Communication

2 minutes with: TEDxCU

Ellie Chase — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:37:10 +0000

2 minutes with: TEDxCU Ellie Chase Mon, 04/27/2026 - 22:37

Ellie Chase

Learn more about TEDxCU, one of the oldest and largest university organized TEDx events in the country

Kalen Sieja, a co-curator of the 2026 TEDxCU event, speaks at the reception following the main event, On the Contrary. Sieja, who is graduating this year with a double major in political science and ecology and evolutionary biology, used his time in the spotlight to thank TEDxCU and toast to another successful year. Photo by Hannah Howell.

TEDxCU, which focuses on featuring independently licensed TED Talks, is among the oldest and largest university-organized events of its kind in the country. The student-led TEDxCU team hosts events in which talks are filmed in front of a live audience in Macky Auditorium. Students select six to nine speakers per year and work together to finance and plan the event, and coach the speakers. We’re here with Kalen Sieja, the TEDxCU co-curator, to discuss the ins and outs of the program.

Responses edited for length and clarity.

Tell me about TEDxCU.

The purpose of TED is to showcase ideas that aren’t always highlighted in dominant narratives. I think that the purpose of college and the mission of TED are the same—to get exposure to ideas worth spreading.

How do you choose speakers?

We usually get about a hundred applications from potential speakers. We select about half of our speakers from that pool. One of our speakers is always the winner of our Student Voices Speaking competition, hosted in the fall. For the remaining speakers, we reach out to folks in the community or familiar faces from TV that we think are doing cool things.

Student speaker Leo Heuring delivers his talk in Macky Auditorium in early April. Heuring is studying creative technology and design, and was accompanied by his robotic dog, Corndog, for his speech. In his talk, Heuring explored the meaning humans convey to their robots and the positive outcomes of these meaningful connections. Photo by Jack Moody.

What have been some of your favorite speakers or topics?

It’s so hard to choose! Last year I coached Felony Misdemeanor, a drag queen, who talked about the history of drag and her drag household in Denver. It was so cool to get to know her through that process. We also had the world record holder in Olympic speed climbing do a talk with his coach, which was also really cool.

Best reason to join?

It is by far, the best opportunity for professional growth and development that I have had access to in college. We have a team of 60 people and a budget of more than $50,000, so you are essentially participating in a small production company—you learn skills that you can’t learn in a classroom. It is also the No. 1 thing employers will ask about on your resume.

So, help me understand: If I were to join, what work would I be doing?

We work pretty much year round to put on the event. Our members are split into 12 teams, all working on different aspects of the organization—from finance to community outreach. That’s one of the coolest things about TEDxCU—whatever major you are, we have a job tailored for your skill set.

That's amazing that so many majors are valued at TEDxCU. What CMDI-specific skills does the club help students to develop?

There’s a lot of marketing, PR and engagement. Endless communication with organizations in the community, trying to get them to participate, promote our program or even sponsor us financially. We also love folks who are good at public speaking, or want to grow their public speaking skills.

Tell me the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened during a show.

Two years ago we had some videos embedded in our slide deck. The video worked on rehearsal day, the video worked day of—and as soon as the event started, the lights dimmed and the video would not play! That was a disaster—it was video problem after video problem at that event.

If you could pick one person to speak at CU—dead or alive—who would it be?

I’m a political science nerd, so I would love to get a really iconic Supreme Court justice. Like, Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Ketanji Brown Jackson. I’d love to hear RBG talk about being a woman on the Supreme Court in a pioneering time, and her experiences and outlook on cases.

Interested in joining TEDxCU? For more information check out tedxcu.com, and follow @tedxcu on Instagram for event updates and more.

Ellie Chase is studying journalism at CMDI, with a minor in business. She covers students and student news at the college.

TEDxCU Co-curator Kalen Sieja discusses how students bring "ideas worth spreading" to life through TEDx talks.

Off

Traditional

White

Trust the process

Joe Arney — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:02:14 +0000

Trust the process Joe Arney Fri, 04/24/2026 - 11:02

Joe Arney

Henry Ugwu was managing communications for the Nigerian government’s pandemic response when he realized he needed more experience. That led him to CMDI and its PhD in communication. Photo by Kimberly Coffin.

It was while managing the Nigerian government’s pandemic-related communication campaign that Henry Ugwu realized he needed more experience.

“I was all of 25 years old, running meetings with ministers and governors, and trying to guide them on what to do,” said Ugwu, who was the technical communications lead on the project. “That’s when I realized I had to up my game.”

To be fair, Ugwu’s game was already highly leveled when he arrived at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. Most notably, he was a senior communications specialist with Credo Advisory—with offices in Nigeria and Washington, D.C.—where he worked on clients such as World Bank and the US Agency for International Development; he also was a youth fellow at the International Monetary Fund.

But coming to the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information for his PhD in communication gave him a theoretical grounding that he said has dovetailed nicely with the practical skills he developed in his professional career. It was still an adjustment for Ugwu to find himself in a classroom, though.

“The industry is all about immediate results—you run a campaign, you see the data in real time, you see the impact of the work you’re doing and behaviors you’re helping to change,” he said. “Now, I apply theories to explain the phenomena of what happens in the field.

“My first semester was a bit of a learning curve, with a lot of reading to do. But I love the academic research side of things, where I explore varying topics, make a hypothesis, test it and try to publish it.”

An early advisor connection

Ugwu credited his advisor, Jolene Fisher, with helping his maturation as a student and researcher. In fact, he already knew of Fisher—an expert in strategic communication for development work and social change—from his career.

“My first introduction to Jolene was through her incredible work, and when I reached out to her to learn more, she could not have been more encouraging and personable,” he said. “I came here with all these broad ideas, and Jolene really helped me narrow things down. She has been extremely instrumental in my success as a researcher.”

Jolene Fisher

Fisher still remembers the Zoom call she took with Ugwu as he was exploring doctoral programs.

“I couldn’t believe, after doing so much research in international development and communication, that I might finally have a student who was just as into this work,” she said.

