PSFA STORIES

Dr. Temple Northup, director of SDSU’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, traveled across Asia to build global partnerships and develop new study abroad programs, aiming to make international experiences a key part of journalism education.

Kierstin Rielly, former SDSU water polo player, turned her student-athlete discipline into leadership as CEO of Women on Boards Project, helping close the gender gap in corporate leadership and empowering women to claim their place at the table.

Graduate student Eugenie Budnik studies how well school leaders communicate during crises, examining preparedness gaps and exploring how AI could assist principals in crafting clear, timely messages while maintaining trust and protecting privacy.

San Diego State alumnus Antonio Morales turned his passion for sports writing at The Daily Aztec into a national career. Now a college football reporter for The Athletic, he credits SDSU for shaping his work ethic and journalism foundation.

Alumna Jonnie Wilson (‘76) and University History Curator, Seth Malios, dive deep into the inspiration and importance behind SDSU’s “Dear Doc” event on the USS Midway.

Dr. Kaye Sweetser earned the SDSU Alumni Association Award for her leadership, mentorship and dedication to student success in public relations. She emphasizes hands-on learning, advocacy and balance in her teaching and professional life.

Graduate student MJ Duran’s thesis explores how Spanish-language journalists covered the 2018 migrant caravans, highlighting differences from mainstream U.S. media. Drawing on her immigrant background, she emphasizes framing, journalist perspectives, and the importance of Spanish-language coverage for immigrant communities.

Emely Navarro turned her love for pop culture into a career at Access Hollywood, earning an Emmy at 22 and proving that persistence, creativity and a fearless attitude can open doors in journalism and entertainment.

Growing up in Nebraska, Paige Seastedt never imagined she would one day be brushing shoulders with celebrities backstage at the Critics Choice Awards or capturing red carpet arrivals for Bravo TV.

Fourth-year SDSU journalism major Calista Stocker will focus on neighborhood coverage for the Mission Times Courier

San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies students earned recognition at this year’s Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter Awards, bringing home honors across nearly a dozen categories as well as multiple scholarships.

After 12 years in the Minors, Suchon made his Major League debut as a fill-in radio announcer for the Colorado Rockies

A mentorship program for future PR professionals worked wonders for this new graduate, who landed a job in less than a week.

After 12 seasons and nearly 1,800 games in Triple-A, SDSU alum Josh Suchon finally gets the call, stepping into the Colorado Rockies radio booth for two games at Coors Field on July 18. A full‑circle moment that reunites him with his Colorado roots has been years in the making.

Using eye-tracking software, researchers measured how quickly participants read news articles. Some browsed their TikTok accounts for five minutes right before reading. The others didn’t.

Melanie Ehrenkranz (‘12) took a leap after graduation and moved straight to New York City with no job lined up. Determined to pursue a career in journalism, she quickly found her beat covering technology and wellness.

Jesse Marx, student media manager at JMS, helped edit and fact-check a Pulitzer-finalist investigative series by the San Francisco Chronicle on deadly police chases. The reports exposed systemic issues, highlighting nearly two deaths per day, often innocent bystanders, with little officer accountability.

Bella Ross (‘20) started her journalism career at SDSU with a passion for politics and activism. Being a freshman during the 2016 presidential election, Ross was the one leading protests around campus with a megaphone in hand.

When Will Fritz (’19) was at SDSU, he was known as a passionate and driven student journalist. At the Daily Aztec, he stood out as an accomplished senior staff writer, writing 190 stories in three years and eventually taking charge as editor-in-chief.

Dr. Alanna Peebles, professor in San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, took her course JMS 545: Media and Youth to new heights this semester.