Jargon | School of Media and Journalism Alumni Newsletter

Kent State University journalism alumnae Erin Simonek, ‘20, and Madison Tromler, ‘20, are making waves as anchors and reporters at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio. Graduating amidst the challenges of COVID-19, they joined the station the same year, seamlessly transitioning into their roles, first as multimedia journalists. Within a week on the job, they were on the airwaves, and within a year, they earned promotion to the station’s evening anchors.

“We didn't need any in-depth training (at the station),” said

Todd Thompson '16, a first-generation college student from a small town in Ashtabula County, never imagined he'd one day be filming social media content with Progressive Insurance's iconic fictional saleswoman “Flo” in Los Angeles.

Kent State alumnus Richard Batyko, M.A., ’12, has committed his life and career to making the world, specifically Greater Cleveland, a better place. This year, he and the YMCA of Greater Cleveland (for which he serves as Chief Marketing Officer) are working with Kent State University advertising and public relations seniors in the capstone class, Campaigns in Advertising and Public Relations, to raise awareness about the organization's mission.

Ava Moss believes in embracing what life has to offer one major event at a time. What began as tough days sleeping on a friend's couch has now led to a full-time job with Walt Disney Animation Studios.

While completing a two-month journalism fellowship in Arizona the summer after her college graduation, Anna Huntsman, ’19, found herself nostalgic for Ohio.

“I was around a lot of people from all across the country,” she remembers. “They would ask me, ‘What’s so special about Ohio?’ and I would have this answer about the camaraderie, the sports, the work ethic. I just found myself having these answers of really missing my home.”