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.

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October brought the sights and sounds of fall to �鶹��Ƶ, with a month full of celebrations, traditions and opportunities for connection. From welcoming alumni back to campus for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, launching the new School of Engineering, to the changing colors of autumn, the �鶹��Ƶ community embraced all that the season had to offer.

Take a look back at some of the memorable moments from October through the lenses of staff in the Office of University Communications.

‘Everybody’

�鶹��Ƶ Performing Arts presented “Everybody,”  a modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman, one of the first recorded plays in the English language.

A transformational education

An opening celebration for the Roberts Academy, the university’s new elementary school for children with dyslexia, featured a special student performance on Oct. 2, and a ribbon-cutting with Marjorie and Hal Roberts, whose generosity helped establish the school in 2025.

The Roberts Academy at �鶹��Ƶ is the fourth private school established by the couple, joining Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College in a network of programs committed to the advancement of education for children with dyslexia and related conditions.

Tiny shelf concert

�鶹��Ƶ’s Musical Theatre department hosted a “Tiny Shelf Concert on Oct. 2 in Belk Library.

The ‘biggest’ Rock the Block yet

The Office of Alumni Engagement and the Student Union Board collaborated once again to host the Homecoming concert with DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) bringing approximately 5,000 attendees to the annual Rock the Block concert on Oct. 9.

Learning everywhere

Assistant Professor of Management Jose Cerecedo Lopez teaches a class outside near the Koury Business Center.

Engineering excellence

Dozens of university leaders, faculty, staff and students were joined on Oct. 30, 2026, by the CEO of the world’s leading accrediting body for engineering education programs, as well as North Carolina’s secretary of commerce, for a morning of reflection on the rise of �鶹��Ƶ’s new School of Engineering and Computing.

Pumpkin playfulness

The �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden Club and the Garden Studio course hosted the 18th annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 30, uniting students, organizations, faculty, staff and community members with fall festivities, including live music, fun crafting activities and food at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden.

The Homecoming & Reunion Weekend awards event, featuring a live jazz band, full buffet breakfast and mimosa bar, honored Michelle Stephens, Cheyenne Pinkston G ’25, Monty Bumper ’97, Nicole C. Wright ’03, Janay Tyson ’19 and Derrick Luster ’20.

“There is no better way to celebrate the strength of our community than by recognizing the people who continue to show up, lead with purpose, and make an impact far beyond themselves,” shared associate vice president of EBAN’s Enrichment and Engagement committee Ruby Bracy ’99. “The EBAN Awards give us an opportunity to pause and celebrate alumni, faculty, staff, and students who embody the values that make our community so powerful.”

The purpose of the �鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network is to build, maintain and sustain collaborative relationships with Black alumni through social events, networking and philanthropic purposes impacting current and future �鶹��Ƶ students.

Award Recipients

Michelle Stephens 

K. Wilhelmina Boyd Outstanding Service to Students Award

Michelle Stephens retired from �鶹��Ƶ in December 2025 after 30 years of dedicated service as a member of the university’s Environmental Services team. Throughout her career, Stephens approached her work with a simple but deeply held belief: every student, faculty and staff member, family and visitor deserves to experience �鶹��Ƶ at its very best. Over three decades, she watched generations of students arrive on campus, grow into young adults, and walk across the stage at Commencement. She formed lasting relationships with students, colleagues, faculty, and staff, many of whom came to know and love her as an important part of the �鶹��Ƶ community.

Stephens’ own educational journey has been different from those of many of the students she served. Although reading and writing have presented significant challenges throughout her life, she has always possessed gifts that cannot be measured on a transcript: an extraordinary work ethic, attention to detail, perseverance, compassion, and genuine love for people. Among Stephens’ greatest rewards were the simple moments when students stopped to notice her work, speak with her, or say, “Thank you.” To her, those expressions of appreciation meant more than any paycheck or credential ever could.

