has never been particularly interested in following a conventional path. Whether pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry, developing creative projects, or launching her own business, the �鶹��Ƶ alumna has built a career around trusting her instincts and finding the courage to pursue her ideas.

She calls that approach “chaotic good.”

Watkins, who studied cinema and television arts, explored that philosophy in a TEDx talk, challenging audiences to reconsider what it means to take risks, break the rules and create opportunities.

“To me, ‘chaotic good’ is having a strong sense of intrinsic motivation, trusting your vision, and having the courage to make it happen,” Watkins said.

Her recently published talk, titled “” was recorded May 8 at TEDxLaSierraUniversity in Riverside, California, as part of the event’s “True Possible” theme.

While the term originated in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Watkins has adopted it as a guiding principle in her own life.

“Over the last decade, I’ve challenged myself to try new things, make new connections, and see ideas through from conception to execution,” she said. “Sometimes that means doing things outside the box (or, in earlier cases in my career, breaking the rules and making my own) and creating a new path for yourself.”

That willingness to venture into unfamiliar territory doesn’t mean the process is always comfortable.

“It’s absolutely terrifying because you don’t know what’s on the other side or how your idea will turn out, but it’s about taking a leap of faith and trusting yourself,” she added.

One of the clearest examples of Watkins’ philosophy came this summer, when she produced and moderated celebrating the 10th anniversary of the video game “Watch Dogs 2.”

The idea began in her living room.

While playing the game, Watkins noticed how closely its themes mirrored contemporary conversations about digital privacy, surveillance and technology. With the game’s anniversary approaching, she envisioned a panel celebrating its cultural significance while encouraging discussion about digital rights.

What began as an idea evolved into a five-month undertaking that required Watkins to recruit participants, secure sponsorship and coordinate the event. She connected with actors, creatives and digital rights advocates, securing support from cybersecurity company Malwarebytes. Fellow �鶹��Ƶ alumnus and Madeline “MJ” Johnson helped film the resulting panel.

I had to take multiple leaps of faith to make this happen, but each one pushed me to trust myself and have the grit to bring the vision to life.

– Mia Ginaé Watkins ’16

For Watkins, that mindset began taking shape long before her professional career.

She credits her �鶹��Ƶ experience with providing an environment where she could explore her interests, build relationships, and develop the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond her comfort zone.

“�鶹��Ƶ was actually the perfect space to practice being a chaotic good,” she said.

After high school, Watkins promised herself she would pursue as many opportunities as possible. At �鶹��Ƶ, she connected with classmates across disciplines, pursued creative projects outside her coursework, and sought advice from entertainment industry professionals.

She recalls carrying a camera around campus and spending hours in editing suites, developing projects that eventually became part of the portfolio that helped her land a job in the video game industry.

“�鶹��Ƶ was a sandbox to test out new skills and try new things, equipping me with the growth mindset I needed to flourish out into the world,” Watkins said.

Today, Watkins is channeling that entrepreneurial spirit into , an event strategy company focused on creating in-person experiences at the intersection of gaming, culture, community and entertainment.

As the company’s founder, she hopes to collaborate with brands, organizations and creative partners to develop memorable experiences that bring people together.

It’s another example of Watkins putting her philosophy into practice, building on her background in filmmaking, entertainment and gaming while pursuing a new professional direction.

And through her TEDx presentation, she hopes others will recognize that they, too, have the ability to create opportunities rather than wait for them.

“I hope it inspires people to trust in themselves more,” Watkins said. “To take more leaps of faith and not be afraid to go after the life, goal or objective they envision.”

How can an NFL franchise use merchandise to connect with a new generation of fans while strengthening its identity and traditions?

That was the challenge facing 20 university teams at the 2026 , held Oct. 28-30 during the association’s annual conference in Baltimore. Students were tasked with developing innovative merchandise and marketing strategies to engage Washington Commanders fans ages 13 to 27.

A four-member team from �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Sport Management rose to the occasion, advancing to the competition’s final round and earning a place among the nation’s top four teams.

