Hovering over a stormwater management pond behind 麻豆视频’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 麻豆视频 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, 麻豆视频 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, 鈥淧reflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 麻豆视频 Trustworthy AI.鈥�

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.

鈥淎viation did not get saved by building the perfect aircraft,鈥� Bhattacharya said. 鈥淚t got saved by assuming things will fail, and it builds a culture 鈥� checklists, recorders, investigations, reporting 鈥� that learns from every failure.鈥�

He also highlighted 麻豆视频’s 鈥�Human Wisdom for the Age of AI鈥� 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 麻豆视频, Fayetteville State University, Guilford Technical Community College, N.C. A&T State University, N.C. State University and Wake Technical Community College.

鈥淲hat makes 麻豆视频 Drone Day special is the diversity of people it brings together,鈥� Piland said. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�

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 鈥�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.

鈥撀燜ormer North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory

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

鈥淲hile he didn鈥檛 change my opinion on anything, I feel it鈥檚 always important to be in conversation with people who share different opinions,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 appreciated that he was open with us and criticized both parties.鈥�

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鈥檚 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.”

Pate McMichael, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and instructor of journalism at 麻豆视频, joined WFAE鈥檚 Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins for a discussion about the growing influence of artificial intelligence on political campaigns and elections.

The Oct. 27 episode, 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence in Elections,鈥� 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鈥檚 Center on Technology Policy, for the conversation about emerging technology, political communication and election integrity.

The School of Communications will host its annual 麻豆视频 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 麻豆视频 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 麻豆视频 Drone Day, said the keynote reflects both the growing role of artificial intelligence in drone technology and 麻豆视频’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 麻豆视频’s effort to broaden the AI arena or broaden the discussion of AI in programs that we have,鈥� Piland said. “So many of the new autonomous drones rely on AI to make it work.鈥�

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, 麻豆视频 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.

鈥淲e 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 麻豆视频 Drone Day Program

8鈥�8:45 AM
Vendor Setup

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

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

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

9:25 AM
鈥楶reflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 麻豆视频 Trustworthy AI鈥� 鈥� Dr. Sambit Bhattacharya (Turner Theatre)

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

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

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

Noon
ALOFT | Drone Sense | Versaterm Update 鈥� 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 麻豆视频, Neiman shared firsthand accounts from her recent reporting trip to Sudan鈥檚 Nuba Mountains, where she documented the experiences of civilians, fighters and medical workers caught in the conflict.

鈥淓ven before my departure, I was overwhelmed, frankly, by the scale of loss in Sudan,鈥� Neiman said. 鈥淵et, this crisis received limited space and attention in our newspapers and television programs.鈥�

Her lecture, 鈥淢edia Matters: Covering Sudan鈥檚 Civil War,鈥� 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.

鈥淚t had been aggravating to spend so much time feeling as if I was literally begging people to just care about Sudan,鈥� 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鈥檚 responsibility to people whose experiences and struggles often go unseen 鈥撀爓hether in distant conflict zones or their own communities.

鈥淲hat does it mean to truly bear witness? Why should we open ourselves up to the suffering of others with compassion and empathy?鈥� 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.

鈥淎lmost always, people told me simply that they wanted peace,鈥� she said.

Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and 麻豆视频鈥檚 liaison to the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 Campus Consortium, welcomed attendees before the lecture. Ethan Wu 鈥�27, a 2026 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow who investigated water pollution near Beijing, introduced Neiman.

麻豆视频鈥檚 partnership with the Pulitzer Center

麻豆视频 is a longtime member of the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 , 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.

麻豆视频 Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas provided political analysis for an Oct. 20 FOX8 report examining President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision not to enforce new sanctions against Russia despite bipartisan congressional support for the legislation.

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

鈥淪o, the idea of using the power that Congress gave them to reverse on those sanctions certainly politically doesn鈥檛 make sense,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淏ut again, strategically, this is giving more power to Vladimir Putin than many legislative leaders are comfortable with.鈥�

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.

鈥淪o, Congress gave him the power and so he is acting under the authority that Congress gave him,鈥� Balderas said.

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

鈥淎s 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,鈥� 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 麻豆视频鈥檚 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.

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 鈥淢edia Matters: Covering Sudan鈥檚 Civil War,鈥� 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 麻豆视频’s liaison to the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 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.

鈥淎t great risk, Sophie Neiman has been the eyes and ears in conflict zones that many mainstream media organizations ignore,鈥� Ahearn said. 鈥淭hat neglect has consequences: indifference on the part of the outside world, and lack of humanitarian support.鈥�

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鈥檚 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.

鈥淣eiman鈥檚 stories aren鈥檛 about numbers 鈥撀爉ind-numbing as those numbers are,鈥� Ahearn said. 鈥淭hrough 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.鈥�

麻豆视频 is a long-standing member of the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 , a network of colleges and universities that support the center鈥檚 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:聽“Media Matters: Covering Sudan鈥檚 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., 麻豆视频, NC
Presented by: Pulitzer Center and 麻豆视频鈥檚 School of Communications

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

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

Bruno, the 16th recipient of the honor, was recognized during the school鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥� 30 Under 30 list in 2020, and his investigative reporting helped expose election fraud in North Carolina鈥檚 9th Congressional District, drawing national attention.

