乱伦视频 Alumni | Today at 乱伦视频 | 乱伦视频 /u/news Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:40:39 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Four new members join 乱伦视频 Alumni Board /u/news/2026/09/18/four-new-members-join-elon-alumni-board-2/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:20:03 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056714 The 乱伦视频 Alumni Board (EAB) acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

New members鈥 first meeting with the full board will be on Friday, Oct. 9 as part of Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.

Andrew Gillette 鈥08
Andrew Gillette is the lead commercial architect at EY. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from 乱伦视频 and his Master of Business Administration from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2017. He regularly shares his expertise with students in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business by serving as a judge for their undergraduate case competition and at the Tremont Center in Charlotte.

While at 乱伦视频, Gillette was active with Sigma Phi Epsilon, as an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, and with 乱伦视频 Volunteers!.

Dan Hanson 鈥05
Dan Hanson is currently the change management lead at Under Armour. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Broadcast Communications from 乱伦视频 and a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University. Dan has stayed actively engaged with 乱伦视频 and his alumni network since graduating and has also served on the Young Alumni Council.

Hanson lives in Baltimore with his wife Kristin Simonetti Hanson 鈥05.

Jeff Michel 鈥83
Jeff Michel was a member of the 乱伦视频 Football Team and Kappa Alpha fraternity during his time at 乱伦视频. Since graduating, he has remained connected to 乱伦视频 through the Phoenix CLub and 乱伦视频 Athletics, Life @ 乱伦视频 and as a regular volunteer.

Michel lives in Burlington, North Carolina and serves as a vice president at Glen Raven.

Caroline York-Ingram 鈥12 G鈥15
While at 乱伦视频, Caroline York-Ingram was active with Omicron Delta Kappa, 乱伦视频 Research Forum, Summer Fellow, 乱伦视频 Campus Visit Assistant, was a Leadership Fellow, and a Watson-Odyssey Scholar. She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Physician Assistant Studies from 乱伦视频. As an alumna, she has served as an 乱伦视频 Q&A volunteer, Class Speaker and 乱伦视频 Day volunteer.

Currently, York-Ingram is a Physician Assistant at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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Shaina Dabbs, Brynja Burton 鈥25 examine career-defining moments for women coaches /u/news/2026/09/18/shaina-dabbs-brynja-burton-25-examine-career-defining-moments-for-women-coaches/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:56:25 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056597 Shaina Dabbs, associate professor and chair in the Department of Sport Management, and alumna are among the authors of new research examining the lasting personal and professional effects of unexpected job loss on women college head coaches.

Brynja Burton stands with 乱伦视频 professor Shaina Dabbs
In spring 2025, Brynja Burton 鈥25 (left) was named the Sport Management Major of the Year. During the school’s annual awards ceremony, Shaina Dabbs, associate professor and chair in the Department of Sport Management, recognized Burton鈥檚 remarkable contributions as an 乱伦视频 student. A Communications Fellow, Burton maintained a 3.95 GPA while offering extensive support to 乱伦视频 Athletics and the Women Influencers in Sport (WINS) initiative.

The article, 鈥,鈥 was published Sept. 8 in the Journal of Sport Management, a leading scholarly journal in the sport management field. Dabbs and Burton collaborated on the research with Jeffrey Graham of Texas A&M University and Anton Schulz of Texas Tech University.

Using in-depth interviews with 16 women NCAA head coaches, the researchers explored how coaches responded to unexpected career-defining moments, primarily termination or institutional investigations. Their analysis identified three interconnected themes: an abrupt and isolating separation from the professional world; an attack on personal and professional identity; and lasting consequences affecting finances, health, families and future plans.

Rather than viewing forced job loss simply as a professional transition, the research frames the experience as a broader life crisis and points to the need for more humane off-boarding practices within sport organizations, including compassionate communication and access to independent mental health, financial and career-transition resources.