Representing �鶹��Ƶ were , Jack Griffin ’27, and , who competed against finalist teams from Simpson College, Syracuse University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The case study required teams to analyze consumer preferences and emerging merchandise trends, identify target audiences, develop original product collections, establish pricing strategies, and create digital marketing campaigns.

�鶹��Ƶ’s presentation centered on six merchandise concepts designed to celebrate the franchise’s traditions, strengthen regional pride, and foster a sense of community among supporters.

Among the team’s proposals was “The 1932,” a customizable work jacket featuring commemorative patches as part of a proposed collaboration with Carhartt. Another concept, “Dawg Tag,” envisioned collectible military-style dog tags engraved with game records and available exclusively at the stadium following Commanders victories.

The students also developed “Major Tuddy’s Military Hat,” a novelty item inspired by the Green Bay Packers’ recognizable Cheesehead tradition, and “The Take the W Flag,” a victory flag designed to build fan pride. Additional concepts included “Take Command Bands,” wristbands intended to connect younger supporters, and the “Triple Star Jersey,” a special-edition design celebrating the shared identity of fans across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Using Adobe Photoshop, Canva and ChatGPT, the students created professional-quality merchandise mockups to support their data-driven marketing recommendations and pricing strategies.

Associate Professor of Sport Management Young Do Kim, who accompanied the team to Baltimore, said the students’ previous industry experiences helped shape their approach to the competition.

“The team members’ sport industry internship experiences played a critical role in their success,” Kim said. “Through their professional experiences, the students developed practical knowledge of sport marketing, strategic communications, fan engagement, event operations, and current merchandise trends. They applied these insights to develop creative merchandise concepts and evidence-based marketing strategies for the Commanders.”

The students brought experience from professional sports organizations, marketing agencies and major sporting events.

Cook previously interned with Portland Hearts of Pine, a professional soccer club in Maine, and the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Griffin gained experience with the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and Carolina Core FC. Selikoff completed an internship with JONESWORKS, a marketing and management agency, and Smith worked with the American Cornhole Association and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond the competition, the students connected with �鶹��Ƶ alumni working for professional sports organizations in Baltimore. The team met with Gabrielle Chambers ’22, client services coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens; Ryan Harper ’25, a Baltimore Ravens retail supervisor for Fanatics; and Nick Ullian ’23, senior coordinator of game presentation for the Baltimore Orioles.

The students also toured M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens, and attended a panel discussion featuring Orioles front office executives and staff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Hovering over a stormwater management pond behind �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar Center, an agricultural drone demonstrated how unmanned aircraft are changing the way farmers manage their fields.

Capable of carrying more than 10 gallons of liquid, the aircraft was presented by Preston Cave of PAC Aerial Applications during the 2026 �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day on Oct. 30. From crop spraying and fertilizer applications to autonomous navigation powered by artificial intelligence, the annual gathering highlighted the diverse uses of drone technology.

Nearly 160 people registered for the School of Communications event, which brought together industry professionals, educators, students and drone enthusiasts for presentations, demonstrations and networking.

Since 2021, �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day has become an annual gathering for North Carolina’s drone community. Organized by Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), the event welcomed representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, North Carolina Department of Transportation, several universities and private companies.

This year’s program emphasized artificial intelligence, with Sambit Bhattacharya, professor of computer science and director of the Intelligent Systems Lab at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, “Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us �鶹��Ƶ Trustworthy AI.”

Bhattacharya explained that aviation’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability offers lessons for the responsible development of AI. Drawing on research involving autonomous navigation, confined-space inspections and wildfire detection, he demonstrated how intelligent machines can perform complex tasks without direct human control, while cautioning that these advances require rigorous testing and human oversight.

“Aviation did not get saved by building the perfect aircraft,” Bhattacharya said. “It got saved by assuming things will fail, and it builds a culture – checklists, recorders, investigations, reporting – that learns from every failure.”

