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Alumni Profiles

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CJC Alumnus Uses AI to Make Jobs Easier for Hearst Journalists

Monday April 8, 2024

By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism, 1984 This is the first in a series of profiles of CJC alumni who are working with artificial intelligence. University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) alumnus Ryan Serpico, B.S. Journalism 2018, built his first generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool during weekends at a coffee shop, telling no […]
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Rebecca Patterson Finds Her Calling in Finance and Advocating for Women

Monday March 18, 2024

By Christina Moss Mayo, B.S. Journalism 1978 When finance leader Rebecca Patterson, B.S. Journalism 1990, first arrived at the University of Florida she was determined to reach for the stars—as an astronaut. But it was during her first writing class that she had her “lightbulb moment” and decided to become a journalist instead. She wanted […]
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Broadcasting Alumna Brings History to Life in Her PBS Travel Series “Curious Traveler”

Wednesday November 29, 2023

By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism 1984 Former University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications News Directors Catherine Harwood and Tom Krynski taught their students how to work on deadline and get things done in minutes, or even seconds, instilling in them a hard-work ethic that Christine van Blokland, B.S., Broadcast 1995, appreciates to this […]
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CJC Alum Nick Belmonte Still Calling Gator Baseball Games After 37 years

Wednesday November 8, 2023

By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism 1984 Thanks to former Gator radio announcer and University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications alumnus Otis Boggs, who told a young Nick Belmonte, B.S. Broadcasting 1980, he could become a broadcaster after his baseball playing days ended, Belmonte accepted a full-ride scholarship to UF, a move that changed […]
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Five Questions With…Christina Gayman

Tuesday October 31, 2023

“Five Questions With…” is a series of profiles of CJC graduates and the career paths they chose. Christina Gayman, B.S. Journalism 1. Tell us about your current job. Syverson Strege is a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm in West Des Moines, Iowa. I oversee their communications and marketing efforts which includes everything from […]
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Acclaimed Nature Photographer John Moran Found His Chops Shooting Rock Concerts

Monday October 16, 2023

By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism, 1984 Before he was a celebrated nature and an award-winning newspaper photographer, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) alumnus John Moran, B.S. Journalism 1978, was a teenage rock ’n’ roll photographer in the 1970s, when Gainesville “was a magical place in a magical time.” That’s how Moran […]
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College Football Writer Reflects on How CJC Helped Prepare Him for a Successful Career

Thursday September 14, 2023

By Hannah Darroch, Master of Arts in Mass Communications student, Reighan Sheppard, Journalism Sports and Media senior, Manuel Uribe, Advertising senior University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) alumnus Richard Johnson’s radiant smile lights up any room he walks into. His exuberant personality cascades through his work as a college football writer, television […]
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From Soccer Fanatic to Soccer Journalist, Gaby Muiño Fulfills her Passion

Monday August 21, 2023

From Soccer Fanatic to Soccer Journalist, Gaby Muiño Fulfills her Passion By Talia Baia, Journalism/Sports Media junior, Jamie Goldman, Journalism/Sports Media senior, Sydney Savage, Media Production, Management, and Technology junior In a CJCxNYC and Sports@CJC collaboration,13 CJC students traveled to New York City from July 17 – 22, 2023, to learn about and from sports […]
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Gator Alumnus Eric Allen Provides the Fuel for Jets Media

Sunday August 20, 2023

By Rebecca Allison, Advertising senior, Sydney Bounnell, Public Relations senior, and Austin Stirling, Journalism junior In a CJCxNYC and Sports@CJC collaboration,13 CJC students traveled to New York City from July 17 – 22, 2023, to learn about and from sports media professionals. Among other assignments and activities, students met with CJC alumni. This is one […]
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Chris Kirschner: Born a Bronx Bomber and Now Living the Dream

Sunday August 20, 2023

By Alexis Mundy, Journalism senior, Ellie Shreve, Journalism/Sports Media senior, and Perry Yalkut, B.S. Journalism/Sports Media 2023 In a CJCxNYC and Sports@CJC collaboration,13 CJC students traveled to New York City from July 17 – 22, 2023, to learn about and from sports media professionals. Among other assignments and activities, students met with CJC alumni. This […]
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From the Swamp to the Big Apple: How a CJC Alumnus Became One of New York City’s Top Sports Writers

Sunday August 20, 2023

By Grace Huff, Public Relations senior, and Zackary Weiss, Journalism/Sports and Media senior  In a CJCxNYC and Sports@CJC collaboration,13 CJC students traveled to New York City from July 17 – 22, 2023, to learn about and from sports media professionals. Among other assignments and activities, students met with CJC alumni. This is one of five […]
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Living with Melanoma: How One Alumnus Finds Purpose and Passion Through Writing

Wednesday July 26, 2023

By Michelle Holder, B.S. Journalism 2022 Ken Billett, B.S. Broadcasting 1984, has used writing and storytelling to not only advocate for causes close to his heart but also to pursue his lifelong passion. Growing up in Tampa, Florida, Billett spent summers sprawled out on beaches, getting sunburnt and salty sans sunscreen. Throughout high school, with […]
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CJC Alumnus Discovered Passion for Podcasting in Online Master’s Elective Course

Friday June 9, 2023

By Claire Grunewald, Journalism senior Throughout Matt Gilhooly’s life, he chose the paths with the most resistance. So when he enrolled in the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications’ (UFCJC) online master’s program, he signed up for classes that would push him to his limits, which eventually led him to founding The Life […]
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Gators Unidos Partners with The Agency to Develop and Promote a New Latino Merchandise Collection at the UF Bookstore

Monday June 5, 2023

By Michelle Holder, B.S. Journalism 2022 When walking into the UF Bookstore at the Reitz Union, next to the Lululemon Gator apparel and the usual UF merchandise, a new collection stands out. From “Vamos Gators” t-shirts to the “Communidad” hat, the new Gators Unidos collection represents the University of Florida’s diversity and rich Latino culture. […]
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UFCJC Online Master’s Alumnus Drives Change in U.S. Army Recruiting

Wednesday May 24, 2023

By Claire Grunewald, Journalism senior With his online master’s degree from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC), Kevin Doe Crowsyn was able to spark change in U.S. Army recruiting. Crowsyn started working in recruiting with the U.S. Army in 2009 when he discovered he had a passion for using social media […]
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