Cheyenne G. Pinkston G’25 

K. Wilhelmina Boyd Outstanding Service to Students Award

Cheyenne Pinkston is the assistant director of presidential stewardship at �鶹��Ƶ and a dedicated advisor and advocate for �鶹��Ƶ’s Renaissance Scholars. Since the program’s inception, Pinkston has been committed to ensuring Renaissance Scholars have a culturally rich, historically meaningful and transformative �鶹��Ƶ experience. Through intentional mentorship and relationship-building, she has become a central source of support, encouragement, and community for program participants.

In her stewardship role, Pinkston supports engagement with presidential and principal-gift donors through personalized communications, recognition, and experiences that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and strengthen donors’ connections to �鶹��Ƶ. Across both roles, she is passionate about creating experiences that help people feel seen, supported, empowered, and connected to something larger than themselves.

Monty L. Bumper ’97, P’24 

Eugene Perry ’69 Distinguished Alumni Award

Monty Bumper has dedicated his career to educating, mentoring and creating opportunities for young people. A former member of the �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball program, Bumper now serves as a special education teacher and director of football operations at Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. In addition to his work in the classroom, he plays an integral role in supporting student-athletes through the college recruitment process, helping them stay academically prepared and meet the grade and testing requirements necessary to pursue opportunities at the next level. Bumper is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where his commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community service continues.

�鶹��Ƶ remains an important part of his family’s story. Monty and his wife, Maria Quinones Bumper ’95, are the proud parents of three sons, and their youngest, Julian ’24, followed in their footsteps by attending �鶹��Ƶ. That generational connection reflects what Bumper values most about his alma mater: relationships, opportunity, community, and a lasting sense of belonging.

Nicole C. Wright ’03

Gail Fonville Parker ’70 Distinguished Alumna Award

Nicole C. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science from �鶹��Ƶ in 2003, and both her Master of Public Health in 2005 and Doctorate of Philosophy in Epidemiology in 2010 from the University of Arizona. She is currently an associate professor of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine and director of education for the School’s Center for Health Outcomes, Implementation, and Community-Engaged Science, where her research focuses on musculoskeletal aging epidemiology, including osteoporosis outcomes research, and racial disparities in osteoporosis and its management.

Wright is also a nationally recognized leader in osteoporosis epidemiology and has reached fellow status in the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. She has been an investigator on numerous federal and industry-supported research projects and has held many leadership roles, including a Board of Trustees member of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. Wright has mentored many students and junior faculty and is dedicated to increasing the presence of women and Black researchers in bone health. In 2024, she was awarded the UAB Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship.

Janay Tyson ’19 

Outstanding Young Alumna Award

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Janay Tyson was an active student leader on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus, holding positions in the CREDE, residence life, the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council, School of Communications, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, among others. After graduating, Tyson immediately moved to New York City and launched her career through Verizon’s competitive AdFellows program. Later, after honing her craft at top agencies, she pivoted to her true passion: experiential marketing.

Today, Tyson is an account supervisor at Team Epiphany, one of the top-rated multicultural marketing agencies in the US, where she oversees large-scale brand activations, influencer campaigns and content shoots across the consumer-packaged goods, nonprofit, fintech and entertainment sectors. In 2024, Tyson founded Curated Conversations, a collective that forges intentional partnerships with local businesses across Brooklyn and beyond to produce events and social experiences for 20- to 40-somethings looking to find their tribe and connect with their neighborhood. With more than 20 brand sponsorships and moe than 10 events already under her belt, Tyson is just getting started and is excited for what the future holds.

Derrick Luster ’20 

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Derrick Luster graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2020 with a degree in political science and minors in sociology and African & African American studies. During his time at �鶹��Ƶ, Luster served as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Representative on the �鶹��Ƶ Strategic Planning Committee. He was also an �鶹��Ƶ College Fellow and a member of the Nu Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Luster attended the UCLA School of Law and graduated in 2023 with concentrations in critical race studies and public interest law & policy. Throughout law school, Luster committed his free time and summers to civil rights organizations supporting litigation on behalf of victims of police misconduct, protesters from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and students experiencing racial and disability-based discrimination. He currently serves as the director of racial justice advocacy for the national prisoners’ rights nonprofit, Rights Behind Bars, where he litigates cases in federal courts across the country on behalf of prisoners whose constitutional and civil rights have been violated. Prior to joining Rights Behind Bars, Luster worked for a law firm representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse and employees who experienced retaliation and discrimination on the basis of their disabilities, gender, and race.

