Quick LinksAlumni Class Notes: G-N
William (Bill) Galbraith: BA, 1946 (Journalism)
Bill Galbraith worked 13 years for the United Press as an editor and a reporter covering a variety of federal agencies including the State department and the White House. For the following 25 years he worked for CBS News as news editor of the Washington Bureau. He closed his career with CBS as Director of News Operations in Washington.
Karen Gaudette: BA (Communications and Political Science), 2000
Karen Gaudette is a food writer with PCC Natural Markets and a freelance journalist. She left The Seattle Times in 2009, where she covered food, transportation and residential real estate. Previously, she covered the city of San Bernardino for The Press-Enterprise and the California energy crisis for The Associated Press in San Francisco. She interned with AP during the UW’s Olympia program and also interned for The Wall Street Journal. Gaudette is a UW Alumni Association Career Connections contact for fellow Huskies. She reported and edited for The Daily during her undergraduate studies and in fall 1999 served as editor-in-chief.
Alexia Gibbon: BA, 2004
Local Sales Assistant: KOMO 4 Television
Rolf Glerum: BA, 1955
Glerum started his professional career in 1959 as promotions specialist for the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, later to merge with Western Pine Association to form Western Wood Products Association. His responsibilities with WCLA included news and feature writing, trade show coordination, builder and architect relations, do-it-yourself news articles, and other related activities.
Robert Gluckson: MA, 1992
Robert Gluckson is teaching an online college level Photojournalism History course through Humboldt State University Extended Education. For more information on Robert Gluckson, including details of the online course, visit Gluckson's web site.
Jean Godden: BA, 1973
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Award-winning journalist and columnist (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Seattle Times), city council member. She has been active in many community organizations, including League of Women Voters, Multiple Sclerosis Society, United Way Council of Planning Affiliates, Lake City Community Council, Lake City Elementary School Parent-Teachers Association, 46th District Democrats, King County Women's Political Caucus and the Uppity Ladies Book Club & Literary Circle.
Susan K. Godfrey: BA, 1970
Susan Godfrey is working for the University of Washington and looking for network opportunities with other communicators.
Daena J. Goldsmith: MA, 1988; PhD, 1990
Dr. Goldsmith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been there since 1993, serving as Associate Head, Director of Graduate Study from 1999 to 2002. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Illinois, she spent three years as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Speech Communication, University of Maryland, College Park. She was also a Visiting Professor Visiting Professor at the Communication Studies Department, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Read more about Daena Goldsmith >>
Leoule Goshu: BA, 2007
Goshu is spending the summer after graduation working on a research paper with Dr. Laura Briggs, Acting Head of Women Studies at the University of Arizona. He is critiquing a gay rights special interest group, Human Rights Campaign, for promoting corporations with questionable human rights records in third world countries. His work attempts to synthesize gay rights with the third world. Goshu will attend Harvard this September. The Seattle Times recently ran a story on Goshu featuring his time at the UW.
He was also named "Future Gay Hero" in the October 11th, 2005 edition of The Advocate.
Erica Graham: MA, 2004
Erica Graham is currently pursuing her Masters in Business Administration at the University of Michigan. Prior to this, she worked in the film industry at a film production company.
Jack Greenewald: BA 1947, Journalism
Mr. Greenewald spent 25 years as owner of newspaper, printing and publishing companies, then purchased a travel agency and traveled throughout the world for thirty years.
Christine Gregoire: BA, 1969 Speech Communication
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
2004 Department of Communication Distinguished Alumna
The honorable Christine Gregoire is Washington's 22nd Governor. Prior to serving as governor, Gregoire served three terms as attorney general, the first woman to be elected to the position in Washington. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2003 WA State Physicians for Social Responsibility Award and the 2001 College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumna award.
Travis Griffith: BA, 1999
Travis Griffith is the author of Your Father Forever, published in 2005 by Illumination Arts in Bellevue. Dr. John Gray, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, said of the book, "Your Father Forever is an inspiring and reassuring book that touches our hearts and comforts our children." He has also completed a novel, which is currently being shopped with agents.
Dr. Marita Gronnvoll: BA Speech Communication, 2000; MA, 2003
Gronvoll is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Reynaldo V. Guioguio: PhD, 1980
Dr. Guioguio is a Professor of Journalism at the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. His academic activates include Former President, Philippine Communication Society (PCS); Affiliated with Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) and Former Chairman, Graduate Studies Department, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines. He holds a post-graduate diploma in Communication Policy and Planning, Institute of Social Studies, the Hague, Netherlands.
Edwin Guthman: BA, 1944
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Reporter and editor (Philadelphia Inquirer, Seattle Star, The Seattle Times, and the Los Angeles Times). He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for National Reporting while at The Seattle Times for his series on the clearing of Communist charges against Professor Melvin Rader, who had been accused of attending a secret Communist school. He served as press secretary for Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Guthman died Aug. 31, 2008 at his home in Los Angeles. His obituary was printed in The Seattle Times and by Columns Magazine.
Rebecca Haines: MA, 1985 (Speech Communication)
Rebecca Haines had a rare malignancy in 2004, and after a chemo pill and surgery at the University Hospital, she is now experiencing remission euphoria! She recently purchased a condominium and is speaking about her experience to a few small groups, to spread the word of hope and possibilities. She continues to work as a registered nurse at an assisted living facility part-time and swims 1/2 mile per week, which she says is "both exercise and recreation!" Her inspiring story of diagnosis and recovery is published in the support group newsletter for the type of tumor she had. Please see: www.liferaftgroup.org then click on "Coping," then "Member's Stories," then click on her name. Her story is called: "Fifty-one weeks from diagnosis to remission."
Hatti L. Hamlin, APR, Fellow PRSA: BA, 1972
In a career spanning 36 years, Hatti has counseled clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to government, non-profit and educational institutions. They have included household names like American Express, Clorox, Sara Lee, Microsoft and GE Capital, as well as local and regional companies ranging from wineries to consulting firms, Internet companies, hospitals, retailers, medical equipment manufacturers, utilities, banks and real estate companies.
Read more about Hatti Hamlin >>
Alexander Campbell Halavais: PhD, 2001
Dr. Halavais began as an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) directly after graduating from the UW Communications program. He now serves as the director of the MA in Informatics at UB, an innovative program that addresses the social and organizational aspects of information and communication technologies. His research looks at "social computing" and its impact on social change, journalism, education, and public policy.
Read more about Alexander Halavais >>
James F. (Jay) Hamilton: BA 1983; MA 1986
Hamilton, an Associate Professor at Grady College, University of Georgia, has published a second book in 2008, in the wake of Democratic Communications; Formations, Projects, Possibilities, that was published by Lexington Books in February. His new book Alternative Journalism, co-authored with Chris Atton (Napier University, Scotland), is coming out with Sage Publications in December. It conducts a cultural, historical, political-economic, and sociological analysis of alternative journalism, and is the first book-length study of the topic.
Verna Harbaugh: BA, 1992 (Emphasis in Editorial Journalism )
Currently employed by Nootka Hotels, Inc., as Director of Sales for University Inn and Watertown (hotels are located in Seattle, WA, next to the University of Washington campus).
Board member & Marketing Chair - Greater University Chamber of Commerce.