鈥淭his topic is important to me because the experiences of women coaches following an investigation or forced exit are rarely discussed openly,鈥 Dabbs said. 鈥淭hese women entrusted us with deeply personal stories about losing not only their jobs, but also their professional identities, financial security, relationships, and sense of belonging.鈥

Dabbs said she hopes the findings will draw greater attention to the experiences of women coaches and encourage sport organizations to reconsider how they handle difficult career transitions.

鈥淚 wanted this research to give them a voice, shed light on a serious problem within college coaching, and encourage sport organizations to develop more ethical and humane exit strategies,鈥 she said.

Two women stand at Women Influencers in Sport (WINS) initiative event.
In addition to research, Burton was an active member of the Women Influencers in Sport (WINS) initiative, which Dabbs advises. Photo courtesy of Burton.

The publication also represents the culmination of a faculty-student research collaboration between Dabbs and Burton, who worked on the project while an 乱伦视频 student. Burton played a pivotal role in the study鈥檚 qualitative data analysis, working with the 16 interview transcripts and collaborating with the research team to examine, code and organize the coaches鈥 experiences into the themes ultimately presented in the article.

Dabbs mentored Burton throughout the process, teaching her how to conduct qualitative data analysis and write the methodology section of a scholarly article.

鈥淗er careful engagement with the participants鈥 stories contributed meaningfully to both the rigor of the analysis and the development of the manuscript,鈥 Dabbs said.

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For Dabbs, Burton鈥檚 involvement illustrates the value of providing students opportunities to participate directly in research. Such collaborations allow students to apply concepts learned in the classroom while gaining firsthand experience with how scholarly research is conducted and developed.

鈥淭hey learn to work carefully with evidence, recognize patterns, question their assumptions, and communicate findings responsibly,鈥 she added.

Another benefit? The experience can also reshape how students view their own place within an academic and professional community.

鈥淪tudents gain confidence from knowing that their work can contribute to meaningful conversations in their field,鈥 Dabbs said. 鈥淢entored research helps them see themselves not only as students, but also as scholars and professionals whose ideas and contributions matter.鈥

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乱伦视频 to host United in Purpose, bringing together 乱伦视频 and Queens communities /u/news/2026/09/17/elon-to-host-united-in-purpose-bringing-together-elon-and-queens-communities/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:18:10 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056392 United in Purpose

乱伦视频 will host 鈥淯nited in Purpose鈥 on Thursday, Nov. 5, bringing together alumni, parents and friends of 乱伦视频 and Queens University of Charlotte for an evening of connection and community.

The event will be held at Urban Garden in Charlotte and begin at 6:30 p.m. with a hosted reception featuring hors d鈥檕euvres. Guests will gather at 7:30 p.m. for a special program featuring remarks from 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book. A dessert reception will follow the program and conclude the evening. Business attire is requested.

United in Purpose
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026
6:30 p.m. 鈥 Hosted reception with hors d鈥檕euvres
7:30 p.m. 鈥 Program
Dessert reception to follow until 9 p.m.

Urban Garden
150 N. College St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

Register at or contact advancement@elon.edu.

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DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O鈥橬eal) to perform at 乱伦视频’s Rock the Block /u/news/2026/09/14/dj-diesel-to-perform-at-elons-rock-the-block/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:19:06 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056068 The Office of Alumni聽Engagement听补苍诲听the聽Student Union Board have collaborated once again to聽host聽the Homecoming concert!聽Don’t聽miss this year’s performance聽on Friday, Oct. 9, as聽DJ Diesel (Shaquille O鈥橬eal)聽hits the stage at Rock the Block on聽Young Commons.

Plain White T’s聽headlined last year聽with over聽2,000聽alumni, students and friends聽in attendance!聽As a fan-favorite Homecoming event,聽Rock the Block will once again transform into a full music festival experience featuring a variety of food trucks, a bar, activities and an end-of-night fireworks show.