Also recognized during the program were members of the Sigma Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., celebrating their 35th reunion; the Omicron Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., celebrating their 45th reunion; and the Nu Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., celebrating their 40th reunion. Together, these organizations raised a total of $7,506.96 in support of the Black Alumni Scholarship between March 5, (�鶹��Ƶ Day 2026) and Oct. 5, with committee leads Kennedy Ojimadu of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Lynne Daniels of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Alfred White of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., presenting the amounts each chapter raised.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of recognition, connection and heavy hors d’oeuvres, while honoring Tal Fish ’09, Rev. Dr. Chelsea Yarborough-Gill ’12 and Reese Kimball ’29.

“Tonight is about recognizing the impact of and celebrating the people who continue to create spaces where others can feel seen, valued, supported and empowered,” remarked LGBTQIA Alumni Network President Jonath Monti ’08.

The LGBTQIA Alumni Network and Community Enrichment Awards were established in 2012 to create opportunities to affirm and acknowledge the work alumni, faculty and staff have done to uplift LGBTQIA people and causes on campus and in their communities at large. The Community Enrichment Awards recognize those individuals who have made and continue to make a positive impact and for their dedication to �鶹��Ƶ and LGBTQIA communities.

Community Enrichment Award Recipients

Tal Fish ’09

Tal Fish (he/they) is a queer, neurodivergent licensed clinical mental health supervisor and licensed clinical addictions specialist who believes deeply in creating a world that is inclusive and just, working toward the safety and dignity of all people while dismantling oppression.

He is a proud 2009 graduate of �鶹��Ƶ’s prestigious music theater program and later earned his graduate degree from Wake Forest University. After working as an instructor for Wake Forest’s counseling program for a decade, Fish has spent the last five years supporting �鶹��Ƶ students as a mental health therapist within Counseling Services. This September, Fish moved into a new role as clinical coordinator and staff with faculty rank for �鶹��Ƶ’s new Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program, supporting counselors in training and teaching counseling courses. He has also appeared globally as an out-and-proud cast member on a reality TV show for the last decade.

Rev. Chelsea Yarborough-Gill ’12

Rev. Dr. Chelsea Brooke Yarborough-Gill (she/her) is the associate director of leadership development at the Association of Theological Schools. Dedicated at her core to empowering individuals to find, embrace, and use their voices to foster well-being, equity and the possibilities of flourishing, she earned her bachelor’s degree from �鶹��Ƶ, her Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity and her Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt University.

Yarborough-Gill’s new book, “Proclamation Beyond the Pulpit: The Expansive Homiletical Practice of Black Women,” which considers the preaching insights from Fannie Lou Hamer, Nannie Helen Burroughs and Sojourner Truth, is just one example of how her work seeks to challenge normative power structures and traditional paradigms of proclamation.

Even as an ordained Baptist minister, leadership coach, Enneagram teacher, and poet, Yarborough-Gill values her roles as a wife, daughter, friend, sister, and auntie, above all.

Reese Kimball ’29

A member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Class of 2029, Reese Kimball (he/him), is a member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Nursing Fellows program and plans to pursue pediatric nursing after graduation. He is an active member of the Creative Arts LLC, Club Swimming, Spectrum and the President’s Student Leadership Council.

Only a sophomore, Kimball has had many exciting �鶹��Ƶ experiences, including performing with �鶹��Ƶ’s first show choir, the �鶹��Ƶ Muses, during his freshman year, and coordinating the Adventures in Leadership program this summer with a mission to encourage diversity and inclusion. Kimball hopes to continue to demonstrate the ideals of the Community Enrichment Award as he continues his time at �鶹��Ƶ.