Board member & Media Director - WA State Group Tour & Travel Association.
Rob Harper: BA 1969
When natural disasters hit Washington, many are left shaken, distressed and emotionally drained.
For Rob Harper, it’s a long day at work – and a way to make a difference.
The 1969 broadcast journalism alumnus is a public information officer for the Washington state Emergency Management Division. During emergencies and natural disasters, he helps the community to respond effectively.
Joanne Harrell: BA Communications 1976; MBA Business 1979
2009 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Harrell has held various management positions at InfoSpace, US West Communications and Microsoft, where she currently serves as Chief of Staff, OEM Division. She has a commitment to continued learning that has led her to study management and marketing at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and the Brookings Institution. While executive director of the United Way of King County from 1997 to 2000, Harrell led the chapter to successive national fundraising records and wide recognition for excellence in marketing communications and brand management. She grew the non-profit from the 14th to the largest United Way program in the country. She serves and has served on a host of boards, including REI, Seattle Urban League, YWCA, the Salvation Army, the Seattle Art Museum, UW's Evans School of Public Affairs, and the International Women's Forum. Harrell is the 1997 recipient of the African American Achievement Award, Omaha, NE. and the 1992 recipient of the "Women of Achievement Award," Seattle.
Read more about Joanne Harrell >>
Jack Hart: BA, 1968 Journalism
Jack Hart is a managing editor at The Oregonian, the Pacific Northwest's largest daily newspaper. He also has served as the newspaper's writing coach and staff development director, as editor of its Sunday magazine and as a general assignment reporter. He previously worked as a reporter at the Eugene Register-Guard and the Whidbey News-Times.
Katherine G. Hendrix: PhD, 1994
Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University of Memphis.
Awarded the "Top 3 Paper" in the Spirituality Division for "The spirit that strengthens me: Teaching with a religious foundation," a paper she presented at the National Communication Association conference held in San Antonio, TX in 2006.
Read more about Katherine Hendrix >>
Jaime Herrera: BA, 2004
Jaime Herrera represents Washington state’s 18th district.
Read more about Rep. Jaime Herrera >>
Verena Hess: MA, 2000; PhD, 2006
Before entering the UW Department of Communication’s graduate program, Hess worked in Silicon Valley for four years in technology and gained media-related knowledge as well. Her particular graduate studies focused on political communications, but as a teaching assistant for the department, she was able to tap into her background in media to teach her students basic concepts in new media. Hess also worked at the UW Carlson Center as an education and communications consultant and provided vital support to the director. She was also an important part of the Department of Environmental Health, where she worked as a researcher and conducted interviews to better understand ergonomics regulations in the state of Washington. Originally, Hess considered higher education as a career goal, but came to realize how many other opportunities she had. She ended up at Microsoft after meeting a Microsoft employee on a plane when flying back from a job interview in California. One thing led to another and she was hired as the Senior Marketing Manager focusing on SharePoint. At Microsoft she works in communications, focusing on analysts and their perspectives about the social computing space for big businesses.
Erin Hicks: BA, 2007
Assistant editor for menshealth.com in Allentown, PA.
Harry F. Higgins: BA 1986 (Broadcasting)
Mr. Higgins is a news photographer at KCPQ-TV, Seattle Fox News affiliate. He has been married to Moyra since 1991 and is a U.S. Navy submarine veteran. He is a member of NRA, NPPA, NGS, The Mountaineers, and the UWAA.
Randy Y. Hirokawa MA, 1977; PhD, 1980 Speech Communication
2006 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Hawaii, Hilo, Randy Hirokawa also has taught at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Iowa. He is known widely for his expertise in the area of small group communication and decision-making effectiveness. His scholarship has contributed to the development of a theory called the "functional perspective," which is recognized as one of the three most influential theories of small group communication. His publications to date include three edited books, 36 refereed journal articles, and 24 book chapters.
Emily Hodge: BA, 2003
Emily Hodge is working as a nanny and planning her return to Italy where she hopes to live and work.
Jenni Hogan (Vesnaver): BA, 2002 Communications and Economics
Jenni Hogan is a member of the KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Team as morning traffic anchor. She was most recently traffic anchor at KOMO-TV in Seattle. Prior to that she was a traffic reporter at KOIN-TV in Portland, OR, and the first female sports director at KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho. A native of Australia, Hogan has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 10 years. At the UW she captained the women’s crew team and has two national championship rings in the sport. She is actively involved with her alma mater, serving on the UW’s Department of Communication alumni board of directors and leading its mentorship program. She is also a volunteer for the American Heart Association.
Hillary Holman: BA, 2006 
Holman graduated from the UW with degrees in Communication, and Comparative History of Ideas. Her primary interest is in interpersonal and intercultural communication. She worked on her communication thesis under the guidance of Valerie Manusov and Lisa Coutu and owes much of her academic and post-academic sucess to their fantastic teaching. Since graduation, Hillary has worked with a peacebuilding and reconciliation program in Croatia where she has served on the facilitating team and as a small group facilitator, has taught English in Croatia, and has traveled in and around much of Eastern Europe. She is currently trying to learn Croatian language and is hoping to spend more time in the former Yugoslavia in the near future.
Piper Hopkins: MC, 2006
Piper Hopkins has a BFA from Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, and an MCDM from the University of Washington. Hopkins is an artist; you can read more about her at www.piperhopkins.com
David Horsey: BA, 1975
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
David Horsey is the Department of Communication’s 2008 Distinguished Alumnus. As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s award-winning editorial cartoonist, he has been driving and drawing throughout the United States as candidates for the 2008 presidential elections work for voters’ support.
Read more about David Horsey >>
David Horsey talks about his time as an editor for The Daily and as a UW student >>
Lorraine Howell: BA, 1982
lorraine@mediaskillstraining.com
After 12 years as a television news and talk producer, Lorraine Howell started her own business doing media training and presentation skills training: mediaskillstraining.com. She is the author of Give Your Elevator Speech a Lift!
The Association for Women in Communications named Howell the AWC Headliner Award winner in 2009.
Rob Huff: BA (Journalism), 1995
Rob Huff is the Communications manager for Aerojet, an aerospace and defense company headquartered in Sacramento, Calif. In this position, Huff is responsible for the company's media relations, employee communications and Web site production.
Lisa Hughes: BA, 1990
Emmy Award-winning journalist Lisa Hughes is news anchor for CBS4 News In Boston. She joined the station in June 2000 after working as a correspondent for CBS Newspath, the CBS-TV Station Group's satellite news service.
Read more about Lisa Hughes >>
Karla Hulse: BA, 2004
After graduation, Karla Hulse spent some months backpacking around Europe. She returned home to Seattle to start her career as a Real Estate Agent and is now working for Windermere Real Estate out of the Queen Anne office. Born and raised in Washington, Karla is familar with the area and enjoys approaching the real estate market from a professsional angle. She says "please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate questions!"
www.HOMESinNW.com
(206) 650-2735
Sandra L. Hunt: MA, 1992; PhD 1996; Med 2001 Speech Communication
Dr. Sandra Hunt writes:
"I am in the middle of a personal 10-year field experiment, so to speak, in which I am trying to find out how much influence one teacher can have in the public school system.