Ugwu’s work is tailor-made for the crisis development organizations are navigating. His broad interests encompass public relations, health communications and development communications; his dissertation explores issues of trust that multilateral development organizations like USAID and the United Nations are facing at a time of cutbacks and intense scrutiny of their work.

“The legitimacy of organizations like the World Bank and the UN is coming from critics who say that, since they’ve been established, they haven’t met their missions of driving development and eradicating poverty,” Ugwu said, noting the significant positive impact such organizations have had in addressing the world’s most complex issues. “But it’s important to examine the impact and relevance of these organizations from the perspective of communications professionals who are managing this emerging crisis.”

One thing he’s interested in, for instance, is localization—involving stakeholders in a solution, rather than prescribing answers from faraway places.

“It’s listening to what the needs are and having people at the grassroots lead in identifying and working toward solutions,” Ugwu said. “This kind of work is important to anyone working on communications in global health or in international development.”

There is extensive scholarly work on development communication, but Fisher said Ugwu’s work represents a novel approach in thinking about how these kinds of relationships are created and managed through the lens of public relations.

As seismic shifts test those partnerships and strain resources, “it’s more important than ever to understand how we think about who holds the power to make decisions about development projects,” she said. “And his fieldwork really helps him see these challenges and bring them to life for the students in his classes, who may not appreciate the different places their strategic communication education can take them.”

Combining work experience, research insights

The chance to bring the observations from his life and work in Nigeria to the field was a key reason Ugwu was excited about doing a PhD.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to contribute to revisiting, and maybe improving, some existing theories—or potentially developing a new one,” he said.

Henry Ugwu’s work in the field ‘really helps him see these challenges and bring them to life for the students in his classes,’ says his advisor, Jolene Fisher. Photo by Kimberly Coffin.

Ugwu hopes to research and teach in academia—he recently won a Graduate Part-Time Instructors Teaching Excellence award from the Graduate School and a research and academic achievement award from CMDI—but plans to keep active in industry so that he’s able to bring trends and insights to his students. He shared the story of fueling up his car during the worst of COVID and overhearing a conversation where a woman claimed the disease wasn’t real, in spite of all Ugwu and his team were doing to change behavior and ensure positive health outcomes for residents.

“That was hard to hear—despite being aware of such skeptics from our polling data—but it forced us to change our approach, which had been really high-level communications,” he said. “We realized we needed more grassroots engagement to complement what we were doing on radio, television and social media.

“Conducting research that helps people better understand the scale of the problem was fulfilling. And that’s something I want to be able to offer to students—because there are some lessons that you can really only learn from being out there and doing the work.”

Joe Arney covers research and general news for the college.

The transition from industry to PhD work was an adjustment for Henry Ugwu when he arrived at CMDI. Learning new perspectives helped him create novel research on trust.

Off

Traditional

White

Giving flowers: Introducing CMDI’s outstanding spring graduate

Joe Arney — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:46:49 +0000

Giving flowers: Introducing CMDI’s outstanding spring graduate Joe Arney Mon, 04/20/2026 - 15:46

Hannah Stewart

Until she took a class in human resources as a high school student, Lauren Lopez was pretty sure she was going to become either a florist or a welder.

‘CMDI makes it really easy to choose your own path, which I really love,’ says Lauren Lopez, who graduates this spring with both the William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award and as the outstanding senior in the communication major. Photo by Kimberly Coffin.

By the time she completed that class—offered through a partnership between her high school and Austin Community College, in Texas—she knew she wanted to make a living in HR.

She’s now one step closer to that dream as she graduates from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Communication, Media, Design and Information with a degree in communication, and as the college’s top student.

“CMDI makes it really easy to choose your own path, which I really love,” she said. “I've always been able to do the classes I want to do, and I think that's really built my experience here.”

Each year, the CMDI student with the highest GPA receives the William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award. On top of that, Lopez graduates as the outstanding senior in the communication department, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college.

Rarely is a graduate recognized at both levels, but it’s hardly surprising, considering how engaged Lopez has been. On top of graduating early, she will walk with two minors—in sociology and leadership studies—completed an honors thesis and held four on-campus jobs, including one as a CMDI ambassador.

Christi Wade, who supervises ambassadors as the college’s student recruitment program manager, said Lopez made an incredible impression right from her initial interview.

“She brings a positive attitude and smile to every interaction with prospective students, and will be greatly missed on our team,” Wade said.

Leaving a legacy

Lopez said she loves her roles as an ambassador and as a peer mentor with the Office of Precollege Outreach and Engagement. Both programs, she said, offer the opportunity to make an impact by leaving a legacy for future students while extending her community. Thanks to her communication and leadership classes, she feels prepared to serve and guide her peers, whether by providing coaching on a resume or advising prospective students on choosing a major.

Her biggest piece of advice is to do the best you can. Lopez said it’s easy to feel burned out, especially when juggling a lot of classes and other responsibilities, but staying curious and putting in the effort pays off. It’s how her honors thesis came together.

“I’ve heard a lot of things in college about intimate partner sexual assault, and I think it’s really important to talk about,” she said. “And then I read Everybody Lies, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. He basically says people lie on surveys. I thought, ‘That's amazing, I want to do exactly that, but with this topic.’”

So Lopez turned to Reddit—where she assumed people would be more candid, since the platform is largely anonymous—ultimately analyzing 300 posts and identifying themes. She presented her findings to her thesis committee, which recommended she receive summa cum laude honors.

“We were all impressed with her study,” said Joëlle Cruz, an associate professor of communication and Lopez’s thesis advisor. “Between the amount of the data and type of data, Lauren’s thesis had a level of sophistication I've rarely seen for an undergraduate student. She is so hardworking and it was a pleasure to work with her on it.”

Lopez said she loved the thesis experience—and all of her time at college—and though she’s certain she’ll miss the learning environment CMDI cultivates, she’s excited for what’s next. In her case, it’s a role with the HR team at local marketing firm Boulder Heavy Industries.

“Graduating college is such a privilege—I’m so grateful, and I hope I’ve made my family proud,” she said. “CU has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I love the university and the city, and I’m excited to stay in Boulder after graduation and keep cheering on my fellow Buffs as an alum.”