Through a contract with NASA, Graham was an IBM programmer supporting the Apollo missions, processing data for mission controllers and performing computing used to determine coordinates for the missions. When Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon, Graham recalled feeling a blend of relief, pride and the realization that something once thought unimaginable was truly happening.

“We just all of us breathed a sigh of relief that this was really happening,” Graham recalled. But as Graham told President Connie Ledoux Book on the latest episode of “�鶹��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks,” she does not believe she arrived at that moment by chance.

A few years earlier, Graham was a student at Queens College, where faculty encouraged her and her peers at the then all-women’s institution to think beyond the roles society traditionally expected of women in the 1960s. One prompt from religion professor Mary Faith Carson asked students to consider the lives they expected to lead and posed a simple question: “Is this then enough?”

“That has been my mantra, I think, probably the rest of my life,” Graham said. For her, the answer was not simply to fulfill what was expected, but to consider what she could do best and how she could continue moving forward.

Graham was still unsure exactly what she wanted to do after continuing her education in mathematics when another mentor suggested she apply for a programming role connected to the Apollo program. She had never taken a computer science course, but IBM trained her to program, and she became one of roughly 30 women among 600 programmers working there at the time.

For Graham, the Apollo missions reinforced the value of contributing to something larger than oneself. “You have to be a part of the team that makes it happen,” she said. “And every part matters.”

Her career continued to evolve after the Apollo missions. Following a move to Tullahoma, Tennessee, Graham worked in technology before spending decades teaching computer science and mathematics. “I didn’t have to change what I know,” she said. “I had to change what I did with it.”

That willingness to adapt has carried Graham through technology’s tremendous advances, from mainframe computers to personal devices and now artificial intelligence. She and Book agreed that each generation faces change, and the challenge is to understand new technology, use it thoughtfully and continue learning.

As the first Queens alumna featured on “�鶹��Ƶ Beyond the Bricks,” Graham sees a similar opportunity in the future of Queens and �鶹��Ƶ. She hopes the institutions continue educating what she calls the “whole person” by giving students opportunities to look beyond a single field, see how disciplines relate to one another and develop a lifelong desire to learn.

Graham believes that breadth helped carry her from Queens to IBM. Mathematics gave her technical knowledge, but art, culture and the liberal arts taught her to communicate and approach problems from different perspectives — skills she believes mattered on a team attempting something that had never been done.

“They were trying to get to the moon,” Graham said. “They wanted a team that could think outside the box.”

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

For more than a decade, has built a reputation as one of Charlotte’s most trusted journalists, reporting on breaking news, holding public officials accountable, and keeping his community informed.

On Oct. 9, as part of the university’s Homecoming Weekend, the WSOC-TV reporter returned to his alma mater to receive the School of Communications’ 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Bruno, the 16th recipient of the honor, was recognized during the school’s Alumni Campus Connect gathering in Snow Family Grand Atrium, surrounded by students, faculty, staff and fellow graduates. Among those in attendance was retired journalism professor Rich Landesberg, Bruno’s longtime mentor, whose presence made the recognition especially meaningful.

.

Since graduating in 2014, Bruno has established himself as a leading voice in investigative journalism, earning Walter Cronkite, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia, Edward R. Murrow and George Polk awards, along with six Emmy Awards. He was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2020, and his investigative reporting helped expose election fraud in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, drawing national attention.

“Without Rich and without this school, this kid from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, would have never had any of these opportunities,” Bruno said during his acceptance remarks. “Thank you, �鶹��Ƶ, for everything you have given to me.”

In presenting the award, Communications Dean Kenn Gaither praised Bruno’s professional accomplishments and his commitment to the communities he serves.

“It is always gratifying to watch an �鶹��Ƶ graduate succeed, but there’s something particularly special about watching one of our own become such an important and trusted voice in the community he serves.”
– Dean Kenn Gaither

Gaither also highlighted Bruno’s continued connection to �鶹��Ƶ, noting the significance of honoring him in the same atrium where Bruno and fellow alumnus Gary Grumbach ’16 organized two years earlier.