O鈥橬eal聽will聽perform聽from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rock the Block and the Homecoming聽Concert are open to all members of the 乱伦视频 community for free, so register for today!

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Cap Henneman 鈥25 finds his footing documenting Pitt Athletics /u/news/2026/09/10/cap-henneman-25-finds-his-footing-documenting-pitt-athletics/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:23:37 +0000 /u/news/?p=1055841

乱伦视频 alumnus Cap Henneman stands in a crowded blue and yellow lockerroom.
Surrounded by players and coaching staff celebrating Pitt football鈥檚 Sept. 5 victory over Miami (Ohio), Cap Henneman 鈥25 captures content inside the Panthers鈥 joyous locker room. Photo credit: Zach Lantz

can vividly remember the exhilaration of running onto the field this past weekend with the University of Pittsburgh football team, gimbal in hand, as more than 40,000 fans roared around him.

What happened next is a little hazier.

鈥淚 essentially blacked out on adrenaline for the first 10 minutes of game action,鈥 Henneman laughed.

Cap Henneman stands before yellow grandstands at a Pitt football event.
Since graduating in 2025, Henneman has quickly expanded his role in college athletics, now creating content for Pitt football while supporting the university鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball program. Photo credit: Zach Lantz

It was Henneman鈥檚 first game day working on the sidelines for Pitt football 鈥 and a surreal introduction to his new role as the program鈥檚 assistant director of creative content.

The 乱伦视频 alumnus was there to capture an up-close look at Pitt鈥檚 season-opening 59-14 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 5. Once the final whistle sounded, his responsibilities only grew. Henneman took the lead editing 鈥溾 Pitt鈥檚 long-running video series that tells the story of a victory through behind-the-scenes content.

For Henneman, the assignment represented another milestone in a professional journey that has moved quickly.

His path to Pitt began shortly after his May 2025 graduation from 乱伦视频, where he majored in journalism and built a portfolio that stretched well beyond traditional reporting.

As a student, Henneman worked with Rising Phoenix and 乱伦视频 Athletics video production. He also spent nearly two years interning with The Burlington School, chronicling its high-level prep basketball program. Following graduation, he continued sharpening his skills as a videographer with the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Those experiences ultimately led him to Pittsburgh.

In January, Henneman initially joined Pitt Athletics as an assistant director of video production, creating content across the university鈥檚 athletics programs. After six months, he accepted a position supporting Pitt football. But Henneman wasn鈥檛 quite ready to give up basketball.

He negotiated a hybrid role that allows him to remain the secondary video contact for Pitt men鈥檚 basketball.

鈥淚 couldn’t get myself to leave my basketball roots behind,鈥 Henneman said.

Being a major content contributor for both programs, he said, is a 鈥渄ream come true.鈥 It has also brought considerably more responsibility.

While the football staff was away during July, Henneman filmed basketball summer workouts, helped lead the rollout of new NIL initiatives for Pitt Athletics, and traveled to New York City to cover volleyball standout Olivia Babcock at the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.

Then came football season.

When fall camp opened in August, Henneman鈥檚 days regularly stretched from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. He produced short-form content from daily practices and longer-form mic鈥檇-up features while documenting the weeks leading into the season.

“Practically living in the facility gave me an eye-opening perspective of the upper echelon of college athletics.”

鈥 Cap Henneman 鈥25

Amid that demanding schedule came one of his biggest opportunities.

At the end of fall camp, Henneman spent a week shooting and editing the 鈥溾 his first true 鈥減assion project鈥 since arriving at Pitt. The finished video was shown at the program鈥檚 kickoff luncheon and student bonfire pep rally, played on the stadium scoreboard before the season opener, and released on social media.

Creating a longer, storytelling-driven piece reminded Henneman of the projects he pursued at 乱伦视频.

鈥淚t was refreshing to create a storytelling-centric piece that I could be proud of,鈥 Henneman said.

That same approach carried into his first football Saturday.