Hannah Stewart graduated from CMDI in 2019 with a degree in communication. She covers student news for the college.

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Lauren Lopez is graduating a year early after holding four on-campus jobs and completing an honors thesis, in addition to her academic accolades.

Off

Traditional

White

Heated Rivalry is melting the ice—and tropes around sexuality and sports

Joe Arney — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:33:14 +0000

Heated Rivalry is melting the ice—and tropes around sexuality and sports Joe Arney Thu, 02/05/2026 - 12:33

Iris Serrano

A CMDI professor praised Heated Rivalry for its willingness to defy the tropes associated with gay male characters, especially in a professional sports setting. Photo courtesy HBO.

Weeks after the release of its season finale, audiences are still going wild for Heated Rivalry. And while fans have been closely tracking the on-screen romance between the two leads—professional hockey players on opposing teams—Jamie Skerski is watching that relationship from a more critical perspective.

Skerski, who studies how narratives are shaped and mediated by institutions, audiences and cultural norms, said the show’s popularity points to “the complete lack of nuanced gay representation” in mass media.

“The show defies the stereotypical ‘gay man as feminine sidekick’ trope, and depicts masculinity as simultaneously strong/athletic and vulnerable,” said Skerski, teaching professor of communication at the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information.

While queer representation is more visible in the media than ever, Skerski said the show’s popularity points to what’s missing in that changing conversation. Of particular note, she said, is its setting against the hypermasculine culture of professional sports.

“The series destroys the logic of the hegemonic masculinity that says a real man is masculine, strong and heterosexual,” she said. “Here, we have strong, successful men who are clearly masculine despite their sexuality.”

A hot storyline ahead of Olympics

Jamie Skerski, right, says her students understand that representation in mass media is important—but so is the quality of what’s portrayed. Photo by Kimberly Coffin.

The story focuses on two professional hockey players on opposing teams whose relationship appears like a rivalry to fans, but is much more intimate behind closed doors. The show has generated fan edits on social media, its stars were chosen to be torch bearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics and NHL teams are selling merchandise featuring the characters.

While Heated Rivalry is upending traditional portrayals of masculinity, the show is doing so against one of the last places where homophobia is seen as acceptable—in the locker rooms and on the fields. Despite there being many women in major sports who have come out, the audience finds it intriguing to see a different narrative.

“Representation that falls into tired tropes and stereotypes doesn’t do anything to challenge the underlying value systems that benefit from the perpetuation of those stereotypes.”

Jamie Skerski, teaching professor, communication

Something Skerski especially appreciated about the series is how it portrayed coming out as a complex process, instead of a linear one. Over the course of the show, both male leads struggle to come out over fears of ruining their careers and public images. Still, they are visibly tired of keeping up the facade.

“The nuance and thoughtfulness of that story arc are quite impressive,” she said. “The characters are in a constant state of managing identity, relationships and disclosure. The series portrays that tension with care and tenderness.”

The conversations about the show have even been had in the classroom, where students are thinking about thoughtful storytelling in the media.

The story, and popularity, of Heated Rivalry have come up in the conversations Skerski leads in her Communication, Culture and Sport class, which challenges students to think critically about the communicative, historical and cultural aspects of sports society, including the intersections of power, gender and sexuality, race, and class.

“Students generally understand that representation matters—but this is a good lesson on the quality of that representation,” Skerski said. “Representation that falls into tired tropes and stereotypes doesn’t do anything to challenge the underlying value systems that benefit from the perpetuation of those stereotypes.”

Iris Serrano is studying strategic communication and journalism at CMDI. She covers student news and events for the college.

The hit HBO show has captivated audiences by challenging traditional tropes often seen in mass media.

Off

Traditional

White

Announcing the fall 2025 dean's list

Ellie Chase — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:57:57 +0000

Announcing the fall 2025 dean's list Ellie Chase Wed, 01/28/2026 - 15:57

More than 800 CMDI students were named to the dean's list for the fall semester. To qualify, students must complete at least 12 credit hours of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� coursework for a letter grade and achieve a term grade point average of 3.75 or better. Each receives a notation on their transcripts and a letter from the dean. Congratulations to all honorees!