So far my efforts are proving fruitful. I am in my fifth year of teaching 4th grade. My school has shown that it is possible for a team to close the achievement gap in reading--we have gone from 60% to 90% of our students passing the reading WASL in the last four years. We are the only district school to meet the 90% goal two years in a row. We continue to make progress in writing and math. Mac Parks would be pleased to know that his statistics classes are being put to good use as I coach teachers on how to use student performance data to inform instruction. Also, several years ago, I set up a "4th-grade Teacher Roundtable," a monthly forum in which 4th-grade teachers plan and implement their own professional development. It has become so popular, the district is considering institutionalizing it for all grade levels. This year, I've joined the district's strategic planning team. I'm on the leadership subcommittee and will be helping to design a new 360 degree performance appraisal system for district administrators.
In addition to these endeavors, I am working on my National Board Teacher Certification. I find what I am doing engrossing, fulfilling, (my colleagues might say consuming) and of service to my students, the community, and my profession. I appreciate the knowledge and skills I learned in the Speech Communication Department every minute of the day."
John Hutcheson: MA, 2003
John Hutcheson is a captain in the U.S. Air Force serving the Pentagon in the Air Force Office of Public Affairs. He has been in the Air Force for eight years and earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Pennsylvania State University. His graduate work at the UW focused on the role the Bush administration and the news media played after September 11 in contributing to a resurgence of U.S. nationalism. John's committee members were David Domke, Nancy Rivenburgh and Patricia Moy.
Edward Inch: PhD, 1992
Edward Inch currently serves as acting dean of the School of the Arts at Pacific Lutheran University. In addition to his work as acting dean, Inch chairs the Department of Communication and Theatre. He has taught a wide range of introductory and advanced courses ranging from Introduction to Communication Studies to Executive Communication for MBA Students.
Currently, Inch’s research is focused on conflict resolution and dispute resolution. At the moment, he is working with the Massen Dialogue Project in the Balkans. The project’s aim is to create dispute resolutions for ethnic groups that will enable peaceful development of governing systems and political processes.
Carol Insalaco: BA, 2006
Insalaco is employed at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the External Affairs and Communications department. Her time is split between Publications (Internal and External Communications) and Media Relations (media and public relations).
Evelyn Keiko Iritani: BA, 1978
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Reporter (Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Los Angeles Times), winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2004 (with Abigail Goldman, Nancy Cleeland and Tyler Marshall) for a seven-part investigative series on Wal-Mart.
Nathan Isaacs: BA, 2000
Nathan Isaacs is a Business Development Manager at Optimization Technologies.
Robin Forrest Jacobson: BA, 1972
Robin Jacobson worked for King Broadcasting for years and is now a Public Relations Manager for The San Juan Island Visitors Bureau.
Leo Jeffres: M.A., 1968
Leo Jeffres is a professor in the Department of Communication at Cleveland State University, where he has also served in a variety of administrative roles, including chair of the Department of Communication, graduate director, and the director of the Communication Research Center.
Jeffres’ research focuses on mass communication theory and methodology, neighborhood and urban communication systems, communication technologies, ethnic communication, as well as audience analysis. He also works with students on the content analysis of the “watchdog function” of the press.
Among his many accomplishments, in 1983 Jeffres traveled to the University of the Philippines as a Visiting Fulbright Associate Professor where he taught courses in culture and communication and conducted research on development communication. While in the Philippines he also taught a graduate seminar at the Asian Institute of Journalism in Manila.
More recently, Jeffres was named a fellow of the Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research in 1998. He was also a recipient of the “most prolific communication researcher” for the period of 1996-2001 by Communication Research Reports, as well as for the period of 1980-1985 by Journalism Quarterly.
More information on Leo Jeffres' work >>
Bruce Johansen: BA, 1972; PhD, 1979
2009 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Dr. Johansen has been at the University of Nebraska, Omaha since 1982. He is the senior ranking professor in the Department of Communication with a cross-listing in Native American Studies. He is the Frederick W. Kayser professor, which is a university research chair. His 18th book, "Indigenous peoples and Environmental Issues: An Encyclopedia" was published early in 2004 by Greenwood Press and is now being translated into Japanese. His book "Exemplar of Liberty" (1991), was released in Japanese (Tokyo: Mizusu Shoban) in 2006. "Native Peoples of North America" (a textbook) was published in 2005. He has written mainly in Native American Studies, but also in various ecological sciences, notably "The Global Warming Desk Reference" (Greenwood, 2001). He is also the Native American series editor for the Greenwood Publishing Group.
Dr. Johansen recently lectured at the University of Wales, Swansea, U.K. and on Native American legal history at the Catholic University of Lublin, Poland (this university was the teaching post of Pope John Paul II before he assumed the papacy). His new book, "Global Warming in the 21st Century," 3 vols. Westport, CT: Praeger, comes out in June, 2006. (For details: [www.greenwood.com], enter "Bruce E. Johansen"). He is also co-editing a 4-volume Encyclopedia of American Indian History with ABC-CLIO. That book is due out in 2007.
Sue Lockett John: PhD, 2008
Sue Lockett John is a research associate for the University of Washington, Department of Communication journalism program. She assists professor David Domke with program research, strategic planning, outreach and other initiatives.
Alycia Johnson: BA, 2005
Assistant Buyer: Macy's NW
La'Chris Jordan: BA, 2001
Alumna and playwright/actress La'Chris Jordan will debut the premiere of her play "Piney Ridge" at the Seattle Parks and Recreation's Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center from March 20 through April 5, 2009. "Piney Ridge," winner of the 2007 Eight Tens @ Eight Festival in Santa Cruz, Calif., is a gripping story of racial tension in 1910 Virginia. Isiah Anderson Jr., a well-known comedian and director, will direct the full-length play. A special discussion with the cast and director will follow various shows. Jordan was named as one of "50 Playwrights to Watch" by the Dramatist Guild. Her play "The Source" was part of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's Summerfest 2007. Acting credits include a role in "Birth."
Edmund K. Joyce: BA, 1977
Joyce received first place from the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Chapter in the "radio breaking news/live" category for his coverage of the La Jolla landslide. He won second place for "regular beat coverage (environmental beat)" and second place for "radio, use of sound," in the SPJ competition. Joyce also won first place in the "Breaking News" category from Public Radio News Directors Incorporated as a member of the KPBS news team that covered the 2007 San Diego wildfires.
He’s worked as a reporter, anchor and editor for KPBS since 2006.
Dr. Tamar Katriel: MA, PhD 1980, 1983 Speech Communication
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
After graduation, Dr. Katriel took a teaching position with the Department of Communication, University of Haifa where she is now a Professor. Her areas of teaching and research are: Ethnography of communication, intercultural communication, anthropological approaches to media studies, and rhetoric of public discourse in Israel. She is author of several books:
(2004) "Dialogic Moments: From Soul Talks to Talk Radio in Israeli Culture." Detroit: Wayne State University Press (Raphael Patai series on Jewish Folklore and Ethnography).
Katriel, T. (1999) "Milot Mafte'ah: Dfusei Tarbut Vetikshoret Beisrael." A Hebrew selection of twelve essays covering and integrating work previously published in English. Haifa: University of Haifa Press & Zmora-Bitan.