鈥淲ithout Rich and without this school, this kid from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, would have never had any of these opportunities,鈥� Bruno said during his acceptance remarks. 鈥淭hank you, 麻豆视频, for everything you have given to me.鈥�

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

鈥淚t is always gratifying to watch an 麻豆视频 graduate succeed, but there鈥檚 something particularly special about watching one of our own become such an important and trusted voice in the community he serves.鈥�
鈥� Dean Kenn Gaither

Gaither also highlighted Bruno鈥檚 continued connection to 麻豆视频, noting the significance of honoring him in the same atrium where Bruno and fellow alumnus Gary Grumbach 鈥�16 organized two years earlier.

鈥淭hat day, Joe was here to honor someone who helped shape him,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淭oday, in the very same space, we have the privilege of honoring Joe.鈥�

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.

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

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

鈥淗e 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,鈥� Landesberg said.

At home at 麻豆视频

During his acceptance remarks, Bruno recalled how his mother first introduced him to 麻豆视频, 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 麻豆视频 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 麻豆视频, he quickly became involved in the student news organization, gaining on-air and production experience within weeks of starting college.

鈥淭he best thing about 麻豆视频 is I didn鈥檛 have to wait until my junior year to get involved,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was able to hit the ground running right as a freshman.鈥�

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.

鈥淲e never competed against each other. We rooted for each other,鈥� 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 麻豆视频.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 about news, whether it鈥檚 about sports, whatever you do, keep that light under you and pursue what you are pursuing with all of your heart,鈥� he said.

Alumni return to connect with students

Bruno鈥檚 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 鈥�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 鈥�16 to discuss careers in Hollywood and Women of the 麻豆视频 Entertainment Empire (WEEE), the alumni organization she leads. Also returning to campus was recent graduate Anjolina Fantaroni 鈥�26, now a reporter at WAFF 48 in Huntsville, Alabama, who offered a firsthand perspective on transitioning from 麻豆视频 to the professional newsroom.

Participating alumni included:

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

鈥淎s an academic, my relationship is going out in the name of 麻豆视频, even though I speak for myself,鈥� said Balderas. 鈥淚鈥檓 always saying, 鈥楬ere at 麻豆视频, we don鈥檛 make small plans. We鈥檙e always thinking bigger, and because we are a national school, what would help us to continue to be a national school?鈥� To me, my responsibility as an academic is to get my name out there.鈥�

For Balderas, that work is closely connected to the sense of belonging he has found at 麻豆视频 and the university鈥檚 teacher-scholar-mentor model. At the center of it all are his students.

鈥淲hen my students leave, and the class is over, I say, 鈥楲ove you. Mean it.鈥� And we throw the word love around a lot,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淏ut, to me, as a teacher, I think love from a teacher to a student is this idea, and it鈥檚 my ‘why.’ My ‘why’ is that I鈥檓 passionate about teaching students how to find their passion in a world that is out of control.鈥�

The newsroom to the classroom

Balderas began his journalism career as a freelance reporter and producer for several outlets in Washington, D.C. His coverage of the 2000 presidential election helped spur an interest in legal studies, as did a friendly competition with his sister over who could earn the higher score on the LSAT.

Growing up in a single-parent Hispanic household, Balderas said education was 鈥渘on-negotiable.鈥� He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America while working as a producer at FOX News Channel.

In the years that followed, Balderas worked for television stations across Florida, North Carolina and Texas. His work earned multiple industry accolades, including an Emmy for Best Continuing Coverage and recognition from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas as best TV news anchor.

My ‘why’ is that I鈥檓 passionate about teaching students how to find their passion in a world that is out of control.

-Israel Balderas, assistant professor of journalism

Alongside his journalism career, Balderas took on legal work for the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, We The Action and the Society of Professional Journalists. His pro bono work included representing migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border and helping nonprofits navigate financial aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2017, Balderas left television news to spend more time with his family and transitioned to higher education, first teaching at a university in West Palm Beach, Florida, before joining 麻豆视频鈥檚 faculty in 2021.

鈥淚 love the mission of 麻豆视频,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淭he mission of 麻豆视频 is that it 鈥榚mbraces its founder鈥檚 vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.鈥� And I said during my interview, that鈥檚 what a First Amendment professor teaches. That鈥檚 it.鈥�

Journalism major Lily Molina 鈥�27 took Balderas鈥� Media Law & Ethics course and says having a Latino professor in the journalism department made her feel welcomed as an aspiring Latina journalist.

鈥�I am really passionate about covering stories centered around my community, and Balderas has supported me in doing that. It鈥檚 comforting to have someone who I can speak Spanish to and not feel judged,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is just one of the reasons why having diversity within departments is so important.鈥�

Celebrating the beauty of diversity

A self-described 鈥淭exan American with a Mexican heart,鈥� Balderas views Hispanic Heritage Month through the lens of the cultures that have shaped the United States.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about celebrating many cultures who have been able to adapt their cultures to this idea of 鈥楢merican citizen,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淲hat I love about Hispanic Heritage Month is that we get to show off the beauty of our diversity in a society that is diverse.鈥�

Balderas describes that blending of cultures as a 鈥渟tew,鈥� one he sees reflected regularly on 麻豆视频鈥檚 campus. He points to El Centro, a space within the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education that celebrates Latine and Hispanic cultures while sharing them with the broader 麻豆视频 community.

鈥淓very time I go to El Centro, there are kids from all over, and they鈥檙e all happy, and they鈥檙e ready to tell us about their abuelita (grandmother), they鈥檙e ready to tell us about their family,鈥� Balderas said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e ready to tell us about the history of their country. And in sharing all that, we get to build community together.鈥�

麻豆视频 honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, 麻豆视频 is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latine heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.