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.”

Hosted by the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center and campus partners, the week invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to examine and connect through cross-cultural and interdisciplinary experiences.

IEW highlights the strengths of international education and exchange. �鶹��Ƶ’s celebration aligns with the university’s relationship-rich, engaged learning, helping us develop a deeper understanding of our interconnected world.

Week-at-a-glance

The full schedule is available on the International Education Week website. This year’s schedule features a mix of cultural, academic, and community-building events.

Highlights include:

• Global Flow Yoga at Sunset (Nov. 8)
• Research in Global Contexts: Student and Faculty Symposium (Nov. 9)
• French Poetry Slam (Nov. 9)
• Traditional West African Dance and Drums (Nov. 10)
• Global Film Series (Nov. 10)
• Minute to Win It! Meet and Greet (Nov. 11)
• International Cheese Festival (Nov. 11)
• International Coffee Hour and International Books and Authors (Nov. 12)
• Amici dell’Italia (Nov. 12)

Why it matters

IEW provides a focused moment to elevate global learning that happens across �鶹��Ƶ every day, in classrooms, residence halls, student organizations, and the Alamance County community.

IEW’s core idea is that international education thrives on meaningful relationships, shared experiences, and collective purposes.

“At its core, this year’s theme and events highlight how global learning is strengthened when students, faculty, staff, and partners come together across cultures, disciplines, and perspectives,” said Jessica Gisclair, associate dean of global education.

�鶹��Ƶ continues to lead nationally in study abroad and Study USA participation as part of the �鶹��Ƶ Experiences.

Most IEW events are open to the entire �鶹��Ƶ community. Some programs require an RSVP or have limited capacity. Visit the IEW website for times, locations, and updates. For questions, contact the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center at 336-278-6700 or visit Sato Commons 360 during business hours.

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

Pate McMichael, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and instructor of journalism at �鶹��Ƶ, joined WFAE’s Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins for a discussion about the growing influence of artificial intelligence on political campaigns and elections.

The Oct. 27 episode, “Artificial Intelligence in Elections,” examined concerns surrounding AI-generated campaign advertisements, deepfakes and the potential for misleading content to influence voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“These ads are supposed to be educational in nature; that’s the whole reason why the Supreme Court has unleashed this amount of money into our elections, the idea we need more information,” said McMcMichael. “These ads often leave you scratching your head thinking, ‘What? Can that be true?’ Is this accurate?’ And so I think more than ever people would like to see more transparency around these ads.”

The discussion also explored efforts to regulate AI in political advertising. While 31 states have enacted some form of regulation governing AI in political campaigns, North Carolina has yet to adopt similar legislation despite multiple attempts by state lawmakers. Part of those regulations includes disclosing if an ad features AI.

“If it’s more transparency, why not require it?,” said McMichael. “We’re seeing that in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas; a lot of states require those types of disclosures; they’re written differently. But essentially, why not give us a little more insight into how the ad was made and also who funded (it) … because we really don’t have strong transparency around who’s funding any online or social media … ads either.”

McMichael joined Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College, and Scott Brennan, director of New York University’s Center on Technology Policy, for the conversation about emerging technology, political communication and election integrity.

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.

�鶹��Ƶ Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas provided political analysis for an Oct. 20 FOX8 report examining President Donald Trump’s decision not to enforce new sanctions against Russia despite bipartisan congressional support for the legislation.

The report, part of Bob Buckley’s Buckley Report, explores the political implications of Trump’s decision to suspend sanctions intended to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

“So, the idea of using the power that Congress gave them to reverse on those sanctions certainly politically doesn’t make sense,” Balderas said. “But again, strategically, this is giving more power to Vladimir Putin than many legislative leaders are comfortable with.”

Balderas, a First Amendment attorney and former television journalist, also explained that Congress included a provision in the legislation allowing the president to suspend the sanctions.

“So, Congress gave him the power and so he is acting under the authority that Congress gave him,” Balderas said.