(1997) "Performing the Past: A Study of Israeli Settlement Museums." N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (series on Communication in Everyday Life).
(1991) "Communal Webs: Communication and Culture in Contemporary Israel." Albany: SUNY.
(1986) Talking Straight: 'Dugri' Speech in Israeli Sabra Culture." Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Polly Keary: BA, 2003
Polly Keary is a staff writer for the Monroe Monitor and the 2006 recipient of the Portfolio Award for news writers, the WNPA Better Newspaper Contest's top award. Keary took home the top award in 2005 too! In 2006, she visited the military hospital at Balad in Iraq, the base at Ramstein in Germany where many wounded soldiers receive further treatment before returning to the states, and Bagram in Afghanistan.
Robert Keatley, B.A. 1956
2006 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Robert Keatley has served as editor of three newspapers during his career in journalism in the U.S. and overseas. He now lives in Washington, D.C. After earning degrees from the University of Washington and Stanford University, he joined the Wall Street Journal, where he spent most of his career. He was a reporter in San Francisco, New York and Hong Kong, and became the Journal's diplomatic correspondent in Washington. Mr. Keatley was the paper's foreign editor in New York in 1978 before becoming editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong in 1979, and concurrently publisher in 1983. In 1984, he was named editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe in Brussels, Belgium. He returned to Washington in 1992 to serve as a writer and editor specializing in international political and economic issues. He retired from the Journal in 1998 and returned to Hong Kong, where he was editor of the South China Morning Post, the leading English-language daily in the SAR. After completing his tour with the SCMP in 2001, he returned to Washington.
He is a director of the Washington Institute for Foreign Affairs, and is a member of the Cosmos Club of Washington, the Hong Kong Club and the Ladies Recreation Club of Hong Kong. In 1985 he received the UW Communications Department's distinguished alumnus award.
During the fall of 2005, Mr. Keatley taught a course on opinion-writing at the journalism department of Tsinghua University in Beijing, where he also served as a guest lecturer and participated in several conferences co-hosted by the department. In addition, he is founder and currently is editor of the Hong Kong Journal, an online quarterly hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This new publication is devoted to articles about political, economic and social issues relating to Hong Kong and its neighborhood, and is intended to provide background information for those concerned about the territory and its development.
Zachary Y. Kerr: BA, 2004
Kerr received his Masters in Journalism and Communication from the Ohio State University and is currently works for the Columbus AIDS Task Force as an MSM HIV Prevention Specialist, where he provide HIV Prevention and Education to communities in Central Ohio.
Jeff Kerssen-Griep: MA, 1986; PhD, 1997
Dr. Jeff Kerssen-Griep is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in Communication Studies at the University of Portland. He is also the 2004 recipient of the school's most prestigious teaching award, the Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Portland, the University of Portland magazine, describes him as "the exuberant ebullient erudite energetic elastic articulate amused educated openhearted Jeff Kerssen-Griep, who teaches all sorts of communication courses and is a scholar of what he calls 'facework' as a crucial aspect of learning."
Read more about Dr. Jeff Kerssen-Griep >>
Pooja Khandekar: BA, 2000 Communication and Political Science
Ms. Khandekar is currently working on an MA in journalism from CA State University, Northridge and is a Web Editor for UW Educational Outreach.
Carlton Kim: BA, 2004 Communication and Business Administration
Upon graduation, Carlton spent two years in social work advocating for affordable housing and the elderly. Now, he works for a company that produces online content and marketing campaigns.
Carolyn Kim: BA, 2006
Carolyn Kim is a Program Coordinator for the University of Washington Educational Outreach department. To keep her journalistic skills going, she interns for the Ballard News Tribune as a photographer/reporter, and she is transitioning from KUOW/NPR to BCC's KBCS station (91.3, A World of Music & Ideas) where she will have the opportunity to host live and on-air.
Dylan King: BA, 2006
Dylan King received a promotion to Program Coordinator for Executive Education at the Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington. The new position has her doing marketing, recruitment, and participant customer service for the Executive MPA, Electronic Hallway, and Cascade (her previous department).
James King: BA, 1948 Journalism
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Retired Senior VP and Executive Editor of The Seattle Times Under his leadership, The Seattle Times grew from a strong Washington daily newspaper into a paper that was nationally recognized as one of the best in the Western United States.
Katie King: BA, 1983
Katie King is an online publishing specialist with wide-ranging journalism background and international strategic planning and business development experience. A writer, editor and experienced news and content operations manager, Katie works with clients to define and achieve content publishing goals. She formerly served as Senior Vice President for Global General News at Reuters, where she coordinated the launch of Reuters' global multimedia, multi-lingual online news reports which were the pioneering Internet news products in the United States and around the world. Prior to that she was responsible for creating and producing "What On Earth," a groundbreaking daily multimedia publication for kids that was distributed by cable giant TCI to schools across the country. Katie was a Fellow in Harvard's prestigious Nieman Foundation for leading U.S. and international journalists. For Reuters, she covered major news events in Latin America including the U.S. invasion of Panama and was chief correspondent in both Mexico and Brazil. She has lived and worked across Latin America and Europe and is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese. This biographical information is taken with Katie's permission from her company web site.
Ann D. Kirkwood: BA, 1976 Communication BA, 1976 English
Ann Kirkwood is the winner of an International George Peabody Award (2000) for a documentary, "Hearts and Minds," concerning teens and mental illness. This documentary, and a second one called "In Our Own Voice" also won an excellence in public broadcasting award from the National Educational Television Association and an excellence in public education award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Recognized in 2003 by the Idaho State Planning Council on Mental Health for exemplary educational programs on children's mental health, Ms. Kirkwood has advised the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill nationwide Technology and Communication Task Force. She is director of Red Flags Idaho, a school-based mental health program funded by the Idaho Governor's Office and now in its fourth year. She worked for 18 years as a reporter, editor and publisher at various newspapers across the United States, wining two national awards for editorial writing from the National Newspaper Association and numerous regional and state awards for reporting and editing. Following newspaper work, she was employed nine years for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as a senior public information officer. While with the agency, she was active in the International Association of Public Participation and taught classes on stakeholder involvement and facilitation techniques. She now specializes in mental health, disabilities and communication technology as a senior research associate for Idaho State University.
Elaine Ikoma Ko: BA (Communications) 1975
Magna Cum Laude
MBA, City University
Elaine Ko is the Director of the Office of Social Responsibility at the Port of Seattle; she began in January 2008. Her current responsibilities are to align the Port's business practices with social responsibility objectives through programs and initiatives and champion the small business program for the Port of Seattle. Prior to joining the Port of Seattle, she was the Executive Director, Operations Director at Inter*Im Community Development Association for six years.
Her journalism work began as the editor for Cleveland High School newspaper. She has also worked as a writer for Asian Family Affair and the International Examiner in the 1970s. She was a guest writer for North American Post and has had extensive speaking on topics of public policy, women, community service; small business, and other topics.