After documenting Pitt鈥檚 season-opening victory, Henneman shifted almost immediately from capturing the story to assembling it. For 鈥溾 he storyboarded the video and constructed its game-action sequences, working alongside colleagues who handled the introduction, graphics, color grading and sound effects.

There was also a tighter turnaround. The popular series, previously released on Wednesdays, was now due Monday.

鈥淒espite the lack of social life and free time that football season brings, I can confidently say I am doing something that I truly love,鈥 Henneman said. 鈥淚 feel like I have found my footing within the creative team, and look to keep improving as the season moves forward.鈥

 

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Nick Dyer 鈥11 helps television find its next screen /u/news/2026/09/08/nick-dyer-11-helps-television-find-its-next-screen/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:40:18 +0000 /u/news/?p=1055529 Nick Dyer 鈥11 ended his five-year run at 鈥淭he Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon鈥 with Jimmy Fallon locked inside a glass box.

Nick Dyer 鈥11 smiles beside production lights while Jimmy Fallon gestures inside a glass enclosure with a large hammer prop.
Nick Dyer 鈥11 watches as Jimmy Fallon performs inside a glass enclosure during production of a digital segment for 鈥淭he Tonight Show.鈥

A five-minute clock was counting down. Fallon鈥檚 challenge was to lift Thor鈥檚 hammer before time ran out. MrBeast watched from outside the box, and Chris Hemsworth arrived as Thor to smash the glass and save the day.

The setup was ridiculous by design. Dyer and his team had started with a simple question: What kind of challenge could bring together MrBeast鈥檚 oversized videos, Hemsworth鈥檚 history as Thor and Fallon鈥檚 willingness to play along?

For Dyer, the segment worked because it did more than copy something popular online. It gave 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥 its own way into the joke.

鈥淲e never really did trendy content just because everyone else was doing it,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淲hat is our spin on it? What is our story? How can we subvert people鈥檚 expectations?鈥

Dyer has been asking versions of those questions since his time at 乱伦视频. He arrived on campus already interested in broadcast, having focused his college search on communications programs. As a broadcast and new media major, he learned how an idea moved from a script to a finished piece.

Professors Staci Saltz and Thomas Nelson gave him room to work across writing, videography, photography, editing and directing. In the studio and in the field, he learned how to build a project 鈥渟oup to nuts.鈥

鈥淭hey really allowed me to flex my creative muscles,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淚 learned all aspects of media production and strategy. That was pretty formative for me.鈥

Nick Dyer 鈥11, wearing a blue suit and white sneakers, stands on a red carpet in front of a YouTube FYC backdrop.
Nick Dyer 鈥11 poses on the red carpet at a YouTube FYC event.

He graduated in 2011 as digital video was beginning to change the television business. Dyer started in digital operations at TV Land, then moved to Comedy Central, producing online content for programs including 鈥淪outh Park,鈥 鈥淜ey & Peele鈥 and 鈥淣athan For You.鈥

The platforms were still developing their identities as places to watch video, which gave Dyer room to test ideas and learn what worked. He credits his early progress to an eagerness to take on assignments beyond his job description.

鈥淚 never said no to an opportunity,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淚 had a drive to continue to push the envelope, learn more and become better every day.鈥

In 2015, he joined the team building the digital presence of 鈥淭he Daily Show鈥 as Trevor Noah became host. The group had the chance to establish a new voice, try original formats and respond to the news with the speed of an online newsroom.

One of those formats was 鈥淏etween the Scenes,鈥 which captured Noah talking with the studio audience during commercial breaks. Dyer helped launch and produce the digital series, and the team won a 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding short-form variety series.

The series grew from a culture in which writers, producers, correspondents and members of the digital team could all shape an idea. Dyer remembers Trevor Noah telling the staff that a good idea could come from anyone, whether it came from an intern, a writer or a producer.

