University of Kansas Press on January 23, 2014. Cecil (Ph.D., 2000) is Director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University. (submitted 1/31/14)

Bruce Most (BA, 1968) Bruce Most, a retired freelance writer, recently published his latest novel, ROPE BURN, a murder mystery set in contemporary Wyoming cattle country. (submitted 1/16/14)

Vincent Rodriguez (MA, 2002) Vincent Rodriguez has been named Chief of Staff at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, the fourth largest private university in Texas. He previously served as Assistant to the President/Communications at Incarnate Word. (submitted 10/29/13)

Jamie M. Hansen (BA, 2009) Jamie M. Hansen is a senior account executive at PCI PR, a public relations agency in Chicago. (submitted 10/24/13)

Tim P. Vos (MA, 1995) Tim P. Vos has recently been promoted to Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the University of Missouri. (submitted 8/23/13)

Nickkita Pik-man Lau (BA, 2007) Nickkita Lau has published her first novel, Florid Eyes: A Novel, under the name Nicky English online. The paranormal romantic thriller is about a PhD student's adventure to find a native American artifact which could reverse vampirism. Lau received her master of arts in communication from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2012, graduating with the second highest GPA in a class of 150 students. She also teaches English and does public relations writing. She hopes to begin her PhD studies in 2014 in Australia or New Zealand. Her research interest is fan culture. (submitted 7/2/13)

Andrew P. Scott (BA, 1995) Andrew P. Scott has been named Deputy Director of Multimedia at USA TODAY, leading a team of editors and photographers creating photo and video content for all platforms. He previously served as News and Sports Photo Editor at USA TODAY. Prior to that, he was Photo Editor and Photographer at The Dallas Morning News. (submitted 6/25/13)

Gary Kuhlmann (BA, 1978) Gary Kuhlmann recently accepted a position as Associate Director of Electronic Media and Communications with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. His most recent previous position was with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service in Asheville, NC, where he was the team leader and a supervisory technical editor/writer for the technical publications office of the Southern Research Station. (submitted 6/6/13)

Betty Lin-Fisher (BA, 1995) Betty Lin-Fisher, a 1995 graduate of the UI School of Journalism, received the 2013 Diversity in Media Distinguished Leadership Award from Kent State University in Ohio. She is the first Asian-American to be acknowledged with this award, which recognizes the accomplishments of media professionals who encourage diversity in the field of journalism. (read more)

Ted Anton (MA, 1984) DePaul University English Department Professor says "I'm publishing a new book with University of Chicago Press: The Longevity Seekers: Science, Business and the Fountain of Youth, a new journalistic account of the business and science race for a longevity drug. John Seabrook at the New Yorker called it 'enthralling.' " (submitted 5/10/13)

John Bohnenkamp (BA, 1988) Named 2012 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Also took fifth place in the game story/spot news category in the United States Basketball Writers Association writing contest for the story on Iowa's win at Wisconsin last season. (submitted 4/2/13)

Lt Col Wm. James "Jim" Annexstad (BA, 1995) I recently accepted a position as the Military Assistant and Special Counsel to the General Counsel for the Department of Defense. (read more)

Arlecia D. Simmons (PhD, 2009) Arlecia enrolled in Duke University Divinity School in August 2009 while completing her dissertation. In May 2012 she received her M.Div. from Duke and was ordained to Christian ministry. In August 2012 she was hired as an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at Paine College in Augusta, GA. (submitted 10/1/12)

Amanda Gorsche Miller (MA, 2002) just self-published her first fiction novel. (submitted 9/27/12)

Mike Morsch (BS, 1982) executive editor of Montgomery Media in Fort Washington, PA, has published his first book, "Dancing in My Underwear: The Soundtrack of My Life." (read more)

Julia Janssen (BS, 2006) After spending the last 6 years working as the Director of Marketing for a Minor League Baseball team in Michigan, I returned to my tour guide roots and joined the admissions staff at Michigan State University. I am responsible for all our e-communications efforts including video production and all social media efforts. (submitted 5/25/12)

Cathy Cronin (BA, 1989) writes "My work will be included in an upcoming poetry anthology entitled "And the Crowd Goes Wild!: A Global Gathering of Sports Poems." Release date is August 2012. Available in both paperback and e-book versions." See website for more information. https://crowdgoeswildpoems.wordpress.com/, www.cathycronin.com (submitted 4/17/12)

Georgia NeSmith (PhD, 1994) photo-essay project, "Megan's Garden: A Study in Meditation and Healing," (read more)