He also highlighted �鶹��Ƶ’s “Human Wisdom for the Age of AI” initiative, emphasizing that human judgment remains essential for evaluating evidence, verifying results and ensuring accountability.

Beyond the keynote, a panel featuring Cave, Maddy Gastler and Seth Nagy examined agricultural applications, including crop spraying, seeding and multispectral imaging. Other presentations addressed drone mapping for disaster response, invasive plant species detection, and advances in flight planning technology.

Afternoon demonstrations behind Schar Center gave attendees an opportunity to see the technology in action. Among the three participating organizations was Raven Advisory, a Fayetteville-based company specializing in drone training, testing and autonomous technologies.

Wearing first-person-view (FPV) goggles and gripping a handheld controller, Raven Advisory operator James Stougaard piloted a drone at seemingly warp speed. The goggles provided a live video feed from the aircraft’s camera, allowing him to navigate from the drone’s perspective.

The event also featured a drone soccer demonstration by students from Asheboro City Schools, who showcased their piloting skills during the fast-paced competition.

This year’s participants ranged from FAA-certified drone operators to newcomers with no previous drone experience. Students from Hillside High School in Durham and Asheboro High School joined representatives from �鶹��Ƶ, Fayetteville State University, Guilford Technical Community College, N.C. A&T State University, N.C. State University and Wake Technical Community College.

“What makes �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day special is the diversity of people it brings together,” Piland said. “We had everyone from experienced commercial pilots to students just beginning to explore drone technology, all sharing ideas and learning from one another. Seeing that kind of enthusiasm and collaboration is exactly what this event is about.”

Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory offered a candid assessment of modern political campaigns and President Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican Party during an Oct. 27 conversation with students in Assistant Professor Israel Balderas‘ Politics and Mass Media class.

The virtual classroom discussion came just two days after McCrory appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” giving students an opportunity to continue a national political conversation with a former governor who has spent more than two decades in elected office.

Drawing on that experience, including seven terms as Charlotte’s mayor and one term as governor, McCrory criticized candidates from both major political parties for emphasizing campaign promises while avoiding substantive discussions about the issues they would confront in office. He pointed to North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, arguing that Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper have focused on issues outside a senator’s direct responsibilities rather than outlining their positions on foreign policy, Social Security and other federal matters.

“What you do as a politician now to get the votes is you state what the problem is over and over, and then you say you’re going to solve it, or you say I’m going to have a plan to fix it without giving any of the details of the plan,” McCrory said.

The criticism prompted a question from Miri Pottebaum ’27, a visual communication major, who asked whether candidates could capture voters’ attention by discussing substantive national issues rather than familiar campaign themes. McCrory reasoned that candidates deliberately avoid taking positions on difficult issues because doing so could alienate independent voters and provide ammunition for political opponents.

No president, no presidential candidate in ’28, Republican or Democrat, will tell you what they plan to do on Social Security. Mark my word.

– Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory

For Pottebaum, the exchange reinforced the importance of engaging with differing political perspectives, a central theme of the course.

“While he didn’t change my opinion on anything, I feel it’s always important to be in conversation with people who share different opinions,” she said. “I appreciated that he was open with us and criticized both parties.”

The former governor also reflected on his complicated relationship with Trump, whom he accompanied on the campaign trail in 2016. Responding to a question about Trump’s impact on the reputation of the Republican Party, McCrory credited the president with attracting blue-collar voters who historically supported Democrats. But he also criticized Trump’s confrontational style, contrasting it with the approach of earlier Republican leaders.

“Where he’s hurt the Republican Party is his crassness and his principles,” McCrory said, describing himself as more of a Reagan Republican. “He brought in a crassness that we’ve seen in politics, but never at the presidential level.”

Despite those criticisms, McCrory acknowledged Trump’s personal appeal and recalled finding him surprisingly courteous and attentive during private conversations. He also described how Trump’s endorsement of Ted Budd dramatically altered the trajectory of McCrory’s unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign, illustrating the president’s considerable influence.

