Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Journalism, Spring 2019

Why did you choose UF and the College of Journalism and Communications?

It was the perfect fit for me. That’s a broad statement, yes, but it’s true. No other school that I was looking at could pair journalism and athletics like UF could. The CJC is one of the best in the nation, and the UAA is the best all-around athletic department in the nation, not to mention that they have a highly-esteemed communications department. The time I truly knew that I had to come to the CJC was when I visited in March of 2015. I emailed a couple of professors, and Professor Spiker, just a day after being named the Journalism Department chair, was nice enough to have me come into his office to talk. Not only was he awesome as a person, but he made time in his busy schedule for me, a kid who wasn’t even guaranteed to come UF. After that how could I not come to UF? Professor Spiker was certainly the catalyst. I grew up a diehard UGA fan, so it would have to take something pretty big to convince me that UF was the place to be. Professor Spiker really helped me realize how phenomenal the CJC could be for me. He was oh so very right.

Do you have a memorable experience/opportunity from your time in the CJC (preferably related to sports, but if there is something else that comes to mind, please let us know).

Being in Sports Media and Society when Chad Johnson actually came into class to speak was incredible. What other school has a sports and social media figure of that stature just casually stroll into class and chat for two hours, then take everyone out to lunch? That was pretty wild. Outside of that, meeting Michael Connelly in the fall was pretty special. Having the opportunity to talk with one of the world’s prominent fiction writers one-on-one was fantastic.

What is the best class you’ve taken in the CJC and why?

Sports Media and Society or Sports Media and Social Change. They’re tied. Obviously everyone thoroughly enjoys Sports Media and Society because of the interviews (like Chad Johnson) and the fact that Professor Spiker leads it. His enthusiasm for sports, journalism and teaching meld together, to create a fun and interesting environment. With Sports Media and Social Change with Cyd Zeigler, the opportunity to explore new territory personally (social issues that arise in sports that don’t always get media attention), while also getting experience writing longer pieces, is unique. Exploring sports, journalism and current issues while getting practical experience with interviews, research and writing, especially with someone of Cyd’s stature, is incredible. I may be a little biased because I got one of my pieces for that class published on his website, Outsports.com.

What makes the CJC so special?

Gosh, how much space do I have for my answer? The faculty is composed of top-notch professors with vast arrays of experiences in both the professional and education realms. The opportunities available through the CJC, whether it be study abroad (which I’m doing this summer) or the great guest speakers or the positions within the INC or multiple radio stations, are endless and very beneficial. I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but it’s my honest opinion. I have gotten fully immersed and can say that the programs offered are second to none.

Have you had any experiences outside of the classroom (internships, covering a certain sporting event, etc.)? If so, tell us more.

I work in the UAA Communications Department. A lot of my work has been with football, writing player bios for the website, researching social media strategies, helping update the archives and media guide, a wide variety of things. As for outside of the office, I work football games, basketball games, baseball games, swim and dive meets and I worked the women’s golf tournament. So I do a little bit of everything. For football, I worked every home game, the Florida-Georgia Game and was the student representative to the conference for the SEC Championship game.

Are you in involved anything in the CJC or within the University of Florida (Gatorvision? ESPN 850? AWSM? The Alligator? UAA?)? How has it benefitted you?

The UAA, as mentioned above. The professional experience in the nation’s premier athletic department is certainly a benefit. I get hands-on experience, both in the office and at events, and get to network with professionals at the top of their field. That’s a pretty great mix for a college student, without even having to intern somewhere.

What are your hopes, dreams, or plans after graduation? How has the CJC prepared you for your goals?

If I continue down the sports route, Senior Vice President of Communications for a major sports team or league. The MLB, NHL or NFL would be my top three, but I would be very interested in going to Europe and working in international football, maybe for Arsenal F.C. If I stayed in America, any of the Atlanta (where I was born) or Boston (mom’s side of the family is from Rhode Island) franchises would be ideal. If I decide to get out of sports, I’ll want to go into politics, so my end goal there would be White House Press Secretary. The CJC has given me the opportunity to connect with professors who have worlds of experience in various backgrounds, alumni who are incredibly successful and gain hands-on experience learning how to be the best possible journalist once I hit the field.

Do you have any advice for incoming students or those interested in the CJC, especially in regard to starting their sports careers?

Jump right in it. The CJC offers so many opportunities, inside and outside of sports, that it’s difficult not to get involved. Attend every speaker that you can to open up your mind. Reach out to professors who teach classes that interest you. Reach out to people in whatever department you want to be in, whether it is television, radio, newspaper or the UAA. All of the media outlets and professional societies are looking for motivated and excited students, so there will most definitely be opportunities. Just go for it. As for sports, I found sports communications professionals to be incredibly receptive, whether it is having a hour-long phone call for me to pick their brain or getting opportunities to work for them. My advice for CJC students in general is the same for those who desire to pursue sports communications—just go for it.