Vincent Rodriguez (MA, 2002) edited "Lou: From Brooklyn to Broadway, the University of the Incarnate Word's 25 Years with Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr." by Patricia A. Watkins. Published by San Antonio-based Maverick Publishing Company, the book chronicles Agnese's first 25 years as UIW president. During this period, UIW grew from one of the smallest private universities in Texas into the state's fourth-largest private, ranked No. 2 nationally among all private universities in the conferring of bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics. (submitted 2/1/12)

Georgia NeSmith (PhD, 1994) was recently accepted as a juried member of 14 South Artists, an organization of professional artists (read more)

Lauria Locsmondy (BA, 1998) University of Iowa Grad Launches Jealous Magazine with Mission “Fashion Is Political” (read more)

Shawna McDonald (BA, 2004) recently moved from Chicago, Ill. to San Francisco, Calif. after accepting a position at Google, Inc. McDonald is part of the sales development team and works as a media specialist contributing to how advertisers and brands can best use their dollars on Google properties in order to meet their ROI goals. McDonald's previous agency experience (Theatre Council Productions, DRAFTFCB) as well as the core communication skills she learned at the UI were key to opening the door for her at Google. (07-04-10)

Georgia NeSmith (PhD, 1994) recently launched her professional photography website. The site covers a wide range of her images, including black & white images of the Iowa countryside taken while a teaching assistant for Drake Hokinson's documentary photography course. Those images were part of a solo photography exhibit at the former Cell Gallery at Writers & Books in Rochester, NY. Georgia's work has also been shown at other galleries in Rochester, including Rochester Contemporary (formerly Pyramid Arts). She has received two New York State Council on the Arts grants for her work. Recently she has begun working with digital manipulations of her images, included in her gallery category "Beyond Photography." Most of those scenes involve iconic images of her adopted hometown of Rochester, NY.

She is also proud to note that her daughter, Anya Wait, has become a professional photographer in her own right, far exceeding her mother's accomplishments in the field! Anya was first schooled in photography by her mother during off hours at the J-School photo lab. She specializes in pregnancy/newborn/baby photography, serving South Dakota and Wisconsin. Anya's work can be seen at http://www.anyawait.com/. She could probably be convinced to take an occasional shooting trip down to Iowa City, where she attended West High School and Scattergood Friends School. (05-29-10)

Eric VanSickle (BA, 1995) has been named the assistant editor of Hawkeye Racing News, a publication of Community Media Group. His duties will include pagination of the weekly auto racing newspaper during the racing season and monthly during the off-season. He also will report on high school sporting events as needed for CMG's eight community newspapers in Northeast and East Central Iowa -- Cedar Falls Times, Waverly Democrat, Bremer County Independent, Oelwein Daily Register, Independence Standard, Fayette County Union, Cedar Valley Daily Times and Vinton Eagle. For the last two years, VanSickle contributed to CMG as a sports correspondent, working mostly with the Cedar Falls Times, but also for the other regional community newspapers. Previously, he was the sportswriter for the Britt News-Tribune and Forest City Summit. (04-29-10)

Tom Hudson (1993) Nightly Business Report is proud to announce that Tom Hudson, co-anchor of the nationally-syndicated First Business program, will join Susie Gharib to co-anchor the nation’s longest running and most-watched daily business program. Hudson replaces legendary anchor Paul Kangas, who will be receiving a Business Emmy for Lifetime Achievement on December 7. Already working with the program, Hudson will make his on-air debut Wednesday, December 2. Hudson’s first appearance as co-anchor will take place Monday, January 4, 2010. Hudson will report out of NBR’s headquarters at WPBT in Miami.

“As NBR embraces a future ripe with new technologies and ways to communicate, we will adamantly uphold the values that have made NBR the country’s most-watched business program,” said Executive Editor Rodney Ward. “Tom Hudson represents perfectly the crossroads of this change for us. He possesses the old school journalistic fundamentals we cherish, but he also has all the new school tools and understanding that will help us remain on top in the future. His work on the Web and his educational work with young students was particularly impressive.

Eric Johnston (BA, 1999) I have been hired to the position of Journalism teacher / Newspaper adviser at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada. The school has a long history of success in journalism, consistently winning "Best Newspaper" at the Las Vegas Review Journal's yearly awards banquet. (07-02-09)

Adam Kempenaar (MA, 2005), host of the weekly podcast and WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio) show "Filmspotting," presented a talk entitled "The 21st Century Film Critic" at Florida Atlantic University's Business Perspectives on the Film and Media Industries Conference on May 29, 2009. (06-16-09)