For Balderas, who previously covered McCrory as a television journalist for FOX Charlotte, the Zoom visit offered students an opportunity to examine the complexities of political communication beyond headlines and campaign sound bites. He structured the conversation like a gubernatorial news conference, asking each of his 12 students to develop a substantive question for the former governor.

“Whether students agree or disagree with a political figure, there is tremendous educational value in hearing directly from someone who has governed, made difficult decisions, navigated political controversies and experienced the scrutiny of the news media,” Balderas said.

Balderas praised the students for their thoughtful questions and willingness to engage directly with difficult political issues.

“They weren’t simply asking questions to fulfill an assignment,” he said. “They were genuinely engaging with some of the most consequential issues facing American politics today. These students approached that responsibility with confidence and intellectual curiosity.”

In an age when people are bombarded with messages competing for their attention, students at �鶹��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte recently faced a challenge: How do you create something that makes people stop, take notice and, ultimately, decide to vote?

For students in the universities’ respective visual communication and graphic design programs, the answer came through a shared assignment encouraging civic engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The collaboration, which brought together students and faculty from both institutions to create nonpartisan Get Out the Vote posters, marks the School of Communications’ first academic partnership with Queens since the universities announced their intention to merge.

The initiative was sparked last spring by Melissa Gamez, associate professor of design and director of graphic design and studio art at Queens, who contacted Ben Hannam, associate professor and chair of �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Visual Communication, with an idea.

“When I learned that we were merging with �鶹��Ƶ, I wanted to reach out and see if there was a way for us to get to know each other and collaborate,” Gamez said. “AIGA’s Get Out the Vote campaign seemed like the perfect vehicle for this.”

The American Institute of Graphic Arts’ nationwide voting campaign encourages designers to use their creative talents to promote participation in the electoral process without endorsing political parties or candidates.

Hannam embraced the opportunity, incorporating the project into his Visual Communication II: Studio Practices in Design course. At Queens, Gamez introduced the assignment in her Typography course.

While the students worked from their respective campuses, they shared a common objective: creating visually compelling messages that could cut through the noise of everyday life.

“In my class we talked about how difficult it is to get someone’s attention and that we’re living in the age of the attention economy,” Hannam said. “The average person is bombarded by messages and designers are always looking for ways to break through the clutter and noise.”

With that in mind, Hannam encouraged students to look beyond visual appeal and carefully consider the concepts and tone behind their work. Some posters emphasized civic responsibility, while others addressed the consequences of not voting or the importance of selecting representatives who reflect voters’ priorities.

Gamez emphasized similar considerations at Queens, where students explored how creative typography could capture attention in public spaces and connect with a campus community.

One standout example was a poster by Queens student Leslie De La Cruz-Guzman ’29, who incorporated bold colors and a playful reference to vintage Calvin Klein jeans advertisements to connect with her intended audience.

At �鶹��Ƶ, Hannam highlighted the work of Elise Whitaker ’27, whose poster involved constructing a patriotic outfit and staging a carefully composed photo shoot to communicate pride in personal identity.

Together, the universities produced nearly three dozen distinct voting concepts, offering different perspectives on a shared civic message.

“What I like most about this project is that we have 35 different approaches to encouraging people to vote,” Hannam said. “As you walk through the exhibition in Schar Hall, you’re bound to find a message that resonates with you.”

Those varied approaches were showcased in “Civic Health: Midterms Matter,” an exhibition featured on both campuses. At Queens, the posters were displayed in the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement from Oct. 19-25, while �鶹��Ƶ’s exhibition is housed on the second floor of Dwight C. Schar Hall.

The posters have also been accepted into �鶹��Ƶ’s , extending their reach beyond the physical exhibitions.

Other posters on display

The School of Communications will host its annual �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day on Friday, Oct. 30, bringing together recreational and commercial pilots, industry professionals, educators and students for a day of presentations, demonstrations and networking in Turner Theater and Snow Family Grand Atrium. The free event, organized in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), is open to the public, but registration is required.