“That day, Joe was here to honor someone who helped shape him,” Gaither said. “Today, in the very same space, we have the privilege of honoring Joe.”

The connection came full circle when Bruno, visibly moved, spotted Landesberg standing among the attendees and thanked the former professor for his guidance and friendship.

“I also could not have done any of this without my Rich Landesberg, who I consider a member of my family,” Bruno said. “You are a trusted adviser and friend, and you have made such an impact on my life and so many others.”

Gaither also shared praise from Landesberg, who described Bruno as one of the hardest-working students he had ever taught.

“He is tireless in his commitment to holding the powerful accountable and making sure the people of Charlotte know what is happening in and around their city,” Landesberg said.

At home at �鶹��Ƶ

During his acceptance remarks, Bruno recalled how his mother first introduced him to �鶹��Ƶ, a university unfamiliar to many in his hometown. But during a campus visit, he found himself drawn to the school’s student television studio, where the opportunity to gain hands-on broadcasting experience helped convince him �鶹��Ƶ was the right fit.

As a high school senior, Bruno began watching Phoenix 14News broadcasts, eager to join the student journalists he saw on screen. Once he arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, he quickly became involved in the student news organization, gaining on-air and production experience within weeks of starting college.

“The best thing about �鶹��Ƶ is I didn’t have to wait until my junior year to get involved,” he said. “I was able to hit the ground running right as a freshman.”

Equally influential were the relationships he developed with fellow student journalists. Bruno recalled an environment where students challenged and supported one another, united by their enthusiasm for reporting and serving their community.

“We never competed against each other. We rooted for each other,” he said, explaining that the collaborative spirit continues to shape how he approaches his work today.

Addressing current students, Bruno encouraged them to embrace their interests and make the most of the opportunities available at �鶹��Ƶ.

“Whether it’s about news, whether it’s about sports, whatever you do, keep that light under you and pursue what you are pursuing with all of your heart,” he said.

Alumni return to connect with students

Bruno’s recognition was a highlight of Alumni Campus Connect, an informal networking event where eight graduates shared career insights and advice with current students.

Dan Erdman ’06, vice president of creative media at WWE, drew a crowd of students interested in his work in sports entertainment. Nearby, students connected with Los Angeles-based actress, writer and producer Paige Hullett ’16 to discuss careers in Hollywood and Women of the �鶹��Ƶ Entertainment Empire (WEEE), the alumni organization she leads. Also returning to campus was recent graduate Anjolina Fantaroni ’26, now a reporter at WAFF 48 in Huntsville, Alabama, who offered a firsthand perspective on transitioning from �鶹��Ƶ to the professional newsroom.

Participating alumni included:

• Halle Brennan ’21, Sales Associate Manager, Amazon Ads
• Joe Bruno ’14, Reporter, WSOC-TV
• Dan Erdman ’06, Vice President of Creative Media, WWE
• Anjolina Fantaroni ’26, Reporter, WAFF 48
• Caroline Grell ’17, Program Manager of Product Development Program, Capital One
• Paige Hullett ’16, Los Angeles-based actress, writer, producer, president of Women of the �鶹��Ƶ Entertainment Empire
• Becky Lane ’95, Senior Vice President-Marketing Development Manager, Bank of America
• Sarah Stone Richter ’19, Growth Marketing Manager, Quantam Health

Despite rainy weather, Phoenix pride shone through as �鶹��Ƶ welcomed alumni back to campus for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Oct. 9-10.

The weekend kicked off with the biggest Homecoming concert artist in university history — at least in height. DJ Diesel, also known as NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, performed a high-energy DJ set for Rock the Block on Young Commons with a crowd of 5,000 alumni, students and community members. The performance included several memorable moments, including fans joining DJ Diesel onstage, among them �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book.

“It was the exact same as when we were here,” said Suzanne Wirt ’06, reflecting on the DJ Diesel performance on Young Commons. “He was yelling ‘Hands up!’ at us, and we put our hands up. It was great.”