Millie Bobby Brown, wearing a red sequined dress, watches a smartphone with Jimmy Fallon and several smiling production team members gathered around her.
Actor Millie Bobby Brown, Jimmy Fallon and members of 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥 production team react to a video on a smartphone during a backstage shoot.

鈥淎 great idea really can come from anywhere and anyone,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淪hare, bounce things off each other and engage with your team. Through collaboration, the best ideas will come.鈥

That lesson followed him to 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥 in 2021. Dyer joined as head of digital while the show was still navigating pandemic-era production and remote guests. As performers and live audiences returned to Studio 6B, he began expanding the show鈥檚 digital originals, videos made specifically for people watching online rather than repackaged television clips.

His team worked with nearly every part of the show. They collaborated with writers, segment producers, talent bookers, NBC press, marketing, and the larger staff and crew at the show to turn an appearance into something that could connect beyond the television broadcast.

Dyer approached each idea 鈥渇an first.鈥 Before the cameras rolled, he wanted the team to understand the audience, the guest and the platform where the video would land. A TikTok video should feel natural on TikTok, he said, but it should still sound and look like 鈥淭he Tonight Show.鈥

Nick Dyer 鈥11 holds a sheet of paper and gestures while speaking with John Cena and Jimmy Fallon in a backstage room.
Nick Dyer 鈥11 gives direction to John Cena and Jimmy Fallon during production of a digital segment for 鈥淭he Tonight Show.鈥

During Dyer鈥檚 tenure, he said, the show鈥檚 following across digital platforms grew from just over 50 million to more than 100 million. The show generated 50 billion views during his five years there. He points to those numbers as a team accomplishment, shared by Fallon and the people working across the production.

Leading that growth also changed how Dyer viewed his own role. He began paying closer attention to what each person on his team could become instead of limiting people to the jobs they had been hired to do. Delegating decisions and tasks gave younger producers room to grow and freed him to keep learning.

By the time he left the show in February 2026, Dyer felt confident that the team could continue without him. That made the timing right for another shift.

He joined Ampersand, the production company founded by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, as head of digital programming and development. The move has taken him from building digital extensions of established television programs to developing series from their earliest ideas. His current work includes 鈥淐elebrity Substitute鈥, a YouTube series where some of the world鈥檚 most recognizable stars step in as teachers for unsuspecting public school students.

Dyer sees that move as part of television鈥檚 future. A series no longer needs to begin with a network time slot and find an online audience later. It can start on YouTube and reach viewers directly, without asking them to change their habits.

鈥淎 show is only good if people watch it,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淚 want to meet people where they already are.鈥

Nick Dyer 鈥11, wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, smiles on a red carpet beside a large golden Emmy statuette graphic.
Nick Dyer 鈥11 poses on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards.

The screens and platforms keep changing. His reason for making the work has remained simple: to give people something that brings them joy or laughter.

For 乱伦视频 students hoping to enter the industry, Dyer鈥檚 advice is equally direct. Do not wait for perfect equipment, the perfect idea or the most recognizable company name. He remembers carrying a BlackBerry as a student; today, students have a 4K camera in their pockets and an immediate way to share what they make.

鈥淛ust start making things,鈥 Dyer said. 鈥淪tart creating. You鈥檝e got to start somewhere. Make things that you鈥檙e passionate about, and let your passion guide you.鈥

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Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2026 Registration is LIVE /u/news/2026/09/02/homecoming-reunion-weekend-2026-registration-is-live/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:06:51 +0000 /u/news/?p=1055057 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend is聽almost here聽and with聽, the 乱伦视频 community is excited to welcome alumni back to campus on聽Friday,聽Oct.聽9听补苍诲听Saturday,聽Oct. 10.

The full schedule of events and activities can be found on the聽2026 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend webpage.

The weekend kicks off with Rock the Block on Friday night featuring a聽Homecoming Concert you聽won鈥檛聽want to miss!聽Food trucks and a bar will聽surround聽Young Commons,聽adding to the聽music festival experience, and the night will end with a fireworks show.