Adrian (A.J.) Wright (BS, 1980) Owner of A.J. Wright and Associates, Ltd. a Chicago based communications firm offering boutique style services in media/public relations, event planning and consulting. Wright has been appointed to work with Chicago's Renaissance 2010 New Schools Program as a community liaison to the Englewood community. Wright's firm produces an on-going cable television show called All About Chicago with a corresponding website. She's featured many well-know guests in politics, film, professional sports, and music. Wright is also a guest lecturer, facilitator, and sits on various boards in Chicago. (06-07-09)

Gary Kuhlmann (BA, 1978) recently accepted a position as technical editor for the Southern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service in Asheville, North Carolina. (03-18-09)

Elliott Brack (MA, 1962) Brack writes, "I have written an 850 page history of Gwinnett County, Georgia. It is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, now with 800,000 residents, up from 32,000 in 1950." (02-13-09)

Joe Horaney (BA, 2000) was named Managing Editor at KGAN/Cedar Rapids, a CBS affiliate. He previously worked as Executive Producer at KWQC/Davenport, an NBC affiliate. (02-06-09)

Sydney (Gohring) Hofer (BA, 1997) has been named Public Relations Coordinator with Kohl's Department Stores in Menomonee Falls, WI. She will focus on Grand Openings and Charity for Kohl's. Hofer spent the past year doing Public Relations for the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. Prior to that, she spent 8 years as a TV news producer at Today's TMJ 4, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee. (01-04-09)

Doug Hoenig (BA, 2000) Doug writes, "In May 2008, I accepted a new position with the male lifestyle portal site http://www.craveonline.com/. We strive to give young males all that they CRAVE, from video game/film/tv reviews and news to music, sports, auto, humor, comics, and general lifestyle/entertainment news and content. I am one of two Midwest Ad Sales Representatives with my territory covering all the major ad agencies and clients in Chicago, TX, MN, OH, MO, and WI. People are turning to online more frequently for their news, entertainment, and to socially connect. CraveOnline hopes to connect that audience with relevant advertisers." (12-26-08)

Alan Kotok (BA, 1967) An ambitious project on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to study and work in science and technology has won a U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Commendation for Alan Kotok, managing editor of Science Careers. The project, published 6 June 2008, explored the challenges and opportunities awaiting an estimated 100,000 or more war veterans who have in recent years enrolled in science and engineering programs or joined the workforce in those fields. The project, "Student-Veterans Come Marching Home," included stories and a podcast on an array of topics. In one story, Kotok examined an expansion in benefits proposed for the GI Bill; the expanded benefits were approved by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush last summer. In another, he explored the experiences of eight soldiers who were making the transition back to civilian and academic life as science and engineering students. Kotok has been at Science since 2003. He was nominated for the Army commendation by John Mikelson, the veterans advisor at The University of Iowa. (12-18-08)

Sarah K. Franklin (BA, 2004) has joined the Litigation Division in the Davis Brown Law Firm. Sarah practices in the area of litigation. She was a 2007 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, with Distinction, a student judge of the Moot Court Board, a Quarterfinalist in the Jessup International Moot Court and a member of Journal of Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems. Sarah was a 2004 graduate of the University of Iowa with a BA in History, Minors in Journalism and Spanish. Sarah was also Phi Beta Kappa. While at Iowa, Sarah was a Metro Reporter and later a Metro Editor for The Daily Iowan. (10-31-08)

Tom Walsh (BA, 1972) of The Ellsworth American  won a Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Award, given by the Foundation for Biomedical Research. The awards recognize outstanding journalism demonstrating the essential role of humane animal research in medical discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. "We applaud a well-balanced and accurate discussion of animal research," said FBR president Frankie Trull. "The DeBakey awards are a unique opportunity for scientists and the media to converge in celebration of strides in science and medicine." (6-20-08)

Haven Simmons (PhD, 1992) is an associate professor of communication arts teaching journalism and public relations at Salisbury University in Maryland. He also mentors public information officers, teaches media relations and anchors newscasts for emergency response courses at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and works as an observer/controller in emergency response courses for the National Response and Rescue Training Center at Texas A&M University. (6-10-2008)

Daisy Hutzell-Rodman (BA, 1998) Hutzell-Rodman was Chair of the Omaha Press Club's Journalism Awards Banquet May 29. This event was a dual awards banquet for the Excellence in Journalism Contest awards and the inaugural Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame awards. The first living honorees were Omaha Sun Newspapers owner Warren Buffett, publisher Stanford Lipsey, and editor Paul N. Williams, for their 1973 Pulitzer-prize winning coverage of Boys Town finances. (5-31-2008)

