Student Profiles Archives - UF College of Journalism and Communications

Student Profiles

Embracing Diverse Experiences: Sofia Portugal’s Journey from Brazil to Hollywood

Tuesday December 19, 2023

By Amanda Friedman, Journalism senior When Sofia Portugal looked at UF’s website for the first time as a high school student in Bahia, Brazil, she couldn’t imagine attending college anywhere else. “It just felt right,” Portugal said. The now 23-year-old University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) graduate completed her Bachelor’s in Advertising […]

A Tale of Two Passions: A Student’s Adventure in Journalism and Political Science

Wednesday October 25, 2023

By Aurora Martínez, Journalism senior An enthusiastic journalist since middle school and a self-described political junkie, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications student Brett Posner-Ferdman wanted to be the change he wants to see in the world. Media literacy and holding a global perspective kept him on the right track. Posner-Ferdman, a Journalism […]

Rethinking Communications: How One UFCJC Master’s Student Helped Develop a New Organizational Alignment at Lockheed Martin

Wednesday March 22, 2023

By Michelle Holder, B.S. Journalism 2022 Nina Salvaggio Wagner never imagined she could have an impact at a large company like Lockheed Martin. But the insights she gained during her studies for an online Master’s in Global Strategic Communication from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications led to an opportunity for a […]

CJC Senior Marries Her Passion for Sports and Design with Media Production Major

Friday December 9, 2022

By Serra Sowers, Journalism and Sustainability Studies 2024 As an avid sports fan and digital design enthusiast, Anabella Zorrilla has exemplified what it means to be a University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) student ahead of her graduation in December 2022. From the time she was a senior in high school, something […]

Two CJC Students Explore the Beauty and Challenges of Life in South Africa

Thursday December 1, 2022

By Michelle Holder, B.S. Journalism 2022 Two University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) students, Rebeka Smolka, senior Public Relations and Political Science major, and Augustus Hoff, sophomore Journalism major and Geography minor, spent their summers interning in South Africa. From social media campaigns to wildlife photography, Smolka and Hoff experienced international opportunities […]

UFCJC Student’s Love for Technology and Storytelling Propels His Academic Success

Monday November 28, 2022

By Emma Behrmann, B.S. Journalism 2024 In a Zoom room filled with CEOs of non-governmental organizations, activists and lobbyists, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel called out Jacob Sedesse. He recognized him as a member of the Snapchat generation, and as a 20-year-old University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) student, he is that and […]

Student Shares Experience of Covering Aftermath of Hurricane Ian: “Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer damage we saw.”

Monday October 31, 2022

By Serra Sowers, Journalism and Sustainability Studies 2024 I have never been more grateful for functioning stoplights and clean, running water. Three days after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on Sept. 28, 2022, I headed down to southwest Florida with a team of fellow WUFT News reporters to cover the aftermath. A drive that […]

CJC Ph.D. Student Completes Internship with Library of Congress

Monday December 6, 2021

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UF CJC) Mass Communications Ph.D. student Lynsey Saunders completed an internship with the Library of Congress during the Fall 2021 semester. Saunders was a part of the Archives, History and Heritage Advanced Internship Program and completed the opportunity remotely. “I was initially drawn to the internship because of […]

Traumatic Experience Fuels Student’s Desire to Write

Thursday August 19, 2021

By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism 1984 A traumatic life experience at age 16 does not define Daniela Ghelman, but it has focused her love of writing on a career in journalism so she can help and teach others. The 21-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela, who started at the University of Florida College of Journalism and […]

West Point Grad Pursues Ph.D. at CJC “To Keep Contributing in a Meaningful Way”

Friday April 9, 2021

By Nora O’Neill, B.S. Journalism 2023 After growing up in Tucson, Arizona, nearly 2,000 miles from Gainesville, and marrying a Florida State University graduate, Lt. Col. Marc Vielledent never thought he would call himself a Florida Gator. But, when he first visited the UF College of Journalism and Communications (CJC), Vielledent said he felt an […]

CJC Senior Megan Skaggs Balances Gymnastics and Academics for Championship Results

Monday November 4, 2019

By Madison Hindo, Public Relations 2020 Advertising senior Megan Skaggs discovered her love of gymnastics in the middle of the night while recovering from the flu when she was three years old. There were few shows on television at the hour, so her mother settled on Cirque du Soleil. Skaggs was hooked, spending the night […]

CJC Scholarship Winner Juggles Studies and Work as a Professional Journalist

Wednesday August 21, 2019

Gabriella Paul, a senior at the University of Florida, in July won first place for the 2019 SPJ Florida College Scholarship. “I thought I had an interesting story to tell in my application because I like to report more slowly and tell longer narratives,” Paul said. Paul is a contributing writer for The Gainesville Sun newspaper in Florida, […]

STUDENT: Mackenzie Behm’s Passion for Journalism Helps Her Overcome Family Crisis

Thursday March 21, 2019

By Tracy Wright, B.S. Public Relations 1999 In her young life, Journalism junior Mackenzie Behm has already been through a lifetime of adversity, triumph and success. Growing up in an abusive household, the one thing she maintains is that she does not allow her setbacks to define her. Rather, she has felt that it has […]

STUDENT: CJC Public Relations Senior Reaches for the Sky, Literally

Tuesday January 8, 2019

By Denise Trunk Krigbaum, M.A.M.C. 1997 From the time Erin Jauch could walk, she was in the gym. Sure, it was her mother’s gym, so Jauch felt at home there. But, from the get-go, she took to tumbling and gymnastics. She said she kind of fell into it – a full-twisting double layout kind of […]

STUDENT: Chris Cantrell Rises to Elite Ranks of Esports League

Tuesday November 13, 2018

By William Clewis, B.S. Journalism 2020 Senior Journalism Major Christopher Cantrell is looking forward to playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019 season. He never played high school basketball. He never played for the Gator basketball team. Instead, he earned his way to the big leagues through dexterity, quick thinking and a gaming console. […]