This year’s program will place a particular emphasis on AI, with Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, “Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us �鶹��Ƶ Trustworthy AI.”

Bhattacharya’s presentation will explore how the aviation industry’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability can inform the development of trustworthy AI systems. Drawing on research from , he will examine how autonomous drones make decisions, the challenges of deploying AI in real-world environments, and the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies operate reliably.

Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland, who organizes �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day, said the keynote reflects both the growing role of artificial intelligence in drone technology and �鶹��Ƶ’s broader efforts to encourage conversations about AI across academic disciplines.

“It’s been percolating in my mind for several months about how we can tie into �鶹��Ƶ’s effort to broaden the AI arena or broaden the discussion of AI in programs that we have,” Piland said. “So many of the new autonomous drones rely on AI to make it work.”

That interest led Piland to Bhattacharya, whose research at Fayetteville State focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in unmanned aerial systems. Shortly after Bhattacharya accepted the invitation, Piland learned that to expand its work involving AI and unmanned aerial systems.

Beyond the keynote, the program will highlight the expanding applications of drone technology across several industries.

A panel featuring Preston Cave, Matt Solomon and Seth Nagy will examine the use of drones in agriculture, including crop spraying, seeding and multispectral imaging, which helps farmers assess crop conditions and make more informed decisions about their fields.

Other presentations will address low-cost, open-source drone mapping for disaster response, the use of unmanned aircraft to detect and manage invasive plant species in parks, and updates on drone flight planning and management technology.

The day will kick off with a drone soccer demonstration by Asheboro City Schools, as well as a vendor showcase. In the afternoon, attendees will take in flight demonstrations in the parking area behind Schar Center.

Established in 2021, �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day has developed into an annual gathering for individuals interested in the evolving drone industry. The event welcomed a record 185 attendees, vendors and volunteers in 2025.

Piland said that despite the industry’s rapid evolution, the event’s original mission has remained unchanged.

“We want to provide an opportunity for local drone enthusiasts and professionals to come together to exchange knowledge and network, so that they can have an outlet to improve and find solutions to things they’re trying to do,” he said.

2026 �鶹��Ƶ Drone Day Program

8–8:45 AM
Vendor Setup

8:45 – 9:10 AM
Atrium Welcome & Vendor Show
Coffee and pastries (Provided by Blue Ridge Mountain Drone Education, WING & ELON AI)

Asheboro City Schools – Drone Soccer Demo
Wendy Graham (Center, Snow Atrium)

9:20 AM
Welcome by Associate Dean Tony Weaver (Turner Theatre)

9:25 AM
‘Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us �鶹��Ƶ Trustworthy AI’ – Dr. Sambit Bhattacharya (Turner Theatre)

10:10 AM
Low-Cost, Open-Source Drone Mapping for Disaster Response in Resource-Constrained Settings – Michael Berryann, NCCU (Turner Theatre)

10:40 AM
Drones in Agriculture Panel – Preston Cave, Matt Solomon, Seth Nagy (Turner Theatre)

11:25 AM
Leveraging UAS for Invasive Species Detection and Treatment in Parks – Al Cire, Raptor Drone Services (Turner Theatre)

Noon
ALOFT | Drone Sense | Versaterm Update – Kevin Teen, Allen Yanow (Turner Theatre)

Lunch
Move to Schar Center Rear Parking for Lunch and Demos

Demos
Raven Advisory (Schar Center Parking)
Pac Aerial App (Schar Center Parking)
Wilstair Drone Eng Solutions (Schar Center Parking)

Vendors/Supporters

For award-winning journalist , that disconnect raises a troubling question: Why has a humanitarian catastrophe of such magnitude received so little attention?

During an Oct. 20 lecture at �鶹��Ƶ, Neiman shared firsthand accounts from her recent reporting trip to Sudan’s Nuba Mountains, where she documented the experiences of civilians, fighters and medical workers caught in the conflict.