Alejandro Abarca
Matt Abatangle
Saroon Abayenh
Marlo Abrahamson
Shea Ackman
Emilio Adams
Phillip Adams
Tassilo Adams
Quinn Ahrens
Lucy Alagna
Maria Alali
Rosie Aldridge
Caitlin Alexander
Kenzi Alipit
Sophie Allaway
Anthony Allen
Trinity Alvord
Saleh Alzamil
Alexandra Anaya
Bridgette Anderson
Molly Anderson
Lila Angelopoulos
Sierra Anguiano
Jaxon Archer
Mia Archuleta
Jazmin Armijo
Remy Arnold
Sydney Arnold
Natasha Arzt
Kaylee Austin
Niles Ayer
Ben Babson
Roxanne Bachana
Alexia Bailey
Owen Balboa
Austin Balconi
Tyler Bales
Cadyn Banerian
Jose Banuelos
Katie Barcroft
Evan Bardinelli
Caleigh Barletta
Julia Barlow
Thomas Barrett
Marina Barretto
Tomas Barrientos
Maddy Barth
Owen Barton
Kate Bashore
Mekdes Bass
Ellena Bassoukos
Leah Baumann
Klaire Bautz
Katie Baxter
Juliana Beans
Lily Becker
Savy Behr
Johnna Belveal
Jane Bengston
Tess Betman
Eliot Bevier Dill
Charlie Bickham
Jack Bigelow
Ezra Billig
Teagan Bischoff
Korinne Bishop
Katie Bixler
Mary Black
Miley Black
Kenna Blank
Sam Blatt
Miranda Bleau
Riley Blomstrand
Sophia Bobier
Sophia Bolich
Piper Bolin
Anvitha Bompalli
Matthew Boothroyd
Carmen Boyle
Reed Bracero
Anna Bradburn
Norah Brady
Kate Branscomb
Antonio Bravo
Elizabeth Brechtel
Olivia Brehm
Keeley Brei
Hannah Brennan
Adeline Briggs
Erin Brinkman
Jack Bronchetti
Elly Brooks
Mia Brosterhous
Samantha Brouhard
Addison Brower
Olivia Brown
Chase Browne
Lili Brownell
Callie Browning
Emma Browning
Eva Bruce
Tessa Buchanan
Tyler Buchanan
Ashley Budy
James Bui
Morgan Burcar
Alena Burris
Parker Burt
Tyler Byrne
America Cabral
Luke Cadenaro
Carli Camens
Claire Cameron
Evan Caplan
Rhiannon Cargo
Jessie Carlin
Gemma Carlson
Gabriella Carnevale
Laila Casanueva
Meredith Case
Madison Cashin
Kathryn Castanoli
Mia Castro
Dominic Celaschi
Zachary Chagnon
Isabella Chan
Emily Chang
Madelyn Chang
Connor Chase
Ellie Chase
Hayden Chedid
Cameron Cheney
Avery Childs
Kate Cho
Anika Chowdhury
Megan Chung
Coco Ciardelli
Malaya Cimino
Abi Clayton
Kay Clifford
Annalia Clifton
Avery Clifton
Emme Clymer
Morgan Coffin
Ava Coffman
MacKenzie Cole
MacKenzie Cole
Jaci Collins-Falcon
Joanna Conforti
Andrew Conley
Sarah Connor
Breah Conradson
Sophie Coombs
Zenden Copeland
Avery Corliss
Susie Cormack
Gilberto Corral
Amelie Couret
Sarah Cowell
Findlay Coykendall
Marissa Crenshaw
Elizabeth Cropper
Maddie Crosier
Chloe Cross
Heidi Crowther
Eryn Cryer
Kaylie Cunningham
Gracyn Custin
Cody Cutone
Liz Cutting
Avery Czachor
Teresa Da Silva
Clara Dailey
Abby Dalrymple
Abikael Daniel
Maya Dank
Olivia Darby
John Davis
Katherine Davis
Mason Davis
Turner Davis
Billy Dayton
Ramon De Arcos Tapia
Brandon De Pena
Olivia DeGregorio
Bella Demartin
Maddy Demmert
Luca Denicola
Rune Denolf
Helena Desoto
Charles Deutser
Leo Dienstfrey
William Dinh
Quinn Dobbs
Sydney Dobriner
Connie Dolati
Lexi Dolsak
Luke Donis
Eric Donjuan
Hunter Donovan
Brodie Dorko
Emily Doskow
Sydney Dossa
Daniel Doupe
Averie Dow
Brady Dowd
Lucas Drager
Irene Drapszo
Baylee Drevno
Kayla Drumke
Emma Dudley
Wyatt Duesenberg
Rowan Dulfer

Carolyn Dunlap
Nicollette Dunn
Etienne Dunoyer
Emily Duvall
Abby Dwyer
Ryan Dye
Ryann Dyk
Esperanza Edwards-Satragni
Avery Ehrig
Riley Eisenstein
Molly Elert
Ryan Elliott
Jenny Ellis
Kaoutar Elouadi
Libby Emery
Ava Esposito
Lucy Esquivel
Felix Estes
Angel Estrada Zarco
Quinn Etheridge
Morgan Evans
Emma Evars
Sienna Fahey
Maddy Farmer
Nolan Farrar
Liam Fehlau-Barton
Aysla Fenner
Peyton Fenner
Anika Fergis
Clare Finnigan
Carolyn Fish
Elena Fisher
Maddie Fisher
Marli Fisher
Tate Fitzgibbons
Emma Flanagan
Aiden Fliszar
William Flockton
Soleil Floyd
Delaney Flynn
Joe Fogler
Callie Forrest
Ellie Foster
Rhen Fowler
Tatum France-Kelly
Natalie Free
Ellis French
Jayne Frey
Rylee Frey
Isabelle Friedrich
Adelene Frymoyer
Colette Gagliano
Kaija Galins
Cassidy Gallagher
Jacalyn Gamble
Lydia Gammon
Gaby Garcia Armendariz
Katelyn Gardner
Abigail Garza
Caitlyn Garza
Zoey Gassner
Samson Gear
Nick Gehring
Carly Gelfand
Piper George
Alex Gertzen
Olivia Gewanter
Hannah Giacomin
Orion Gibbs
Ink Gibson
Caroline Gilchrist
Lauren Gillespie
Danny Gillis
Gigi Gittelman
Graham Givan
Anna Gledhill
Jessie Gleitsman
Arlie Goldman
Susannah Goldsmith
Deborah Gomez
Karlyn Gonsalves
Max Goodman
Salem Goodman
Bella Goodson
Drew Gorman
Avery Goss
Chloe Graham
Kylie Graham
Nora Graham
Ariana Grant
Sophia Graup
Rachel Greenberg
Logyn Greer
Willow Gretsch
Erica Griffiths
Tristan Grosam
Caitlin Grossman
Vivan Guida
Grayson Guinan
Griffin Gurewicz
Owen Guzik
Aric Gyekis
Anthony Haberkorn
Trey Haggarty
Paxton Haines
Hanna Hale
Sabina Hall
Alsa Halquist
Norah Hampford
Nate Hankins
Audrey Hansen
Ella Harris
lanier Harvey
Tyler Harvey
Nick Haseman
Josie Hayes
Keeley Haynes
Brooke Haynie
Skyler Haynie
Madison Hays
Lorraine Healy
Will Henrickson
Vanessa Hernandez
Jane Hershberger
Carter Hessen
Kainoa Hiatt
Tyler Hibri
Bella Hill
Cassidy Hill
Hannah Hillen
Hannah Hoffman
Jason Hoffman
Cruz Hoitsma
Ella Holden
Dylan Hommes
Max Hostetter
Taylar Houck
Mira Hougen
Donavon Houston
Owen Houtakker
Brooklyn Howard
Taylor Hoyt
Oleksa Hryciw
Haley Hubbard Godfrey
Kendra Hudgins
Livia Hughes
Ronan Huizar
Ellie Hultgren
Wyatt Humble
Camille Hunt
Susanna Imhof
Maxine Inman
Samantha Isaacson
Jules Isenberg
Grace Jackman
Grant Jackson
Paige Jaeger
Monroe Jasper
Alana Jenks
Grace Jenks
Alexis Jennings
Annika Jobanputra
Mia Jochamowitz-Endersby Chikhani
Addison Johnson
Tanner Johnson
Liv Johnstad
Neda Jonaitis
Gianna Jordon
Max Julian
Danielle Jung
Emma Kaiser
Nina Kanavati
Chase Kanger
Faith Kaplan
Kush Karamcheti
Lola Karimi
Bailey Karraker
Brooklyn Karraker
Skye Karsh
Ty Keeley
Nicole Keffer
Thomas Keller
Audrey Kelley
Henry Kelty
Charlotte Kendall
Rachel Kennedy
Riley Kenny
John Kerklo
Grayson Kern
Riley Kerstiens
Josh Kesner
Amy Kibort
Madeleine Kiel
Hannah Kijner
Kenzie Kimball
Myra Kirk
Marin Kirkman
Avery Kissinger
Ian Kligora
Ally Klinefeldt
Leia Kliska
Jackson Knapp
Maggie Kocher
Alexa Kofman
Cameron Kolinchak
Jon Kolvereid
Colton Kominski
Alden Koskoff
Kristin Kraml
Riley Krane
Quinn Kreck
Ella Krelovich
Katie Krochalis
Carey Kronhart