‘It’s like we never left’

Saturday brought steady rain, but the wet weather did little to dampen the excitement as alumni gathered for food, fellowship and opportunities to reconnect with classmates and friends.

Susanne Wirt ’06 returned to campus to celebrate her 20-year reunion with friends she met during her time at �鶹��Ƶ. Two decades later, those friendships remain an important part of her life.

“We’ve been friends forever, and it feels like I would not have met them had I not come to �鶹��Ƶ,” said Wirt. “It felt like home when I first walked onto campus, and I was like, ‘OK, this is it. Once I saw �鶹��Ƶ, I did not consider other schools.”

For Ann Evory ’86, Homecoming offered an opportunity to reconnect with classmates she had not seen in 40 years.

“All of our kids are grown now, and we’ve started to have grandkids, and it’s a different season of life where we can all be together. It’s like we never left each other,” Evory said.

This year marked the first time sisters Darcy Steele ’91 and Melissa Snyder ’92 returned to �鶹��Ƶ together for Homecoming. Both had visited campus in the years since graduation and continued to be impressed by the university’s growth and transformation.

“It’s nice to see, as an alum, that when you’re investing, they actually invest back into the school,” said Snyder, who earned a degree in psychology.

While the campus has changed significantly over the decades, the personal connections and mentorship that define the �鶹��Ƶ experience remain familiar to returning alumni.

“I babysat for one of my professors and our professors knew us by name, and it was very cool, because at the time �鶹��Ƶ was smaller than the high school I graduated from, so that was a different experience,” said Steele, who earned a degree in education.

Phoenix on the field

On the field, in Saturday’s Homecoming football game, falling 16-0. Despite outgaining Wofford, �鶹��Ƶ was unable to score in the rainy conditions. The Terriers forced five turnovers and stopped the Phoenix twice on fourth down to keep �鶹��Ƶ off the scoreboard.

Homecoming Royalty was also selected during Saturday’s game. The voting process, hosted by the Student Government Association, is designed to honor members of the senior class who have made a significant contribution to the life of the University. Applications are reviewed by a faculty/staff panel nominated by students

The nominees selected—based on their leadership, commitment to service, involvement, and school spirit—serve on the Homecoming Court. Based on a vote of the student body, two members of the court are honored as Homecoming royalty during the Homecoming football game. Selena Bautista ’27 and Trinity Wilson ’27 were crowned Homecoming royalty.

The weekend also brought former Phoenix athletes back to campus, including Robert “Bubba” Burnett ’95, who reunited with fellow members of the �鶹��Ƶ football program. Burnett, who earned a degree in psychology, was inducted into the �鶹��Ƶ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

“It’s cool seeing everybody from the past,” said Burnett. “You can’t go back, but it seems like we are.”

‘It feels like home’

Other signature events for the weekend included the Golden Alumni Luncheon & Class of 1976 Induction Ceremony, a special Welcome Home College Coffee, along with several Greek reunions and Affinity Network Events.

For Eric Hernandez ’16 and Audrey Bakhach ’16, the weekend marked their 10-year reunion and an opportunity to reflect on how their �鶹��Ƶ experiences shaped their lives and careers.

Bakhach, who earned a degree in communications and now owns a marketing agency in Charleston, South Carolina, recalled how her connection to �鶹��Ƶ ultimately brought her back to the university after spending her first year of college elsewhere.

“My heart was so set on �鶹��Ƶ. For some reason, it just feels right to me,” she said of her college experience. “So, I transferred back in my sophomore year. I loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m glad I transferred, and it was always where I had my eyes and heart set, just from the campus and the people.”

Hernandez also credits �鶹��Ƶ with helping launch his career in the entertainment industry. In 2016, he was named one of three finalists in the Coca-Cola Regal Films Competition, receiving $15,000 to turn a script into a 30-second commercial. That opportunity helped open doors to work with some of the biggest names in entertainment.