Ko lists her background to include student activism in the 1970s at the UW and leadership in the Asian Student Coalition. She began community organizing in Seattle's International District/Chinatown; led organizing for affordable housing and established the ID Housing Alliance as its first executive director in 1977, a non-profit that is still operating strong today. She served in Mayor Norm Rice's cabinet in the 1990s as Director of the City of Seattle Office for Women's Rights, and earlier as Coordinator of King County Women's Program. She was named a Top Ten Contributor in NW Asian Weekly (1994) and operated her own financial services small business for seven years.
Her current volunteer activities include: Leadership Tomorrow Alumni Committee, Union Gospel Mission Women and Family Shelter; International District Rotary; National Association of Asian American Professionals; API
Women and Family Safety Center; Grants Committee for Japanese Community and Cultural Center (Nikkei Heritage Association), Tabor 100; Urban Enterprise Center Advisory Board. She coordinates makeover days for homeless women three times per year.
Tom Koenninger, B.A. 1953
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Retired editor of the Columbian (Vancouver) and an active volunteer in a wide variety of community endeavors (e.g., the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges as member and chair; Vancouver's Celebrate Freedom Committee, the Conservation Land Trust Advisory Board, the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust Board and Long Range Committee, the Clark College Alumni Association Board of Directors, the "Festival 150" Planning Committee, and the Lewis and Clark Commemorative Committee.) He has long been a member of the department's visiting committee.
John Komen: BA, 1958 - Communications Radio-TV
While a senior at the UW, Komen worked full time for The Associated Press in Seattle (he was recommended for The AP job as a radio-news writer by one of his School of Communications professors); worked for The AP in Seattle, transferring to Olympia in 1961 to cover state-house and political news; hired by KOMO-TV news in 1963 as a field reporter, became KOMO-TV News night anchorman and later 6 p.m. anchorman/news editor (director); hired by ABC-TV news in 1967 as correspondent based in New York City, covered 1968 presidential campaign assigned at various times to campaigns of Richard Nixon, George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey, Spiro Agnew (also covered 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Republican National Convention in Miami, Robert Kennedy death watch in Los Angeles, crash of nuclear-armed bomber in Thule, Greenland, various protest marches and city riots), colleagues in New York City included Peter Jennings, Sam Donaldson, Marlene Sanders, Ted Koppel, John Scali; returned to Seattle in late 1969 as 11 p.m. news anchorman for KING-TV news; hired by the Tacoma News Tribune newspaper in 1976 as chief editorial writer, became associate editor, then managing editor, promoted to editor, retiring in December 1995 as editor of the editorial page after 19 years with the News Tribune.
Alixandra Knapp: BA, 2004
After graduating from the UW, Alixandra Knapp spent time working in a research lab focused on stem cell biology, transplantation and gene therapy at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She was awarded a full scholarship to Boston College in Massachusetts to pursue a graduate degree in molecular and cellular biology. Alixandra is currently finishing her degree, working at Children's Hospital Boston in clinical research and looking forward to pursuing more education.
Brian Knutsen: BA, 1981
In March 2005, Brian Knutsen was appointed General Manager of the Space & Intelligence Systems Mission Systems organization for The Boeing Company. Brian was editor of the University of Washington student newspaper, The Daily, in the fall of 1980 and graduated from the University in 1981.
S&IS Mission Systems, with headquarters in the Washington, D.C., area, has major business operations in Maryland, Colorado, California, Maine and Kent, WA. Mission Systems is the designated customer-facing organization for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and it provides support for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Mission Systems is also a technology capability center for Global Situational Awareness for Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems unit.
Brian has over 20 years of service with Boeing, and most recently was as the director of S&IS Government Operations. He and his wife, Martha, and their two sons reside in Arlington, VA.
Don Kraft: BA, 1948 (Journalism)
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Don Kraft, founder of the Department of Communication's Fred Baker Endowment for Professional Education in Advertising and Public Relations, was president of Kraft Advertising from 1948 until its merger with Honig-Cooper in 1954. He was a vice president of Honig-Cooper until its Seattle office was acquired and became Kraft, Smith & Ehrig in 1959. He was president of that agency until it merged and became Evans/Kraft in 1984. At the time of his retirement in 1993, he was chairman of the parent company, then called EvansGroup.
Glenn Kuper: MA, 1990; PhD, 1998
Glenn Kuper is the communications director at the state Office of Financial Management (the Governor’s budget office). Glenn has served as executive speechwriter for Governors Gary Locke and Chris Gregoire, deputy communications director for Gov. Locke, and communications manager at the Department of Ecology. Prior to entering state government, Glenn was a communications professor at the University of Puget Sound, teaching presentational communication, argument and debate, and political communication, as well as serving as speech and debate coach.
Mort Lachman: BA, 1939 Journalism
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Beginning as a writer for Bob Hope in the late 1940s, Lachman continued his career in television as a producer for numerous acclaimed series including: All in the Family, One Day at a Time, and Kate and Allie.
Robert Laing: BA, 1969; MA, 1972; PhD, 1975
After over twenty years working in foreign countries, Laing returned States’ side in 2006 as in currently working as a diplomat in residence for the State Department at Arizona State University doing lectures, speaking at career fairs and talking to students. Although Laing is 61 years old, he is uncertain about retirement as he’s trying to decide whether or not he’s going to serve another tour. However, in the end he wants to retire back in Seattle where it all began.
Read more about Robert Laing >>
Dan Lamont: MC, Digital Media, 2004
In the late '70s, while still a UW student and the photo editor of The Daily, Dan Lamont began working in the alternative media, first as staff photographer, then as Photo Editor and Special Projects Editor for the Seattle Sun. Mr. Lamont helped launched the Rocket, a biweekly music and entertainment magazine based in Seattle and Portland.
After leaving the Seattle Sun, he was as an Art Director for Murray Publishing and then joined the staff of the Seattle Weekly, where he stayed for about three years.
Except for a brief "busman's holiday" in the late '80s on the photo staff of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (where Evelyn Iritani was also working at the time), he has been successfully freelancing since 1982.
He is a regular contributor to many publications including Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Smithsonian, Audubon, Stern, Der Spiegel, LeMond, the Times of London and dozens of others. He also works for various institutional and non-profit clients (the UW among them).
Mr. Lamont has become very involved in photojournalism education, teaching a ten-week course for an accredited art school as well as designing and teaching in two workshop series. He is involved as an advisor in the Seattle Central Community College photography program and he frequently guest lectures for college and university classes (as he did for Department of Communication professors Tony Chan and Kathy Gill spring, 2004).
He is active in professional groups and currently serves as a Director of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). He is President of the ASMP Educational Foundation.
Elizabeth Landau: BA, 2005
US Airways: Employee Communication Specialist
Sally Sue Lander: BA, 1992
Sally Sue Lander graduated cum laude in 1992. While going to school, and for about 6 years after, she worked in Seattle as a film production assistant. (she did movies such as "Dog Fight", "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Little Buddha.") She eventually moved to L.A., continued to work in the film industry, and got married in 2002. She was the 1st assistant director for the TV show "Alias" (season 4) and the assistant director on David Fincher's most recent film "Zodiac" (due out in October, 2006). She has also produced a few short films of her husband's - he has recently sold a script to Warner Brothers for Leonardo DeCaprio to star in and is going to be directing his first feature film sometime in 2007.
Production credits at the IMDB...