Viktoriya Kukarekina
Justin Kulas
Brayden Kurzawa
Emily Kwon
Amy Labontu
Bentley Labrecque
Genevieve Lacey
Devin Lafave
Ella LaMura
Kadence Landis
Skyler Landry
Dalton Lanham
Delaney Lantz
Ben LaPlante
Leighton Larsen
Blake Larson
Maddie Lasker
London Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence
Alex Lazarou
Kaija Lazda
Camille Leach
Lauren Leclair
Lou Leclercq
Alice Lee
Skyler Lee
Chloe Legere
Asher Leish
Aubrey Leneweaver
Brian Leuthold
Charlotte Levine
Kara Liguori
Jasmin Lin
Ahnnali Lindgren
Isabelle Lingo
Joe Lingold
Mia Lioudis
Alexander Lipka
Margaret Lipscomb
Lucy Lloyd
Aramis Loma-Guzman
Luke Lommatzsch
Leif Lomo
Skyler Longerbone
Lauren Lopez
Deborah Loseke
Katelyn Love
Lexi Lower
Stella Lowery
Janie Ludington
Julia Luther
Bailey Luts
Maille Lyon
Claire Macaluso
Molly Machoskie
Julia Maclean
Natalie Madeira
Maxwell Majors
Carly Malamut
Julianna Maldonado
Devon Malling
Mel Malloy
Patrick Mancuso
Lily Maniotes
Emelia Mantz
Alexis Manzo
Nicholas Marcin
Kea Margolis
Annaliese Markel
Isabella Marquez
Sedona Marshall
Taylor Martin
Mia Martinez
Maggie Marusin
Eloise Masciola
Carolyn Mason
Keely Matthews
Alden Mazur
Grace Mcanany
Finn Mccarthy
Evan Mccormick
Elizabeth Mccoy
Wyatt McCune
John Mcdermott
Teague Mcdonald
Maeve Mcerlane
Andrew Mcfadden
Lucia Mcgetrick-Dima
Fiona Mcginnis
Delaney Mckernan
Abbey McMahon
Margaret McQueen
Ava Melen
Alex Melvin
Jenna Mendelssohn
Claire Mercer
Ava Merias
Olivia Meyers
Allison Miller
Channing Miller
Creed Miller
Ellen Miller
Hailey Miller
Maggie Miller
Morgan Miller
Ashley Mohrbach
Camryn Montgomery
Gigi Montgomery
Justice Montoya
Bronte Moore
Emily Moore
Felipe Moore
Jenna Morley
Chaney Morris
Maya Morse
Scout Mortenson
Nathan Mosley
Madison Moss
Trevor Mueller
Ally Murphy
Reese Murphy
Rue Murray
Mason Mutz
Becca Myers
Emma Myers
Aahana Nandy
Caitlin Neil
Remi Netupsky
Natalie Newmann
Taylor Nickerson
Matthew Nielsen
Maximillian Noble
Charlotte Norton
Anna Novak
Lila Nuttle
Remy O'Connell
Nora O'connor
Olivia O'Haver
Addie O'Neil
Brinley O'neill
Ashlyn Oklesh
Taylor Oldenburg
Annabelle Olson
Sofia Olsson
Alexandra Organa
Annika Ort
Maddie Osterkamp
Max Osterman
Alina Ouligian
Emmett Owenby
Josie Pachla
Phoebe Paletta
Aly Pardo
Katy Parks
Macie Parsons
Lauren Paschke
Liliane Patrick
Kaya Patterson
Audrey Patton
Izzy Pell
Caroline Pellerito
Ava Pelster
Lily Pemberton
Mia Pendergast
Paige Pennell
Annie Peragine
Jaclyn Pereira
Kennedy Perez
Brisa Perkins
Emma Perlmutter
Eliza Perry
Isabelle Perry
Quetzal Peterson
Patrick Pethybridge
Ellie Phillips
Bell Piccirillo
Norah Pietras
Mackenzie Pinksa
Macy Place
Alison Plagge
Nico Plaisted
Skye Platto
Liliana Poast Soler
Lilly Polak
Katharine Polep-Sawyer
Ella Policastri
Ashley Pomeroy
Lyla Ponce
Norah Pope
Elle Pottinger
Dax Prata
Bradley Pratt
Addisson Pribble
Elle Price
Giana Pritchard
Taylor Pulley
Sutton Raeburn
Jacob Rainsberger
Samantha Ramirez
Olivia Randazzo
Maya Raulf
Nick Rauscher
Huston Rawls
Madelyn Ray
Rachel Ray
Cameron Reed
Hailey Reed
Jenna Reed
Molly Reed
Katrina Reghitto
Anna Rehak
Jack Remington
Jake Reuss
Katie Reuter