Students cheer for Plain White T鈥檚 during Rock the Block on Oct. 10, 2025.
Students cheer for Plain White T鈥檚 during Rock the Block on Oct. 10, 2025.

On Saturday,聽wake up聽to breakfast pastries and a commemorative coffee mug at聽Welcome Home College Coffee before joining friends at the All Alumni Tailgate! Taking place at the Schar Center,聽this year鈥檚 All Alumni Tailgate will include beer,聽new food stations, a DJ, and plenty聽of reserved tent space for聽reuniting with your Affinity, Class, Cohort and Greek reunions.

After the tailgate, find your seats to watch聽乱伦视频 football take on Wofford at 2 p.m.

With so much more in store, including聽celebrations for our聽affinity networks, and class聽and Greek reunions聽(some聽listed below),聽we聽can鈥檛聽wait to celebrate Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2026聽next month.

  • 乱伦视频 Black Alumni Network (EBAN)
  • 乱伦视频 LGBTQIA Network
  • 乱伦视频 Latin/Hispanic Alumni Network (ELHAN)
  • Alpha聽Chi Omega鈥檚 25th聽Anniversary
  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.鈥檚 35th聽Anniversary
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.鈥檚 45th聽Anniversary
  • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.鈥檚 40th聽Anniversary
  • 碍补辫辫补听顿别濒迟补鈥檚听15迟丑听础苍苍颈惫别谤蝉补谤测
  • Phi Mu鈥檚 55th聽Anniversary
  • Zeta Tau聽Alpha鈥檚聽55th聽Anniversary

Learn more about the聽weekend鈥檚 full schedule of events听补苍诲听.

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Join us for an Evening for 乱伦视频 in Chicago /u/news/2026/08/18/join-us-for-an-evening-for-elon-in-chicago-2/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:41:53 +0000 /u/news/?p=1053522 Evening for 乱伦视频 in Chicago

Alumni,聽parents聽and friends of 乱伦视频 are invited to come together for an Evening for 乱伦视频 in聽Chicago. Connect with fellow members of the 乱伦视频 community and hear a few highlights from campus.

The event will take place on聽Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Chicago Cultural Center. Join us at 6:30 p.m.聽for a reception featuring a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres before gathering for a special program at聽7:30聽p.m. with remarks from President Connie Ledoux Book.

Evening for 乱伦视频 in聽Chicago聽with President Connie L. Book聽
Tuesday, Oct. 6,聽2026
6:30聽p.m. Hosted reception with hors d鈥檕euvres
7:30聽p.m. Program with remarks by President Book

Chicago Cultural Center
77 East Randolph Street
颁丑颈肠补驳辞,听滨尝听60602

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d鈥檕euvres

Register at聽聽or contact聽advancement@elon.edu.

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Amanda Gibson 鈥21 named PRNEWS 2026 Person of the Year honoree /u/news/2026/08/17/amanda-gibson-21-named-prnews-2026-person-of-the-year-honoree/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:30:37 +0000 /u/news/?p=1053314 , director of public relations and business development at Hannah Cranston Media (HCM), has been named a , earning recognition in the publication鈥檚 Ones to Watch category.

Amanda Gibson 鈥21, director of public relations and business development at Hannah Cranston Media and a 2026 PRNEWS Person of the Year honoree.
PRNEWS recognized Amanda Gibson 鈥21 among the public relations industry鈥檚 rising professionals.

The annual recognition honors emerging public relations professionals making their mark on the industry in the early stages of their careers. For Gibson, the recognition gave her a chance to appreciate how much she and HCM have grown in a relatively short time.

鈥淧RNEWS is one of the most respected platforms in the industry, so it鈥檚 an honor to be recognized,鈥 Gibson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent the past few years watching Hannah Cranston Media grow from a team of three to a team of more than 20, and most days I鈥檓 too deep in pitching and problem-solving to stop and think about how far we鈥檝e come.鈥

While Gibson has built her career in public relations, many of the skills that guide her work today were developed through her experiences as a journalism major at 乱伦视频.

