Hyunjin Seo, director of the Center for East Asian Studies and professor in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Congratulations to JMC Professor Hyunjin Seo for being named director of the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS). She becomes the first professor from a professional school to hold the position. Seo stepped into the role in August, replacing former director Akiko Takeyama. As CEAS director, she will lead the center's efforts to develop East Asia-focused programming, curriculum and research opportunities for faculty, staff and students. Seo said she is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the center in a new capacity.

William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications Dean Judith Rosenbaum-Andre meets with students at Donuts with the Dean event. | Photo by Kaden Milner

Students walking into Stauffer-Flint Hall on Wednesday morning were greeted by a table full of donuts as Donuts with the Dean returned for the fall semester. The event gave students an opportunity to grab a sweet treat on their way to class and meet the school's new dean, Judith Rosenbaum-Andre.

Ann Zimmerman speaks to Angie Hendershot's campaigns class. | Photo by Angie Hendershot

KU alumna Ann Zimmerman joined students in Professor of the Practice Angie Hendershot’s Campaigns course Tuesday to kick off a semester-long project for the DeBruce Foundation. Zimmerman led the students through a career skills discovery activity after they completed the foundation’s free Agile Work Profiler. Students will develop and test messages and promotional ideas as they build a strategic communications plan to be presented in December.

Leadership from Special Olympics Kansas visited students in the Cultivating Sports Audiences capstone Aug. 31. The nonprofit will serve as the class's client this semester. Students received an overview of the organization and learned more about its annual Polar Plunges. Speakers included two KU alumni: Tim Rehder, senior vice president of local program services, and Howie Olsen, senior director of partnership development.

Students attend IYKYK: Student Success Series Study Skills Workshop | Photo by Kaden Milner

Students looking to start the semester on the right foot attended the first IYKYK: Student Success Series workshop of the semester Wednesday. The session focused on study skills, covering topics such as how memory works, common learning myths and practical strategies for studying effectively.

The next Student Success workshop is coming up soon. "College Hacks: The Hidden Curriculum" is an essential workshop for any new incoming student or any student wanting to learn more about KU, the ins and outs of college life, expectations, and campus resources. Join us from noon-12:50 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16 in the Clarkson Gallery.

Students interested in public relations have a new opportunity to gain real-world experience working with a client. For the first time, KU students are forming a Bateman Case Study Competition Team. A team of four to six students will research, design, implement and evaluate a full-scale public relations campaign. The fall semester will focus on forming the team and planning the campaign. The spring semester will focus on executing the campaign and submitting it to national judges. Fill out the application interest form to get involved. Applications close Sept. 23.

Second-year KU students interested in international studies can apply for the 2027 Global Scholars Program. The prestigious program will select 15 students to participate in a cohort experience that begins with the spring seminar Global Meanings of Race, taught by Professor Luciano Tosta. Scholars will also conduct research with a faculty mentor, become eligible for study abroad and research scholarships, and present their work at the Global Scholars Research Symposium. The program is open to sophomores of all majors with a minimum 3.5 GPA. The application deadline is Sept. 28.

The Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) is accepting applications for its Journalism Fellowship Program. FASPE will select 13 to 16 journalism students and early-career journalists to spend two weeks in Berlin and Poland from June 18 to July 2, 2027. Fellows will visit key sites in Nazi history and critically examine the role of international journalists who promoted or misreported Nazi policies. Students are eligible if they are currently enrolled in a graduate program and have journalistic experience, including work in college newsrooms. The application deadline is Jan. 3, 2027.

Students working at the JBar in the Clarkson Gallery.

As classes ramp up, don't forget about the technology resources available in Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Resource Center is open for equipment checkouts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Students can also stop by the JBar for portfolio reviews, project assistance and technology support from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. JSchoolTech also offers workshops throughout the semester to help students, faculty and staff make the most of the technology and creative tools available at the JMC School. Topics can include Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Podcast, video and audio production tools, design workflows, productivity tools and more. Suggestions for future workshops are welcome and can be sent to halawrenz@ku.edu.

Students interested in helping shape technology decisions at the JMC School are encouraged to apply to serve as a student representative on the Technology Committee. The committee meets every other Thursday at 10 a.m., beginning Sept. 24, in Stauffer-Flint Hall, Room 312. Interested students should email halawrenz@ku.edu and include their concentration and the name of a faculty member who can recommend them.