Ella Revivo
Peyton Rhodes
Katie Ridgway
Jackie Rivera
Eliza Roberts
Caniya Robinson
Ella Robinson
Michael Robinson
Abby Robison
Gabrielle Rodriguez
Cole Rogers
Laura Rogers
Salome Rojas
Lauren Romero
Diana Romero Bermudez
Brynna Roscoe
Jenna Rose
Sophia Rose
Sierra Rosen
Alison Rosenbaum
Eli Rosenthal
Sierra Rossman
Piper Roth
Taylor Roth
Ava Rotman
Giova Rubenstein
Sophie Rubinstein
Reagan Russell
Sam Russo
Brenna Rutherford
Emme Rutherford
Catherine Rutman
Jessica Ryanczak
Brooklyn Sadler
Sosan Safi
Rylee Sahl
Joaquin Salinas
Yahir Sanchez Diaz
Lydia Sarbacker
Ramey Sattich
Christopher Schepers
Riley Schermerhorn
Carly Schiller
Stephanie Schmitt
Addie Schneider
Emma Schneider
Jaimie Schoenke
Sydney Schrader
Teagan Schreiber
Willow Schulz
Aubrey Schwartz
Ben Schweiger
Ella Scolnick
Grace Scott
Madeline Scripp
Olivia Scussel
Grace Seaback
Veronica Seal
Ella Seevers
London Selah
Michael Seward
Krish Shah
Jack Shand
Ava Shanrock
Marissa Sharon
Danny Sheedy
Jenna Shenbaum
Daniel Sher
Cody Shoelson
Zoe Showalter-Flowers
Rainna Shrull
Aaron Siegel
Matthew Silver
Harrison Simeon
Gannett Simonton
Ella Skoloda
Mac Skudlarczyk
Cj Slattery
Moe Slintak
Marie Slotnick
Ella Smith
Matthew Smith
Ryan Smith
Jack Snyder
Eli Sobel
Edgar Soberon Munoz
Sevi Solari
Ewan Sookswat
Noel Sookswat
Madelyn Speights
Sophia Spheeris
Simon Spillane
Matthew Spivack
Samantha Spiwak
Bella Stamper
Kaeden Stander
Brady Stark
Kate Starke
Ashlin Stasswender Swasey
Trent Steffen
Alexander Stein
Zachary Steiner
Evan Stellino
Cole Stephan
Ariele Stern
Sarah Stern
Samuel Stevens
Jordyn Stewart
Braden Stirrett
Stella Stone
Anna Stout
Mary Strasser
Ava Strauss
Xander Sucich
Elizabeth Suffian
Luke Suitts
Lucy Suja
Aoife Sullivan
Clara Sullivan
Olivia Sullivan
Taylor Sutton
Dennis Swanson
Jackson Swartzendruber
Leah Szabo
Willow Tachna
Harper Tagg
Emi Takaoka
Nano Takeda
Mira Talusani
Sophia Tambascio
Jack Tannenbaum
Annie Tanner
Natalie Tapia
Raquel Tapia
Tyler Tatman
Hailey Taylor
Sarah Taylor
Skylar Taylor
Cecelia Tecu
Jordan Teicher
Josie Terry-Lloyd
Annabelle Thomas
Sage Thompson
Channing Thomson
Sol Tirado - Jensen
Brooks Tolany
Grace Toomey
Zohair Toor
Annabelle Torgove
Clio Torrance
Alexa Tovar
Hendley Tracy
Eduardo Trejo Trinidad
Carly Tremaine
Ricky Tuka
Jazzy Tung
Audrey Turley
Braden Turner
Caroline Valdes
Christian Valentino
Ann Vanderveen
Maya Vanvleet
Celia Vargas
Maddie Veasey
Sydney Venetsanopoulos
Bella Vetta
Holden Vincent
Andrew Vogt
Saanvi Vookanti
August Vrielink
Fiona Wachter
Ashtyn Waddle
Chloe Walsh
Catherine Ward
Lauren Ward
Kieran Warger
Evie Warner
Kadyn Warner
Valerie Warszawski
Ryder Watkins
Kylee Watrous
Leila Watters
Liam Watters
Jordan Watts
Greta Wattson
Taylor Weatherwax
Jenna Weil
Kennedy Weiss
Erin Wheeler
Kennah White
Ella Whittall
Abigail Williams
Jackson Williams
Ranney Willis
Piper Wills
Holly Wininger
Emma Winkelbauer
Amanda Winslow
Mia Winstead
Trent Wobschall
Zachary Woodbury
Alexandra Woodland
Lily Wright
Owen Wright
Jackie Wynne
Maggie Yalmokas
Gabrielle Yates
Savannah Yates
Nate Yearous
Hannah Young
Elsie Zerega
Emily Zhou
Matt Zimmermann

More than 800 CMDI students were named to the dean's list for the fall semester.

Off

Zebra Striped

White

All together now: 2025 at CMDI

Amanda J. McManus — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:22:15 +0000

All together now: 2025 at CMDI Amanda J. McManus Mon, 12/15/2025 - 19:22

In a year where the college’s biggest story was its name change—following its integration with the environmental design department—CMDI’s community also found itself at the center of the biggest conversations shaping our time—from sustainability and A.I., to media literacy and the future of journalism.

Off

Traditional

White

Goal oriented: Soccer standout is CMDI’s top December graduate

Joe Arney — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:19:17 +0000

Goal oriented: Soccer standout is CMDI’s top December graduate Joe Arney Fri, 12/05/2025 - 10:19

Allyson Maturey

She wasn't just a star on the pitch—Lola Stanley graduates in December at the top of her class for the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. Photo courtesy Colorado Athletics.

By the time Lola Stanley graduates this December, she’ll be carrying more than recognition as the college’s William W. White Outstanding Graduate. She’ll be carrying the lessons, relationships and personal growth that shaped her at the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information—experiences she said will guide her long after graduation.