“Even before my departure, I was overwhelmed, frankly, by the scale of loss in Sudan,” Neiman said. “Yet, this crisis received limited space and attention in our newspapers and television programs.”

Her lecture, “Media Matters: Covering Sudan’s Civil War,” was co-presented by the Pulitzer Center and the School of Communications. To see event photos, .

Neiman explained that securing support for the reporting trip required months of persistence. Alongside photographer Guy Peterson, she spent five months pitching stories to news editors, encountering repeated rejections. Some considered the region too obscure, while others were reluctant to send journalists into dangerous territory.

“It had been aggravating to spend so much time feeling as if I was literally begging people to just care about Sudan,” Neiman said.

Once in Sudan, she encountered more stories than she could possibly tell.

Among those she interviewed was a displaced mother whose husband and teenage son were killed in a drone strike. Despite struggling to feed her surviving children, the woman had taken in two additional children orphaned by the fighting.

For Neiman, the encounter illustrated both the devastation of war and the extraordinary compassion that persists amid suffering.

Throughout her lecture, Neiman challenged students to consider journalism’s responsibility to people whose experiences and struggles often go unseen – whether in distant conflict zones or their own communities.

“What does it mean to truly bear witness? Why should we open ourselves up to the suffering of others with compassion and empathy?” she asked.

Near the conclusion of her lecture, Neiman recalled asking interview subjects what they wanted for their futures or what message they hoped to share with the world.

“Almost always, people told me simply that they wanted peace,” she said.

Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and �鶹��Ƶ’s liaison to the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium, welcomed attendees before the lecture. Ethan Wu ’27, a 2026 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow who investigated water pollution near Beijing, introduced Neiman.

�鶹��Ƶ’s partnership with the Pulitzer Center

�鶹��Ƶ is a longtime member of the Pulitzer Center’s , a network of colleges and universities supporting journalism on critical global issues. Through the partnership, student journalists receive mentorship and guidance throughout the reporting and publication process.

The grant will support a project titled “Is it apathy or anxiety? A pilot study of student motivations to use GenAI for communication work,” which will examine students’ motivations for using AI tools and their perceptions of how the technology influences their development of communication skills.

“As professors grapple with how to help students learn to use AI in appropriate ways, understanding why and how they use the tools is an important first step,” Sturgill said.

As part of the study, 15 to 20 students will complete a survey and maintain a daily diary documenting their AI use over five days. Follow-up interviews will explore their experiences with the technology and how they view its role in developing communication skills.

The grant will fund gift cards to assist with participant recruitment. Sturgill anticipates presenting the findings at a communication conference in fall 2027, with the pilot study potentially laying the groundwork for a larger research project.

Sturgill has served as faculty adviser to �鶹��Ƶ’s Kappa Tau Alpha chapter since it was first chartered in 2022. She also served as a chapter adviser at Baylor University when she taught there.

Since 2003, Kappa Tau Alpha has awarded more than $44,000 in grants to chapter advisers to support scholarly research in journalism and mass communication. Sturgill is one of three recipients this year, joining faculty members at Louisiana State University and San Diego State University whose projects examine stress reduction through animal videos and how communities access local news and civic information, respectively.

Founded in 1910 at the University of Missouri, Kappa Tau Alpha recognizes academic excellence in journalism and mass communication and maintains 100 chapters across the United States.

On his first day working guest services during FIFA soccer matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, discovered that he didn’t know the sprawling venue’s layout all that well.

With only a brief stadium tour during his internship training, the sport management major struggled to locate certain sections while helping fans find their seats. Determined to be better prepared, Smith arrived an hour early for his next shift to explore the stadium and familiarize himself with its layout.

That initiative became one of the most valuable lessons of his summer internship.

“In my experience, I was kind of expected to learn as I go, or even teach myself a lot of things,” Smith said. “It was a lot less structured. There wasn’t a professor, you know, telling me you have to turn this in at this time.”