Greg Lane: BA, 1988
Greg Lane is the president and chief executive officer of the statewide public affairs cable television network. He took over this position in April, 2008. Lane, a graduate of the University of Washington in Communications, has been deputy chief of staff for Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna since 2006. Before that he was the attorney general’s communications director, after also serving as a communications director in the Washington State Legislature from 1998 to 2005. Lane becomes TVW’s third president, following founding president Denny Heck and Cindy Zehnder, who was hired in October by Governor Chris Gregoire as her chief of staff.
TVW, often called the Washington state version of C-SPAN, provides unedited gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the Washington State Legislature, Supreme Court, executive branch, state boards and commissions, elections, and public policy events of statewide significance.
Wanda Zackovich Larson: BA (Journalism), 1949
Ms. Larson lives, writes and publishes in Portland, OR. Her Blue Unicorn Press, Inc. recently published Cain's Daughters, by Phyllis K. Collier (MFA, University of Washington). Ms. Larson's own recent book is narrative poetry of Sacajawea's journey, Blue Woman/Mojave.
Amy Laughter: BA, 2004
Amy Laughter is currently raising major gifts at United Way of King County. Her work rallies behind the mission that every child should be safe, healthy and ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten and that everyone should have a safe place to call home.
Carrie Lee: BA, 2001
Carrie Lee is a Project Manager of Customer Solutions at AziMyth LLC. Her company develops technologies for information delivery systems.
Renee Lee: BA, 2003
After graduating from the UW, Renee Lee went onto active duty as an Air Force public affairs officer. Her first assignment was a one-year remote deployment to the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, Korea. In 2004, she transferred to Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces based at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where she worked on staff in public affairs. She separated from active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve in 2006 and worked for the Office of the Governor, State of Hawaii, on the communications team. She is currently working back at Pacific Air Forces public affairs as a Reservist.
Lauren Leeds: BA, 2006
Leeds married Lucas Mack (a 2004 Communication grad) and is working in the sales department at KOMO TV in Seattle. She moved back to the area from San Antonio, Texas, where she was an Advertising Executive and co-host for lifestyle show "Great Day SA" at KENS 5 TV. Prior to her move to San Antonio in 2006, she was a television news reporter at KVEW Television, the ABC affiliate, in the Tri-Cities/Yakima market. She was proud to represent the Huskies in Cougar territory.
Sharon LeeMaster: BA, 1957
Sharon LeeMaster CFRE, became a third generation graduate of the University of Washington in 1957. Her grandmother was in the first class from the current campus, 1894. (Grandma Helen rode the street car from downtown Seattle where her family lived and boarded the barge to take her to the emerging campus. She was also the first woman to receive an advanced degree — Pharmacy!) Sharon’s husband, a UW graduate, wears Helen Anthony Carey’s class ring as his wedding ring.
Read more about Sharon LeeMaster >>
Nancy Leson : BA, 1992
How does one become the Seattle Times restaurant critic? Try waiting tables for more than ten years across North America, followed by a late blooming education and you get class of 92’ alumni Nancy Leson.
Read more about Nancy Leson >>
Sharon Levin-Rigbi: BA, 2005
Account Coordinator: JLM Partners
Caroline Li: BA, 2005
Caroline Li is the Associate Editor at Washington CEO Magazine, her first fulltime job since graduation. She covers retail, advertising, international trade and education.
Joanne Lisosky: PhD, 1997
Joanne Lisosky is an associate professor at Pacific Lutheran University's Department of Communication and Theatre. A former media professional, Lisosky now teaches a wide range of journalism and media courses, including: Journalism Writing, Media and the World, Human Rights-International Core, In-depth Investigative Reporting, Media Law, Children and Electronic Media, as well as Gender Communication. She also advises the award-winning student newspaper, The Mast.
Her research assesses the impact of media on children, media violence, and international children's television policy. During the fall of 2002, Lisosky was an academic consultant for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Nairobi, where she worked to secure grants for community multi-media centers in Brundi. In April 2003, Lisosky traveled to Uganda as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in communication and journalism at Makerere University, where she served as a teacher of journalism and academic consultant to students interested in media.
More information on Professor Lisosky's work...
Susan Loomis : BA, 1977
www.onruetatin.comRead any good books lately? How about the one about a journalist who goes to France to learn the language on the arts of cuisine? Try the life of UW alumni Susan Herrmann Loomis, who not only lives and works in France, but operates a cultural and culinary cooking school from her 15th century home in the city of Louviers across the street from Norte Dame.
Read more about Susan Loomis >>
Janet Luhrs: B.A. 1976
Janet is the author of The Simple Living Guide, Simple Loving, and editor of the newsletter, Simple Living. For a complete bio on Janet, visit her website.
Ryan Madayag: BA, 2003
Ryan is a territory sales representative for Philip Morris. His territory is Seattle.
Scott MacFarlane: BA, 1979
Since graduating from the UW in 1979, Scott MacFarlane has transformed from a long-haired and free-spirited traveler to a slightly balding and successful writer and scholar.
Read more about Scott MacFarlane and his book "The Hippie Narrative" >>
Lucas Mack: BA, 2004
Working in the media gives Lucas eyes into the ever-changing world of advertising and public relations.
Starting out in public relations at the University of Washington, Lucas worked side by side with sports columnists and sports broadcasters from around the Northwest. From there he took a job at KOMO TV, as the Audience Coordinator for the live talk show Northwest Afternoon. While there, he entertained audiences and worked behind the scenes in sales and public relations. Lucas developing a knack for what people liked based on immediate crowd reaction and took this lesson into his broadcast journalism career.
He moved to eastern Washington as a reporter for the NBC affiliate, where he fell in love with storytelling. His next stop brought him to the Lone Star State reporting for the FOX affiliate in San Antonio as their Feature Reporter, hosting his own live segment.
Lucas thrived at telling unique stories that connected with the audience. He was able to translate his skill of entertaining a live audience into his stories. His broadcast journalism career launched him home, back to Seattle, where he reported for KOMO TV.
In 2008, Lucas co-founded 4th Avenue Media to give clients the unique opportunity to tell their story by a broadcast journalist. Spending years in a newsroom, Lucas knows what it takes to get mass media coverage. His stories are both informational and entertaining, and he wants to tell yours.
Kathy Mahdoubi: BA, 2006
Kathy Mahdoubi is writing and coordinating for DOTmed Business News (DMBN).
Eunice Malley: BA, 1972
Eunice Malley has been working as a technical writer for over 15 years for the last two years as an independent contractor. She is currently on contract with a State of California division. She has also taught communications courses for extended education programs, and has a resume writing service business specializing in career transition.
Don Manuszewski: BA, 1998
Don Manuszewski works on portions of the military's contingency planning for the National Capital Region, to include continuity of government and continuity of operations. He is also working on the Department of Defense's State Funeral Plan.
He has lived in Arizona, South Dakota, Turkey and Maryland and is retired from the Air Force and is now an Air Force civil service employee. In his response to the Communication Alumni Newsletter, spring, 2006 edition, he reports that his interests inside the business are crisis communication and contingency planning and outside the business: "My children; cooking; golf." In his spare time he is a driver for two ten year olds and a three year old.