For Stanley, a communication major and sports media minor who transferred to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� from the University of Texas at Austin, the journey to graduation has been marked by balance, focus and a commitment to showing up—both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Her college experiences have given her a better understanding of the power of setting goals and achieving them.

“Working hard to graduate with a 4.0 GPA while being a student-athlete has taught me that I am in control of the goals I want to achieve,” Stanley said. “It’s truly based on how I show up.”

The White award, presented to the graduating senior with the highest GPA in the college, is not the only honor Stanley has achieved as a student. In 2024, she was recognized with the Herbst Academic Award, which celebrates a student-athlete for her classroom accomplishments.

Graduation represents far more than a personal achievement for Stanley: “Above all, my degree represents the generosity, sacrifice and support that I have received from my parents.”

In a way, her diploma is part gratitude and part gateway. It’s the culmination of years of effort and the beginning of countless opportunities ahead.

More than just a degree

Among her most significant areas of growth, Stanley highlights one skill: communication. She didn’t just refine it at CMDI, she came to understand its transformative power. Whether with teammates, professors, coaches or peers, she found clear communication fosters trust while minimizing misunderstandings.

“I’ve learned that being direct, transparent and intentional strengthens every relationship,” she said. “Recognizing its impact across every area of my life is one of the most valuable takeaways that I will bring with me into my next chapter.”

Stanley has many memorable experiences she’ll hold onto, but there’s one class that stands out the most: an American Sign Language course with Paige Hawkins, assistant teaching professor from Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Hawkins, she said, brought joy and care into the classroom, opening Stanley’s eyes to the richness of learning a new language. The experience fostered a deep sense of gratitude and broadened her awareness of the things people often take for granted.

“She truly impacted my life in ways that I did not expect when signing up for the course,” she said. “I want to thank her for the time, effort when showing up to teach my class and me every day.”

Congratulations, December graduates!

CMDI is proud to recognize our new 2025 Forever Buffs.

View a full list of graduates →

Allyson Maturey is a communications project manager for CMDI.

The William W. White Outstanding Graduate this December is Lola Stanley, who carries with her the resilience of an athlete, the curiosity of a scholar and the clarity of a communicator.

Off

Traditional

White

Projecting their voices

Regan Widergren — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:38:14 +0000

Projecting their voices Regan Widergren Tue, 11/18/2025 - 15:38

Joe Arney

As part of the project, professors Phaedra C. Pezzullo and Patrick Clark projected messages the students collected about sustainability outside the University Memorial Center and on buffalo cutouts at the Business Field. Photo by Patrick Clark.

At CMDI, “comm” is often shorthand for the communication major. But for one of its most recent graduates, it also means “community.”

Alysia Abbas (Comm’25) put that into practice in the spring, when she interviewed her peers as part of a project to understand how college students define sustainability.

“Communication gives you the opportunity to connect with people and create a community that moves them,” Abbas said. “In the classes I took on storytelling and climate, it was more engaging—people looked for ways to bring context to the science. When you just study the statistics of climate change, it leads to a sense of powerlessness about an individual’s inability to create impact.”

That’s why she was at the University Memorial Center the night before Earth Day, digitally projecting statements from her classmates into the plaza as night fell. The messages also appeared on cutout buffaloes around campus.

The project was a collaboration between CMDI’s Sustainability and Storytelling Lab and its Immersive Media Lab. Abbas interviewed students from across disciplines—engineering to economics—to ask what sustains them and how the story of a sustainable future begins. Answers ranged from the typical (The Lorax) to more surprising—like moms, equal access to parks and true farm-to-table agriculture.

It’s refreshing to hear from my classmates that not everybody is OK with what we’re doing to our environment.”

Alysia Abbas (Comm’25)

“Doing those interviews made me more hopeful,” Abbas said.

A major influence on Abbas was her arctic studies certificate. Mathias Nordvig, an associate teaching professor and head of Nordic studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, recalled Abbas’ analytical mindset and the perspectives she brought to discussions in his Arctic Society and Culture class.

“It is hard to hear those big-picture statistics and be able to relate to them as an individual human being,” Nordvig said.

“Stories are how I first came to care about these things. And with the type of mind Alysia has, she’ll be able to take the lessons from these stories and make them more visible and meaningful to people.”

The stories and cultures of arctic people, like the Sami and Inuit, are core to the course. Abbas said the class focused her sense of environmental justice as she learned how native people were dispossessed of their lands and ways of life.

That perspective, alongside her communication degree, has her eager to change attitudes around sustainability.

“At the core, it’s community that ends up sustaining people and making them feel connected to what’s around them,” Abbas said. “Sustainability doesn’t happen without community.”

Joe Arney covers research and general news for the college.

As part of a class project, a communication student interviewed her classmates about sustainability. Their answers were projected onto public spaces.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2025

White

Playing to win

Regan Widergren — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:43:36 +0000

Playing to win Regan Widergren Mon, 11/17/2025 - 17:43

Iris Serrano

As the growing sports media industry seeks people with data, communication and social media skills, CMDI has created different pathways to prepare students for rewarding careers.

Photos by Kimberly Coffin and Jack Moody.

When Kathryn Castanoli worked in a backstage production role during Super Bowl LIX, it wasn’t just a dream come true—it was a glimpse of a career that once seemed out of reach.

“I almost gave up trying to get into the sports media industry,” said Castanoli, a junior studying strategic communication. “But coming to CMDI—a college of entrepreneurs, artists, go-getters and leaders—really inspired me to keep pursuing my dream.”

Castanoli is just one of a growing number of CMDI students breaking into sports media. Although journalism has long been a path of study for students interested in this specialty, the changing nature of both sports and media as industries means different skills are needed.

“Sports media has become a convergence of different fields,” said Rick Stevens, associate dean of undergraduate education and associate professor of media studies. “Our majors are particularly well positioned to take a piece of the puzzle and help students understand more cohesively what sports media is.”

Students get a close look at those connections in Prime Time: Public Performance and Leadership, a course Stevens created last year. Guest lectures from prominent alumni like Kordell Stewart (Comm’16), Joel Klatt (Econ’07) and Brent Schrotenboer (Jour’96) round out class discussions led by CMDI faculty, with occasional appearances from Coach Prime.