The Honors Fellow was heavily involved with 乱伦视频 News Network as an anchor and multimedia journalist, while also participating other immersive experiences like FreshTV. Those opportunities helped establish a foundation in storytelling that she continues to draw upon while working on the public relations side of the media industry.

鈥溌衣资悠 gave me a passion for storytelling and a tenacious curiosity, both essential to my career,鈥 Gibson said. 鈥淲orking as a reporter and anchor with ENN taught me what it takes to build a good story, and what makes people actually connect with one 鈥撀爐he human element has to come first.鈥

That journalism background, Gibson said, has proved especially valuable as she develops stories and works directly with reporters.

A screenshot of the PRNews website.
Gibson was one of eight individuals recognized in the Ones to Watch category.

鈥淚t鈥檚 shaped how I think about what a good story looks like and made me a better resource to the journalists I work with today,鈥 she said.

Following graduation, Gibson spent three years with Jennifer Bett Communications before joining HCM in early 2024 as senior manager of public relations. She was promoted to director of public relations and business development six months later.

In her current position, Gibson oversees the agency鈥檚 consumer packaged goods, women鈥檚 health and wellness client roster, with responsibilities spanning client strategy and media relations. Her work can range from developing pitch strategies with colleagues to staffing events with reporters and cultivating media relationships. 鈥淢y job changes shape depending on the week 鈥 which is one of the best parts,鈥 she said.

Gibson credits much of her professional growth to learning the importance of surrounding herself with people committed to their work and to one another.

鈥淏et on people over playbooks. In an industry built on relationships, we can teach anyone to write a pitch or find the right story 鈥 but working alongside people who are passionately determined and hungry to see their teams succeed is an irreplaceable, unteachable quality.鈥

鈥 Amanda Gibson 鈥21

Gibson also points to retired 乱伦视频 faculty members Rich Landesberg and Glenn Scott as influential mentors. She credits Landesberg with instilling a respect for journalism鈥檚 ability to serve communities, an outlook that has influenced the brands and people she chooses to work with. Her research with Scott examining how stories are told around major events also continues to inform her approach to identifying stories and perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.

Those lessons, along with the relationships she developed during her undergraduate years, remain important to Gibson five years after graduating.

鈥淏eyond the classroom, the friendships and mentors I found at 乱伦视频 continue to be a bedrock of both my life and my career,鈥 Gibson said, 鈥淚鈥檓 endlessly grateful for my time Under the Oaks.鈥

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乱伦视频 to D.C.: Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥23 and Sophie Rosenthal 鈥24 find their footing in the nation鈥檚 capital /u/news/2026/08/11/elon-to-d-c-nyah-phengsitthy-23-and-sophie-rosenthal-24-find-their-footing-in-the-nations-capital/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:16:22 +0000 /u/news/?p=1052708 Before they were reporting news in Washington, D.C., and were breaking stories on 乱伦视频’s campus. Today, the two 乱伦视频 alumni are building journalism careers in the nation鈥檚 capital, where they credit and the university’s hands-on opportunities with preparing them for the demands of the profession.

Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥23 and Sophie Rosenthal 鈥24 pose together for a photo.
Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥23 (left), a health reporter with Bloomberg Law, and Sophie Rosenthal 鈥24, a digital editor at WUSA-TV, have built careers in journalism following their time at 乱伦视频.

As digital editor at WUSA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., Rosenthal handles a wide range of responsibilities, from writing for the station鈥檚 website and producing social media content to gathering sources and reporting in the field. The journalism major said she fell in love with news reporting when she was in high school, which led her to apply to 乱伦视频.