“From there, I’ve worked with companies like PBS, Paramount and Netflix, and I owe that all to my experience here,” he said. “It’s good being back. It feels like home.”

Steinman, director of communications for Checkmarx, was named a , earning recognition in the publication’s Nonprofit PR Innovators category. The category honors communicators whose work for a nonprofit organization, association, government entity or university increased donations or membership, secured major media coverage or raised awareness.

Steinman was honored on Oct. 6 during PRNEWS’ Platinum Awards & People of the Year Gala in New York City. Steinman was one of two School of Communications alumnae honored by PRNEWS this year. Amanda Gibson ’21, director of public relations and business development at Hannah Cranston Media, was recognized in the Ones to Watch category. Gibson’s honor was previously highlighted in a recent Today at �鶹��Ƶ story.

The recognition continues a recent run of �鶹��Ƶ alumni honored by PRNEWS, with Brooke McClary ’18, senior communications manager at Expel, receiving the event’s Rising Star honor in 2025.

“I’m really proud of this recognition because I know how hard I’ve worked to get to this point,” Steinman said. “It has not always been easy, and there have definitely been moments when I questioned whether I wanted to stay in communications or considered going in a different direction.”

The strategic communications major said the recognition reflects not only her own work, but also the support she has received throughout her career.

“I’ve had incredible mentors who have helped me grow, challenged me and taught me what it means to be a strong communications professional and leader,” she said. “So, this recognition is also a reflection of all the people who have invested in me along the way.”

The honor coincided with a recent career milestone for Steinman, who joined Checkmarx in September as director of communications. In the role, she leads the cybersecurity company’s global public relations strategy, including its approach to media engagement, while supporting thought leadership, messaging and other corporate communications initiatives.

“PR is really my bread and butter, so I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to shape our media engagement approach and help determine how Checkmarx shows up externally,” Steinman said.

Steinman brings nearly a decade of cybersecurity communications experience to the role, including four years with ISC2, a global nonprofit professional association for cybersecurity professionals.

Throughout her career, Steinman said she has learned the value of doing her own research, examining issues from multiple perspectives, and asking thoughtful questions. She has also made continued learning a priority.

“A lot of where I’ve gotten stronger over the years has come from continuing to learn outside of work, whether that’s reading articles about better PR strategies, following the right influencers and publications, or making sure I’m aware of the news and conversations shaping our industry,” Steinman said.

Steinman credits her �鶹��Ƶ education with providing a foundation for that growth. By graduation, she had participated in three public relations and marketing extracurricular activities and had opportunities to lead and design her own projects.

“�鶹��Ƶ did a really great job preparing me through hands-on learning,” Steinman said. “Having those real-world experiences before I even entered the workforce was great.”

She said �鶹��Ƶ’s emphasis on teamwork and project-based learning also prepared her for the collaborative nature of the communications industry.

“You’re not just responsible for your own work,” Steinman said. “You’re collaborating with other people and learning how to communicate effectively with different personalities and perspectives.

“�鶹��Ƶ gave me a really strong combination of skills that I continue to use every day.”

Kat Wallace ’05 has turned her car into a moving message across Jacksonville, Florida. At red lights, in parking lots and in drive-thru lines, it gives strangers a chance to learn about kidney disease and living donation without forcing Wallace to make a direct request she has never felt comfortable making.

“I work better when I kind of throw the idea out there, let people consider it and mull it over themselves,” Wallace said. “I hope that it reaches someone who really feels a calling to donate a kidney, whether it’s to me or someone else.”

The message eventually reached Crystal Moyer ’11, a First Coast News journalist and fellow �鶹��Ƶ alumna. Moyer saw Wallace’s story on social media while she was at work and recognized a personal appeal that could also open a wider conversation about kidney disease and organ donation.

Neither initially realized how much history they already shared. The two had met years earlier at an �鶹��Ƶ alumni event in Jacksonville. They rediscovered that connection while reporting the story.

“It gave me a sense of community knowing that I’m not only trying to help her but also extending that conversation out to people here in Jacksonville and, if the story gets out digitally, to everyone,” Moyer said.