David Marriott, B.A. 1967
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Prominent public relations practitioner, mentor to students. He specializes in crisis management, crisis communication, labor communications, litigation support and media training. Marriott is a 30-year public relations professional, nationally accredited by the Public Relations Society of America, and a member of its Counselors Academy. His career spans broadcast journalism, politics, corporate and agency public relations. He currently serves as a member and past president of the Centrum Foundation board, a member and past chair of the Seattle Center Advisory Commission and a member and marketing committee Chair of the Seattle Repertory Theatre board of trustees. He has also held board positions with Earshot Jazz Society, University of Washington School of Music Visiting Committee and the Seattle King County chapter of the American Red Cross.
Jefferson Marshall: BA, 1995 (Speech Communication)
Jefferson Marshall is a vice president of sales for McKesson Pharmaceutical , Southwest Region. He has been with McKesson Pharmaceutical since 2002. Before McKesson, he worked for Bestfoods and Phillip Morris. He is the winner of the Presidents Club Award for McKesson Pharmaceutical in 2005 and the Northwest Region Award of Excellence for McKesson Pharmaceutical in 2004.
Temple Mathews: BA, 1976
templemathews@yahoo.comTemple Mathews is a successful writer and screenwriter living in Southern California. He welcomes alumni, Husky fans, and other screenwriters to contact him. His most recent writing credit is "Picture This" (2008) starring Ashley Tisdale.
Lori Lei Matsukawa, M.A. 1996
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Award-winning journalist and anchor (KING 5 News, KONG TV). Matsukawa's professional awards include ARBY Awards in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2000, given by the Academy of Religious Broadcasting; a Society of Professional Journalists award for Economic Reporting in 1989 and the "American Scene Award," from the local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1986. Matsukawa co-chairs a committee seeking to build a Japanese cultural and community center in Seattle. She also served on the Association Board of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. In 1999, she organized the Student Broadcast Project for UNITY, a multi-cultural journalism convention held in Seattle. She was chosen as an Asian-American Living Pioneer by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation in 1996. In 1993, she was given the Community Volunteer Award from the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, where she served as a board member and board president. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). Matsukawa is a founding member of AAJA's Seattle Chapter.
Hillary J. Maynard: BA, 2004
Staff Writer: The Port Orchard Independent
Steve Maynard: BA, 1976
Steve Maynard is the South King County and religion reporter at The News Tribune in Tacoma. Maynard has written about religion for daily newspapers for 26 years. Prior to joining The News Tribune in 1987 as religion/higher education reporter, Maynard worked as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in communications (editorial journalism) at the University of Washington and also has a master of arts degree in theology. Maynard served for six years as a board member for the Western Washington Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and was Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) director for SPJ for two years. He is secretary-treasurer for the Religion Newswriters Association.
David Mazzeo: BA, 2004
David Mazzeo has been a hip-hop artist for the past 12 years under the stage name Wizdom. Wiz has performed all over Seattle and the state of Washington. He has two professional studio albums, "The Book of Wizdom" and "Music: Soul of the Man" (with Washington, D.C. producer Epidemmik), both available on iTunes, Amazon.com, and in local record stores. He was named by Seattle Weekly as a "standout act of 2008" and has been on radio stations KUBE
93, KEXP 90.3 and Sports Radio 950 KJR. Wiz performed at the Seattle Weekly Reverbfest 2008, a show at Neumos to support the return of the Seattle Sonics, and opened for acts such as NYC's Large Professor, a Seattle favorite Macklemore and super-group Dyme Def. Wiz has also been written about in URB Magazine, The Seattle Times, The Stranger, Sound Magazine, and okayplayer.com. Wiz just released a free seven-song EP available for download on his web site: www.wizdomsound.com.
Jocelyn McCabe: BA, 1993
Jocelyn McCabe is vice president of communications for the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce located in Olympia. She joined AWB in July after serving as director of communications for the Association of Washington School Principals. In October 2008 she earned the designation Accredited in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America. APR is a mark of accreditation for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. The designation is earned based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. Nationwide, approximately 6,000 public relations professionals have achieved accreditation since the program began in 1964.
Robert W. McChesney: MA and PhD, 1986 and 1989
Robert McChesney is Research Professor in the Institute of Communications Research (ICR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Executive Director of the Illinois Initiative for Media Policy Research, and Director of Graduate Studies at the ICR.
McChesney is the President and co-founder of Free Press, a national media reform organization -- www.freepress.net. He also hosts the "Media Matters" weekly radio program every Sunday afternoon on WILL-AM radio. From 1988 to 1998 he was on the Journalism and Mass Communication faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Read more about Robert McChesney >>
Megan McDevitt: BA, 2004
Marketing and Event Manager: Georgia Institute of Technology
Dan McDonough: BA, 1948
Winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize (Local General or Spot News Reporting) with fellow alumni Linda Wilson (BA, 1979) and Laurie Smith (Attended, 1994 and 1995) for their coverage of the Mt. St. Helens story for the Longview (Washington) Daily News.
Dr. Jerilyn McIntyre: PhD, 1973 Communications
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
After earning a Ph.D. in communications and history from the UW, Jerilyn McIntyre began an academic career that took her to the University of Iowa, and then the University of Utah, where she served twice as interim president and seven years as vice president for academic affairs. McIntyre became president of Central Washington University in 2000. She continues to teach one course biannually. She is an innovative thinker in communication theory whose work helped define the nature of the field - a broader theoretical approach to communication. Her work on Jacksonville continues to inspire Communication faculty and students.
Neil McReynolds: BA, 1956
2005 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Mr. McReynolds is President of McReynolds Associates, Inc., a Seattle-based firm that advises corporations, non-profit organizations and trade associations on how to increase the effectiveness of their boards. Also, in the spring of each year he teaches an MBA class on corporate governance in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Washington and he is a frequent speaker on governance at business and non-profit seminars. For the past decade he has consulted extensively with governing boards on their organizational structure and effectiveness. He is considered one of the foremost authorities in the Pacific Northwest on matters concerning corporate governance.
Read more about Neil McReynolds >>
Read about his guest presentation in the Department's News Lab>>
Sean Means: BA, 1986
In the summer of 2004, Sean Means marks 11 years as movie critic of the Salt Lake Tribune. In addition to reviewing about 250 films a year, Means also covers Utah's film industry and the annual madness of the Sundance Film Festival. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Leslie, and their two sons.
Robert Merry: B.A., 1968
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Robert W. Merry, publishing executive and author, is President and Publisher of Congressional Quarterly Inc. (CQ), the Washington-based publishing company that specializes in news and information on Congress, politics and public policy. He is the author of "Taking On the World: Joseph and Stewart Alsop - Guardians of the American Century," (Viking 1996). The New York Times called the biography a "rich and fascinating book .... a sensitive portrait, executed with .... critical acumen." The book won an Ambassador Award from the New York-based English Speaking Union.
Read more about Robert Merry >>
Drew Mikkelsen: BA, 1993
Drew Mikkelsen reached his career goal when he returned to work in Seattle for KING-5 News last December. He's the South Sound Bureau Chief.
After graduation Drew worked in television news in Yakima (for free) beforemoving to Las Vegas and then Portland. He enjoys being closer to family since he has a wife and child now too. If you hear of any "hot" news stories e-mail Drew at dmikkelsen@king5.com.