Smith shared his story during the Sport Management Internship Forum on Oct. 12, joining fellow students and for a panel discussion about navigating the sport industry, overcoming workplace challenges, and building professional relationships. To view photos from the forum, .

Held in Turner Theatre and the Snow Family Grand Atrium, the annual forum brought together students and faculty to discuss internships and explore potential career paths. Moderated by , the student panel offered a firsthand look at working behind the scenes for prominent sport organizations.

Learning beyond the classroom

For Gill, a senior from Frederick, Maryland, an internship with NASCAR Productions allowed him to combine his interests in motorsports and media.

Gill secured the position while participating in The Sport Experience in Charlotte, drawing on his relationship with Associate Dean Tony Weaver and his involvement in campus media activities.

Once at NASCAR, he quickly recognized that the expectations of a professional production environment differed from those of the classroom.

While his coursework had introduced him to Adobe Premiere Pro, Gill needed to sharpen his editing skills to meet the demands of the position. He learned that asking questions and seeking guidance from colleagues were essential parts of professional growth.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re at your job, at your internship, because there’s no shame in it,” Gill said.

The internship reinforced the importance of punctuality, preparation and accountability. Gill has since expanded his motorsports journalism work, including covering a NASCAR race in Richmond, Virginia, where he interviewed drivers alongside established industry reporters.

Moore, a sport management and psychology double major from Wellesley, Massachusetts, spent the summer working in community relations for the Boston Red Sox.

Her responsibilities ranged from hosting community groups before games at Fenway Park to participating in events around Boston. Some workdays stretched from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., a significant adjustment from the predictable schedule of college classes.

Still, Moore found that some of her most rewarding moments came when she volunteered for assignments outside her regular duties. She assisted with ticketing, marketing, concerts and the organization’s charitable foundation, gaining a broader understanding of the many career paths available to her.

“Those were honestly like the best moments I have for my entire summer because it not only introduced me to so many other people that I got to work with, but also like it really connected me to the other interns in my program who are still some of my best friends,” Moore said.

Finding direction through internships

The forum opened with a keynote address from Anthony Bamford ’25, coordinating producer for �鶹��Ƶ Sports Vision, who reflected on how internships helped shape his career interests.

Before returning to his alma mater, Bamford interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference and Durham Bulls, gaining exposure to different areas of the sport industry, from game operations and event management to live production.

During his time with the ACC, Bamford helped coordinate officiating logistics and game-day operations. One of his biggest responsibilities involved leading approximately 30 volunteers for activities at the ACC Football Championship. The assignment challenged him to become a more confident leader, particularly when directing volunteers who were older and more experienced.

Bamford encouraged students to look beyond the résumé-building benefits of internships, noting that they can also open doors to research, networking and career exploration.

“Just because your internship ends doesn’t mean what you’re doing as an intern has to end,” Bamford said. “It’s all stuff you can carry over and keep moving forward.”

Following the presentations in Turner Theatre, students gathered in the Snow Family Grand Atrium for an informal networking session featuring internship presentations.

Nearly 50 student interns were listed as participants, representing organizations across professional and collegiate sports, media, marketing, community recreation and event management. Their placements included the Cincinnati Reds, FOX Sports, Atlantic Coast Conference, D.C. United, PGA Tour Live and numerous other organizations.