For Wallace, the search began with routine blood work in November 2020. The next day, her doctor told her to go immediately to the emergency room. She had not felt well, but she had no idea how serious the problem had become. After a week in the hospital, she left with a kidney-failure diagnosis, a catheter and an urgent start to peritoneal dialysis.

Dialysis has reshaped her days. Wallace says she connects to a cycler for 13 hours each night and completes another manual treatment during the day. Before her diagnosis, she worked as a special education teacher. The demands of treatment forced her to leave the classroom and made traveling to see family difficult.

Wallace was adopted when she was two days old and does not know any blood relatives who could potentially be a close match. She is on the transplant list, but her care team also stressed the benefits of finding a living donor. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a kidney from a living donor may last longer and is more likely to begin working immediately than one from a deceased donor. A donor does not have to be a direct match; paired donation can connect incompatible donor-recipient pairs so each recipient receives a compatible kidney.

The scale of the need extends far beyond one car window. The American Kidney Fund reports that about 131,000 Americans were newly diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, and more than 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant waiting list.

Wallace’s approach began with writing on her car, a social media page and cards explaining her story. Because handing a card directly to someone still felt too much like asking for a kidney, she began leaving the cards with small rubber ducks or positive messages, hoping the objects would catch someone’s attention and encourage that person to read, share or begin the donor-screening process.

The reactions have often been unexpected. A woman in the Starbucks line behind Wallace bought her coffee and wished her luck. Another stranger approached her in a parking lot, asked to pray with her and shared that someone in her family had also experienced kidney disease. Drivers have honked, rolled down their windows and asked questions about the writing on her car.

“I don’t want people to feel sorry for me,” Wallace said. “I want them to feel inspired to take action.”

That attitude guided Moyer’s reporting. Rather than treating Wallace only as someone waiting for help, Moyer followed the way Wallace had chosen to advocate for herself. She let Wallace steer the conversation and explain what dialysis looked like, why asking felt uncomfortable and what she hoped her campaign could do for other people.

“She’s advocating for herself in a way that she feels comfortable,” Moyer said. “To see Kat doing this for something so important and starting a conversation through it, that really inspired me.”

Moyer’s First Coast News report aired Sept. 3. Soon afterward, viewers began asking how donor testing works and what they could do even if their blood type did not match Wallace’s. One message carried a different kind of impact. A woman in Lake City, Florida, who had just begun dialysis and the transplant process told Wallace she did not have a support system and asked if they could talk.

Wallace responded. The search for her own kidney had already helped someone else feel less alone.

She is also planning for what comes after a transplant. When her father experienced a stroke in late 2024 and entered rehabilitation, Wallace learned about recreational therapy. She is now enrolled in a program to become a certified recreational therapist, preparing to return to work centered on helping others when her health allows.

The connection to �鶹��Ƶ has continued to widen the audience. Members of the Jacksonville �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Network shared Moyer’s report, and Wallace hopes alumni will keep passing it through their own communities. Wallace, originally from Maryland, also met her husband, Chris, through their shared �鶹��Ƶ connection. They graduated a semester apart, and nearly two decades later, �鶹��Ƶ remains part of the network supporting their family.

“�鶹��Ƶ has such a vast network, not just nationally, but internationally,” Moyer said. “Maybe some people who see it at �鶹��Ƶ will spread it to their groups. We just want this to get out as far as possible.”

Wallace said every share matters because no one can know which person, group or conversation might lead to a match. The same act could also reach another person living with kidney failure, introduce someone to living donation or remind a patient that support exists.

When asked what the �鶹��Ƶ community would have done if its reach ultimately helped bring her to a transplant, Wallace paused.

“You saved my life,” she said. “Every single person who took two seconds to share that story or pass it along took part in saving my life. It’s a lifetime of appreciation.”

Learn more and help share Kat Wallace’s story

Read to learn about her story, living donation and the confidential donor-screening process; watch and read about Wallace’s car-window campaign; and find updates through .