Karen S. Good Goedken (BA, 1970) BA Mass Communications and Political Science, 1970; Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1976; LTC Good Goedken, USAR, ret., merged her writing and health care background as a policy analyst through calendar year 2007 serving the Army Wounded Warrior Program in Washington, D.C. She was a member of the Army Surgeon General's Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force and co-authored the long term care portion of that report. The staff officer assignment included meetings at Walter Reed, the Pentagon and travel throughout the United States and Germany. She was also part of the initial designs for a new pathway of care for Soldiers from Theater to the Soldier's home community. In her civilian life, Ms. Goedken is a public health nurse for Hennepin County, Minneapolis. (5-21-2008)

W. James "Jim" Annexstad (BA, 1995) Major Jim Annexstad, an Instructor, International and Operations Law Division, The Judge Advocate General's School was recently named The Outstanding Young Military Lawyer by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. The annual award for legal contributions is based on professional accomplishments, leadership and service to the community. His latest article, "The detention and prosecution of insurgents and other non-traditional combatants—a look at the Task Force 134 process and the future of detainee prosecutions" was recently nominated for the 2008 Leiber Society Military Prize, a prize given by the the American Society of International Law based upon an exceptional writing in English by a member of the regular or reserve armed forces of any nation that significantly enhances the understanding and implementation of the law of war. Major Annexstad is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. He received his BA in Journalism in 1995 from the University of Iowa and his JD in 1999 from William Mitchell College of Law. (4-25-2008)

John Bohnenkamp (BA, 1988) Sports editor, The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa) received two honorable mention awards in the Associated Press Sports Editors national writing contest. Was honored in the column writing and explanatory categories in the under-40,000 circulation division. (4-3-2008)

William Brinkman (BA, 1990) successfully re-launched the satirical web site, The Bolingbrook Babbler. Located at www.bolingbrookbabbler.com, it features the stories of a fictional Weekly World News style tabloid as it covers "The Truth" about the Western Suburbs of Chicago. In The Babbler, Brinkman satirizes believers in the supernatural, the media, and current events. It has been featured in The Bad Astronomy Blog and The Friendly Atheist Blog. Stories include a creationist math conference, scientists accidently creating a new universe, vampires enjoying a human role-playing game, and the illegal space alien problem. New stories are printed every Sunday. (3-16-2008)

Curtiss (Curt) Hills (BA, 1989) has published Hannah's Legalized Kidnapping (Outskirts Press). It's a nonfiction book about two Florida parents who were arrested and had their 18-year-old mentally and physically disabled daughter taken from them after authorities conducting a rushed two-hour investigation. The quick investigation contained many false assumptions and errors, and failed to take the simplest of investigative effort which would have revealed the accusations were false. Instead, the couple was forced to trudge through the legal system to prove their innocence and get their daughter back. Hills is an assistant managing editor and writer with The Villages Daily Sun, the country's fastest growing daily newspaper for three consecutive years. He's won more than a dozen awards, mostly for public service and stories that expose harm or neglect to the community he serves.

Georgia NeSmith (PhD, 1994) Received a grant from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, in partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts, to prepare images for an exhibition at Image City Photography Gallery in Rochester, July 18-August 16, 2007. (7-9-2007)

Susan Wisbey-Smith (BA, 1988) Susan writes, "For the past year, I've been working as a Managing Editor at GLC in Northbrook, Ill. I publish several custom publications for healthcare clients including OSU Medical Center, Inova Health System, University of Michigan Health System and the UConn Health Center. The work is a great combination of writing, editing, and managing client relationships. My goal now is to add The University of Iowa to my client roster." (4-30-2007)

John Bohnenkamp (BA, 1988) Recently received honorable mention honors in the Associated Press Sports Editors writing contest. Award came in the explanatory category (under-40,000 circulation division) for a story on the Missouri Valley Conference's rise to prominence in college basketball. It was John's 10th APSE honor. (4-15-2007)

Stacy Dixson (BA, 1997) Stacy writes, "After relocating to New York a couple years ago, I took a job with Deutsch Inc, as an Account Director in their Public Relations department. I primarily work on consumer brands, specifically Sam Adams beer." (4-7-2007)

Evan Peterson (BA, 2002) Was appointed to Media Affairs Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington. The Office of Public Affairs is responsible for press coordination and strategy for the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and the Department's many divisions, including criminal, civil, antitrust, national security, environmental, and tax. (1-27-2007)

Abby Oliver (BA, 2004) Abby writes, "In 2006, I left SONY BMG Music Entertainment in Nashville and returned to Shock Ink in Los Angeles. At Shock Ink, I am one of three music publicists working with clients such as Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and David Lee Roth of Van Halen. Recently, I successfully pitched stories that ran in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, and the Washington Post, as well as ABC World News, PARADE, In Style, and Entertainment Weekly." (1-27-2007)