The SJMC Student Advisory Board was formed in Spring 2022 and aims to better represent student views within the school. The board is composed of 5-6 members and meets once a month to discuss challenges and successes in the School and reports these findings back to the director and faculty. The board also plans student-centered events and collaborates with other SJMC student leaders. 

Applications for open positions on the advisory board for the 2023-2024 school year will open in Spring 2023.

2022-2023 Board Members

Gretchen Lenth, Chair

Gretchen Lenth (she/her) is a senior majoring in journalism and informatics. In addition to being the chair of the Student Advisory Board, Gretchen works as a copy editor at the Daily Iowan and is a student ambassador for the journalism school. She is a former Dow Jones News Fund data journalism intern at The Wichita Beacon in Kansas. She believes journalism is at its best when it combines compelling data with human stories.

Sabine Martin

Sabine Martin (she/her) is a junior at the University of Iowa studying journalism and mass communication and international studies. Sabine is also earning a minor in French. She is from Cedar Falls, Iowa, and wants to be a reporter after obtaining her degree. Sabine stays involved on campus as the Managing News Editor of The Daily Iowan newspaper. She also writes political coverage for PolitiFact Iowa.

James McCurtis

James McCurtis (he/him) is a freshman, majoring in both Journalism and Creative Writing. He wants to go into the journalism field to shine a light on African-Americans and support his community. In his free time he loves to write fiction, hang out with friends, and order the world-renowned Iowan burrito from Estela’s. He chose to join the advisory board to help other freshman like himself with navigating college for the first time and can’t wait to meet you!

Lally Morales

Lally Morales (she/her) is a senior pursuing a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management. This is Lally’s second year on the Board. During her time at Iowa, she’s been involved in the Student Advisory Board, Her Campus, and holds an internship with the Coralville Media Collaborative working the Coralville Community Food Pantry. After graduation in the Spring, Lally plans to move to Des Moines and pursue a career in Marketing or PR. She looks forward to working with the board again this year and seeing what they can accomplish together!

Lilly Stence

Lilly Stence (she/her) is a second-year student at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is majoring in Journalism, with a minor in Business Administration and a certificate in Sustainability. Aside from serving on the 2022-2023 Student Advisory Board, Lilly is a photojournalist at The Daily Iowan and is the incoming Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing at Alpha Chi Omega women’s fraternity on campus. Lilly has a strong interest in magazine reporting and writing, investigative journalism, as well as sustainability studies, and environmental issues.

Feedback?

Do you have feedback about SJMC that you would like to share with the Student Advisory Board? If so, fill out the anonymous feedback form. You can also leave your contact information if you would like a board member to reach out.