Career Webinars
Helping students explore careers is a valuable part of SJMC’s undergraduate mission. Throughout the semester the student support team organizes several “Finding Your Starting Point” career webinars. During these webinars, students meet alumni and professionals who have careers in various media industries.
Recent webinars have focused on careers in strategic communication, sports, technology and startups, politics, visual media, digital media and writing. Students have a chance to learn what it is like to work in these industries. Each event is an hour-long and features three or four panelists. Webinars are free and open to all SJMC students.
Are you an SJMC alum/professional interested in participating in a webinar? Reach out to Michelle Sillman.
2024-2025
Strategic Communication Careers
- Sylvia Clubb, Project Manager Strategic Services, EGR International
- Gloria Kennett, Senior Manager, Global Brand Communications, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
- Gage Miskimen, Communications Manager, Four Oaks
- Matt Weitzel, Associate Athletics Director for strategic communications, UI Athletics
- Megan Althoff, Director of Communications, Big Ten Network
- Jordan Underwood, Technical Director, CBS Sports HQ
- Chloe Peterson, Indiana Fever Reporter, IndyStar
- Annie Costabile, Chicago Sky/WNBA Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times
- Brian Haberkorn, Director of Game Presentation, Buffalo Bills
- Katie Lurie, Associate Producer, ESPN/ACC Network
- Chelsie Brown, Sports reporter and weekend anchor, KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids
- Clayton Sampson, Knoxville News Director/Sports play by play, KNIA KRLS
- Cole Johnson, Reporter, News Channel 5, Nashville
2023-2024
Careers in Photography and Videography
- Brooke Bierhaus, Documentarian
- John Richard, Documentary Films Coach at The Daily Iowan
- Lily Smith, Staff Photojournalist at The Des Moines Register
- Tom Daykin, Reporter at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Bryn Lovitt, Visiting Assistant Professor and Freelance Journalist
- Rebecca Morin, White House Reporter at The Messenger
- Conrad Swanson, Climate Change Reporter at The Seattle Times
- Wayne Drehs, Former Senior Writer at ESPN & SJMC Adjunct Professor
- Lucy Rohden, On-Air Talent/Producer at Meadowlark Media
- Travis Varner, Global Marketing Communications at EA Sports
2022-2023
Careers in Strategic Communications
- Carla Keppler, Director of Internal Communications at Humana
- Maddie Bro, Strategic Communications Professional, Change & Project Manager for Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Shawna McDonald, Global Brand Development and Strategic Marketing Leader at Google
- Elianna Novitch, Strategic Communications Specialist at Two Rivers Marketing
- Jenny Earl - Director, Growth & Engagement at CBS News
- Katelyn Weisbrod - Audience Director at Inside Climate News
- Jake Mayer - Student Success and Engagement Coordinator UIowa SJMC
2021-2022
Tech and Start-ups
- Brian Albert - Head of Editorial at Twitch
- Emily Busse - Director of Communications at Loom
- Faith Wagner - Analyst Relations and Market Strategy at MuleSoft
- Matt Starns - Partnerships at Google
Washington and Politics
- Andrew Bohn - Grassley's Office
- Brittany Caplin - U.S. Department of Commerce/White House Press Office
- Seung-Min Kim - Washington Post
- Matthew Summy - Comcast
Telling Stories Outside the Newsroom
- Maggie Banker - Country Music Hall of Fame
- Lindsay Crittendon - Hippo Insurance
- Jaime Spencer - Magid
- Joshua Housing - Associated Press
- Alicia Kramme - mySidewalk
- Sam Lane - PBS Newshour
- Lily Smith - Omaha World Harold
- Jenny Earl - Director, Growth & Engagement at CBS News
- Matthew Ericson - New York Times
- Molly Georgia - RealTime Media
- Mallory Hughes - Twitter
- Lauren Coffey - Tampa Bay Business Journal
- Alisa Hrustic - SELF
- Rebecca Morin - USA Today
- Brian Stewart - af&Co
Videos of previous webinars
Working in the Media: Industries in LA
Strategic Communication in Chicago: Agencies and Companies
Sports Careers: Operations and Engineering