Emma Noble working as a production assistant on The Program: Texas Tech | Photo provided by Emma Noble

JMC senior Emma Noble's name appeared in the credits of the new Paramount+ docuseries The Program: Texas Tech. Over the summer, Second Wind Creative owner, director and executive producer Micah Brown hired Noble to work on the four-episode series, which was released Friday. Noble flew to Lubbock, Texas, where she supported the production by operating cameras, driving crew members and coordinating on-the-fly interviews with coaches and players. She also gained valuable experience shadowing cinematographers, field producers and other crew members. Noble said the experience "opened her eyes" to the opportunities available in journalism and mass communications.

Second Wind Creative Owner Micah Brown talks to Sports Media & Society students ahead of docuseries release | Photo by Maya Smith

Micah Brown, a KU alumnus, also made a stop at Stauffer-Flint Hall Thursday to speak to Jeff Chadiha's Sports on the Beat class. Brown discussed his career path with the Sports Media & Society capstone class and shared how he went from editing movie trailers to founding his own sports production company.

Tamar Wilner, JMC School Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor Tamar Wilner has published a paper in New Media & Society, examining what principles people believe social media platforms should uphold. The paper, cowritten with Natalie Jomini Stroud, Moo Sun Kim, and Ashwin Rajadesingan, all of the University of Texas, examines whether these “normative expectations” - such as showing reliable information, or keeping information secure - vary by platform or country. The researchers find variation based on platform features and parent companies, as well as based on countries’ level of individualism.

A George W. Bush Institute case study is shining a spotlight on the work of JMC Professor Teri Finneman and her efforts to support rural journalism. The feature highlights Finneman's leadership of the student-run Eudora Times, her consulting work with small-town newspapers and her research on strategies that help local news organizations build trust, engage communities and remain financially sustainable.

Teri Finneman, JMC School Professor

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications is launching its new Field Experience Program, which gives students real-world experience in public relations, media relations, social media, marketing, branding and more. Open to KU students of all academic levels, from freshmen through graduate students, the program allows participants to work live events throughout the semester while being mentored by KU faculty. The experience is designed to connect classroom learning with professional practice. This fall, students will work events including NASCAR Weekend at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 25-27) and the Kansas City Marathon (Oct. 17). Interested in learning more? Professor Maria Scott will host information sessions on Sept. 8 and 9. Sign up for the session that best fits your schedule using this registration link. Applications close Sept. 23 at 11:59 p.m.

Jobs

Internships and student jobs

Sophia Belshe is editorial coordinator at American Academy of Family Physicians.

Zachary Galvin is client success manager at Go Local Interactive.

Grace Haverty is senior marketing specialist at Black & Veatch.

Jill Jess is executive director of news and media relations and spokesperson at Boston University.

Sydney Lewis is associate account executive at Yelp.

Courtney Poston is the in-arena host for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marshanna Smith is director of communications and community engagement for HCA Healthcare Midwest Health.

Sept. 8: Field Experience Program Information Session, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom

Sept. 9: Field Experience Program Information Session, 12:30 p.m., Stauffer-Flint-Hall Room 119

Sept. 16: Student Success Series - COLLEGE HACKS: The Hidden Curriculum, noon-12:50 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

Sept. 18: Faculty and staff meeting, 1-2:30 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

Sept. 23: Scholarship ceremony, 4-5 p.m., Burge Union, Forum C

Sept. 24: Hail to Thee, JMC, all day, Stauffer-Flint Hall and Dole Center

Sept. 30: Student Success Series - Connecting for Career Success, noon-12:50 p.m.

Oct. 1: Student Success Series - Drop-In Resume Reviews, 9 a.m.-noon, JMC Career Center, Stauffer-Flint Hall, Room 120

Oct. 8: Career Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Stauffer-Flint Hall

Oct. 23: Faculty and staff meeting, 1-2:30 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

Nov. 4: Student Success Series - Budgeting 101, noon-12:50 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

Next Monday Memo

• Sept. 14

William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications
journalism.ku.edu

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.

© The University of Kansas. 2025.