The course counts toward the sports media minor—the largest in the college. But it’s more than just classroom learning. With a new global seminar, media outlets like Sko Buffs Sports, and conferences and networking events, students have numerous opportunities to develop the skills needed to break into the industry.

Lila Nuttle, a sophomore studying journalism, is already putting those skills into practice. An aspiring sports writer, she is a reporter for the CU Independent and has produced content for Sko Buffs Sports, which gives her on-the-field reporting experience.

Our professors are always telling us it’s not only what you do in class, or what grade you get, but your portfolio and actually getting experience.”

Lila Nuttle

"These organizations offer a really great way to jump in and get that experience, while also providing a good community.”

There’s more to sports media than what you can see from the sidelines. Priscilla Hopper (InfoSci’22; MS’23) works as a senior reporting and data analyst at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Avalanche, Nuggets and other Denver-area sports franchises.

“There’s an expectation that if you’re working in sports media, you’re going to be on the field, in action,” said Hopper, also a lecturer of information science. “But there’s a whole other side to it, and every year, half of my students want to steal my job,”

Her ability to quickly analyze data and make them digestible for those without technical backgrounds gave her an advantage when interviewing for her role at KSE.

“I graduated able to interpret, adapt and analyze,” Hopper said. “That’s pretty much the entire basis of information science, and my degrees meant I was ready to be
catapulted into any role.”

Michael Burns, an assistant teaching professor of communication, also understands what it’s like to have a nontraditional job in the sports industry. He has worked behind the scenes at eight Olympic Games for NBC’s Today show, and now serves as faculty director for Communication, Culture and Sport, a global seminar that takes place in the United Kingdom.

“There is an army of people who are doing all the research and logistics and planning, which enables and empowers the journalists, the PR folks and the camera people to do their jobs,” Burns said.

CMDI’s alumni network also plays a critical role in launching student careers. Michael Davies (Jour’94), an executive vice president at FOX Sports, said there’s no one way to make it in the industry.

“Everybody has their own origin story—some of them come from networking, some come from internships,” he said. “One thing that’s consistent and is required is passion for the sports business and focus.”

Davies graduated at a time when there were fewer paths to a career in sports media. He regularly visits the college to meet students, and is impressed with CMDI’s approach to preparing the next generation for the evolving industry.

“The school’s only 10 years old, it’s still new, it’s still innovative, and I think that it’s a very exciting time to go to CMDI,” he said.

Game on

CMDI is preparing for the return of its annual Sports Media Summit in the spring semester. This multiday event is intended for students who are curious about the industry, as well as alumni and community members looking to expand their networks and transition into this fast-growing field.

Follow CMDI on social media and keep an eye on colorado.edu/cmdi for updates.

Iris Serrano is studying strategic communication and journalism at CMDI. She covers student news and events for the college.

Photographer Kimberly Coffin graduated from CMDI in 2018 with degrees in media production and strategic communication.

Photographer Jack Moody graduated from CMDI in 2024 with a degree in strategic communication.

Through relevant courses, networking opportunities and student-led organizations, CMDI is helping students turn their passions into careers in sports media.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2025

White

Fall 2025: 2 minutes with Bennett Spector

Regan Widergren — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:10:37 +0000

Fall 2025: 2 minutes with Bennett Spector Regan Widergren Mon, 11/17/2025 - 16:10

Iris Serrano

Bennett Spector
Executive vice president and general manager, Bleacher Report, Comm'18

“Whenever I saw something I wanted to achieve, I didn’t wait,” Spector said. That drive is why he’s been so successful in his career, including his current stop at one of the largest digital sports media properties.

Responses edited for length and clarity.

So, tell me the best part of working at Bleacher Report.
Solving problems for sports fans, because I’m a sports fan. When I’m thinking about what we should do in our app, website or on social media, I’m thinking about giving millions of users a better fan experience.

Favorite sport?
My favorite to watch live is college football. On TV, probably the NBA.

Favorite CU memory?
I spent a summer interning for Jared Polis, who’s now governor of Colorado. After long days, I would ride my bike down to the river to meet friends. It was the perfect balance of work and play.

What did you take away from that internship?
That’s where I learned to have a work ethic. The campaign manager brought us into a room and said, ‘We’re trying to get someone into Congress—you need to lock in or it won’t happen.’’ That was a good kick in the butt, to understand if I want to get something done, I need to show up 100%.

How did you go from politics to sports media?
It doesn’t matter if you’re working in politics, entertainment or sports—media is a very transferable skill. And, it’s a valuable skill—to take the landscape of what you see and distill it down for whoever and wherever your audience is.

Tell me about a challenge that helped you grow.
Early on, I was competing for a job with another intern. Instead of waiting for the world to come to me, I went to my boss and proposed why I was a good fit for the role. I live by the mantra that the worst someone can say is no.

What’s next?
Continuing to grow Bleacher Report for the next generation of fans. I'm in an amazing spot—my dream job is just doing what I'm doing today

Iris Serrano is studying strategic communication and journalism at CMDI. She covers student news and events for the college.

A regular feature catching up with people in our community who are doing interesting and impactful work. In this edition, Bleacher Report.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2025

White

Communication

2 minutes with: TEDxCU

Learn more about TEDxCU, one of the oldest and largest university organized TEDx events in the country

Off

Trust the process

An early advisor connection

Combining work experience, research insights

Off

Giving flowers: Introducing CMDI’s outstanding spring graduate

Leaving a legacy

Off

Heated Rivalry is melting the ice—and tropes around sexuality and sports

A hot storyline ahead of Olympics

Off

Announcing the fall 2025 dean's list

Off

All together now: 2025 at CMDI

Off

Goal oriented: Soccer standout is CMDI’s top December graduate

More than just a degree

Off

Projecting their voices

Off

Playing to win

Off

Fall 2025: 2 minutes with Bennett Spector

Bennett SpectorExecutive vice president and general manager, Bleacher Report, Comm'18

Off

Bennett Spector
Executive vice president and general manager, Bleacher Report, Comm'18