Student Interns

Caleb Albert – American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)
Laila Anderson – Baller Sports Agency
Henry Anning – Cincinnati Reds
Grace Carabillo – Northside Youth Organization
Brodie Carroll – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Hannah Chandler – Danville Otterbots
Andrew Cox – Element 78 Experiences
Tyler Craig – Richmond Kickers
Seth Cushinsky – Gastonia Ghost Peppers
John Drape – Octagon, FIFA World Cup
Maddie Engelkraut – Fox Sports NYC
Jack Farmer – Bourne Braves
Luke Forrester – Nike Tennis Camp/Pepperdine University
Madi Galindo – Peak Sport Management, Wofford College
Jack Griffin – Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
Jonah Grossman – SunBelt Baseball League
Tone Hart – Alamance County YMCA
Jack Hayes – Queen City SC
Zoey Hayes – Atlantic Coast Conference
Eric Jones – Alamance Community College Youth Summer Camp
Owen Kelley – Salvation Army Burlington
Nhycer Kelly – Salvation Army Burlington
Wynne Kenna – Joe Favorito
Nate Kennedy – RBC Wealth Management
Martin Kozak – Hickory FC
Ari Lloyd-Farber – Brewster Whitecaps
Jackson Marcus – WAVY 10
Kaitlin Mariani – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Emma Mayo – Breezemont Summer Camp
Justin Miles – PGA Tour Live
Logan Miller – FIFA World Cup/NAPA Auto
Sydney Moore – Boston Red Sox
Ryan Nedwed – Burlington Sock Puppets
Alex Neuman – IMG Licensing
Anna Pfeiffer – High Point Rockers
Lincoln Proops – Prospect Select Baseball
Will Riggs – Zawyer Sports
Liv Roellke – Burlington United FC
Lily Rosenberg – Danbury Westerners
Ryan Shorten – Durham Bulls
Noah Stephenson – The Sports and Entertainment Group
Nate Sterling – All the Smoke Productions
Aiden Stuart – Foundation Management & Pro-productions Inc.
Jack Taggard – Danville Otterbots
Joe Taylor – Salem City FC
Abby Waeltz – Flex Works Sports
Holden Warsham – Lake Norman Harbor Hippos
Zimere Winston – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Mia Zebley – DC United
Jacob Zik – Body Focus Performance
Carena Ziolkowski – Danvers Indoor Sports

Journalist , whose award-winning reporting has documented human rights violations and the experiences of civilians caught in conflicts across East and Central Africa, will visit the School of Communications on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to discuss her coverage of Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

The public lecture, titled “Media Matters: Covering Sudan’s Civil War,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Jane and Brian Williams Studio, located at 129 N. Williamson Ave. The and the School of Communications are co-presenting the free event.

Neiman’s visit comes as Sudan faces a devastating humanitarian crisis that has displaced more than 8 million people since civil war erupted in 2023. Despite the scale of the suffering, the conflict has received relatively little international attention compared with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and �鶹��Ƶ’s liaison to the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium, said Neiman’s dispatches from countries including Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique underscore the importance of eyewitness journalism in regions that foreign news desks often overlook.

“At great risk, Sophie Neiman has been the eyes and ears in conflict zones that many mainstream media organizations ignore,” Ahearn said. “That neglect has consequences: indifference on the part of the outside world, and lack of humanitarian support.”

Current challenges extend beyond Sudan. Decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the ongoing M23 rebellion, have resulted in an estimated 6 million deaths. Together, these conflicts illustrate the enormous human toll of warfare in Africa and the need for sustained international reporting.

Yet Neiman’s work, published in outlets including , , , , and , focuses on more than violence and displacement. She documents the courage and agency of people navigating extraordinary circumstances.

Ahearn said that approach offers audiences a more personal understanding of conflicts that can otherwise seem far-off or overwhelming.

“Neiman’s stories aren’t about numbers – mind-numbing as those numbers are,” Ahearn said. “Through her words and camera lens, we meet teenagers with no choice but to take up arms, witness a labor and delivery ward operating in a combat zone, and see the legacy of conquest literally stitched into tapestries by an elderly artist. These stories capture the human face of war.”

�鶹��Ƶ is a long-standing member of the Pulitzer Center’s , a network of colleges and universities that support the center’s mission to promote journalism on critical global issues. The organization pairs students with mentors and advises student journalists through the reporting and publication phases.

Event details

What: “Media Matters: Covering Sudan’s Civil War,” featuring journalist Sophie Neiman
When: Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Jane and Brian Williams Studio, 129 N. Williamson Ave., �鶹��Ƶ, NC
Presented by: Pulitzer Center and �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Communications