鈥淚 joined my high school newspaper club in ninth grade, and it was the 2016 election season,鈥 Rosenthal recalled. 鈥淭here was a ton of news, and I got the 鈥榥ews bug,鈥 and I’ve been doing it ever since.鈥

At 乱伦视频, Rosenthal found opportunities through student media to develop her reporting skills outside the classroom.

鈥淚 feel like the hands-on experience that I got working with my peers and friends, and actually going out and doing reporting, and putting together a paper every week showed me more of the skills that I use on a day-to-day,鈥 Rosenthal said.

She also credits The Pendulum鈥檚 critique sessions with teaching her how to receive feedback and use it to improve her work.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to qualify a mistake or qualify a reason why you did this or that,鈥 Rosenthal said. 鈥淲hat I learned so much from critique was how to take feedback and move forward and use that in the next piece. Now I鈥檓 somebody who asks for feedback all the time because, I think, in part, because of those critiques.鈥

Those lessons have followed Rosenthal into her professional career. Earlier this year, she spent three weeks covering a murder trial in Fairfax, Virginia, an assignment she described as a significant learning experience.

Sophie Rosenthal stands outdoors in Washington, D.C., with the Washington Monument visible in the background.
Rosenthal works as a digital editor at WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C., contributing to the station鈥檚 digital coverage while also reporting in the field.

鈥淢y station sent me to a murder trial in January, and I spent three weeks covering a very high-profile case every day in court, and that has been a huge learning and teaching moment for me,鈥 Rosenthal said. 鈥淚 feel like I learned so much from covering this trial, especially as somebody who has covered many court hearings and smaller things.鈥

For current 乱伦视频 students interested in journalism, Rosenthal recommends getting involved in student media early and pursuing the subjects that interest them.

鈥淢y biggest advice is to be involved in student journalism,鈥 she said. 鈥淛ust start doing stories and meeting people and doing things that are out of your comfort zone. When I was at 乱伦视频, I was interested in courts. I would go to the courthouse in Graham to pick up court documents for stories, and go to the police station, and pick up crime numbers, and things like that. If there’s something that you’re interested in, just start doing it.鈥

Like Rosenthal, Phengsitthy discovered her love of writing through her high school newspaper, where she served as editor-in-chief. She brought that interest to 乱伦视频, double majoring in Communication Design (now Visual Communication) and Media Analytics while becoming heavily involved with 乱伦视频 News Network.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a writer,鈥 Phengsitthy said. 鈥淚 know that people don鈥檛 really like talking about high school when they talk about their experience, but high school is when I really started.鈥

Phengsitthy served as design chief of The Pendulum during her sophomore year and managing editor as a junior. She credits those experiences with providing the foundation for her professional journalism career.

Everything I did in 乱伦视频 News Network is what set me up for my journalism experience today. I joke with my friends that ENN was like my third degree in college because I got so much done and learned so much there. From just writing every single day, that’s what helped me get better.

鈥 Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥23

While at 乱伦视频, Phengsitthy interned with Bloomberg Law on its environment desk. Following graduation, she returned to the organization through a rotational program and now works as a health reporter. In that role, she has covered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug pricing and other complex issues affecting the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

Her work at Bloomberg Law requires reporting on complex subjects, but Phengsitthy said young journalists shouldn鈥檛 feel pressure to become experts on every topic they cover. Instead, they should focus on developing the skills necessary to find knowledgeable sources, understand complicated information and explain it clearly to readers.

鈥淏e an expert in being a reporter and writing and learning how to break down information for your readers,鈥 Phengsitthy said.

Phengsitthy also encourages 乱伦视频 students to complement their campus journalism experience with internships that allow them to apply their skills in professional settings.

鈥淵ou can have all the skills, and you can have all the clips that you have from ENN, but it鈥檚 more powerful if you go and get to apply them somewhere else,” she said, noting the value of internships. “The more experience you have, the better.

鈥淭he job market is really hard right now, but I feel like if you鈥檙e able to show that you can get your foot in the door somewhere, that鈥檚 good.鈥

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