Daniel Miller: BA, 2004
Assistant Vice President/Premier Client Manager: Bank of America
Kathleen Miller: BA, 1987
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Kathleen owns Blue Emu Communications, providing writing and marketing services for web and print publications. She also writes for several local publications and web sites including Seattle CitySearch and Puget Sound Business Journal. She is active in the Society for Professional Journalists and Association for Women in Communications. To learn more about Blue Emu Communications visit:
Ken Miller: MA, 1987
Ken Miller is the Public Information Officer and Web Manager for the city of Lansing, Kansas. He oversees the city's web site, www.lansing.ks.us as well as Lansing's government access television channel.
Ken married Anne Dennehy in June 2006. Anne is an RN and works for Kansas City Hospice. They live together with Ken's daughter in Lawrence, Kansas. Grace Miller is 13 years old and participates in the gifted program, an elite volleyball team and a local softball team. Ken can be reached by e-mail at oscarfactor@yahoo.com.
(Photo is Ken and Anne Miller in Colorado, summer 2008.)
Marcie Miller: BA, 2002
Marcie brought a rich background in journalism to her studies at the University of Washington. She was a reporter and columnist for Arusha Times in Arusha, Tanzania, Africa--her "Women's Voices" column highlighted women's issues in Tanzania. She also spent eight years at the Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, WA.
Marcie graduated Cum Laude from the journalism track of the Department of Communication with a minor in International Studies. She did her internship at The Herald, filing over 60 stories in 14 weeks on topics ranging from police beat news and transportation issues to diversity and elections.
As a reporter for the Whidbey News-Times she covers education and Navy news. She has reported on a major $45 million school bond, the memorial service for astronaut Willie McCool, Governor Gary Locke's visits to the Navy base, and the Iraqi war from a local angle.
Ruth Gahnberg Miller: BA, 1938
Ruth Miller is a former reporter for the Yakima Daily Republic and The Seattle Times. She is proud to report that she is now 88 and still writing.
Ken Mochizuki: BA, 1976
Today, Mochizuki is a journalist and a renowned author of children's literature. An alumnus of the Department of Communication, he made his first trek back to campus in three decades to visit with aspiring journalists on November 30.
Bryan Monroe: BA, 1987
2007 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Bryan Monroe is the new vice president and editorial director of EBONY and JET magazines. He left Knight Ridder, where he was assistant vice president of news (and the second highest-ranking news executive) to join the executive editorial team of EBONY and JET. He is also president of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Read more about Bryan Monroe >>
Read about Bryan's awards and visits to our department >>
Kristin C. Moran: MA and PhD, 1997 and 2000
Kristin C. Moran is an assistant professor of Communication Studies at the University of San Diego. She received her B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of San Diego and then attended the University of Washington School of Communications. Her dissertation titled "Mexican Telenovelas and Latina Teenagers' Understanding of Romantic Relationships: A Reception Analysis" examined the text/audience interaction through focus group and interview data. Her research interests include international communication with a focus on Spanish-language media in Spain, Mexico and the United States. Dr. Moran is a recipient of a TransBorder Institute Research Grant to study the impact of Spanish-language news in San Diego. Dr. Moran also researches the potential impacts of television on children and adolescents and includes her international focus by studying the expansion of children's television programming in a global context. Dr. Moran is USD's representative to BINACOM, Binational Association of Schools of Communication where she works to facilitate international communication research with an emphasis upon Mexico. Her work has been published in Global Media Journal, Journal of San Diego History and presented at the annual conferences of the International Communication Association, Global Fusion and the National Communication Association.
Clarence Moriwaki: BA, 1978
Clarence Moriwaki graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in communications, advertising and broadcast journalism in 1978. Since then, Moriwaki has been successful in his career and active in community service.
Read more about Clarence Moriwaki >>
Eric Nalder: BA, 1968
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Eric Nalder has received two Pulitzer Prizes, one for national reporting in 1990 and another for investigative reporting in 1997. He was also a finalist for the Pulitzer in public service in 1992. He has published one book, "Tankers Full of Trouble", which won the Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for 1994. He has received more than 60 state, regional and national journalism awards. He has taught interviewing and investigative reporting workshops in five countries, each year adding new techniques learned from journalists, cops, FBI agents, lawyers, social workers and other practitioners. He's been a reporter for 34 years, minus nine months spent as a pig farmer. He works on the investigative team of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and lives in Suquamish, WA. He has also lived in Norway, France, Lebanon and Afghanistan. This is his second stint at the P-I, having worked there previously from 1975 to 1983. He spent three and a half years at the San Jose Mercury News before joining the P-I on Aug. 30. Prior to that, he worked for The Seattle Times for 17 years. He also worked for the Everett Herald, Lynnwood Enterprise and Whidbey News Times. His wife Jan is also a UW graduate. His daughter Britt Nalder lives in Seattle and is a graphic artist.
Dane Narbaitz: BA, 1991
Dane Narbaitz, formerly Northwest area sales supervisor for Robert Mondavi Corp., has joined Long Shadows Vintners as Vice President, Sales and Marketing effective immediately. Long Shadows, led by former Chateau Ste. Michelle CEO Allen Shoup, is a consortium of ultra-premium wineries established in 2003. It brings a renowned group of celebrated international vintners to Washington State.
Read more about Dane Narbaitz >>
Joan Neils: BA, 2004
Communications and Marketing Director: for J. Neils Enterprises, Inc.
Debbie (Pettitt) Németh: BA, 2005
Debbie Németh is a Training Compliance Auditor for US Airways.
Neil Neroutsos: BA, 1986 (Broadcast Journalism)
Neil Neroutsos went on to earn a masters in corporate public relations from Northwestern University (1991). Since then, he has worked in numerous marketing and communications positions. He is currently the media and public relations liaison for Snohomish County Public Utility District. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Shoreline.
Assunta Ng: MA, 1979 Speech Communication
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
2005 Department of Communication Distinguished Alumna
Assunta Ng is the founder and publisher of the Seattle Chinese Post and its English-language sister newspaper, the Northwest Asian Weekly. She began college in Oregon. But her heart was set on the UW. She finished her bachelor's degree in Asian History in three years, but she did not want to graduate. So, during her senior year, she took journalism classes. Before she knew it, she was writing for The Daily. Ng earned her teaching certificate in 1976 and taught for some years. She came back to the UW for a master's degree in Speech Communication. She founded the Seattle Chinese Post and Northwest Asian Weekly in 1982 and 1983 respectively.
My Tam H. Nguyen: BA, 2006
My Tam H. Nguyen graduated in 2006 from the University of Washington in International Studies and Journalism. She recently graduated from the 2009 Leadership Tomorrow (LT) class, and is an alumna of the 2008 Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF) Community Leadership Program.
Nguyen works in community relations at the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development on inclusive outreach strategy and materials for the neighborhood plan updates and Southeast Seattle Station Area planning. She has traveled with the Washington Council on International Trade on a sustainable development mission to Brazil studying social change and nonprofit models and implemented a youth global citizenship and diplomacy program.
Her current community service work includes serving on the Seattle Art Museum Young Advisors Board, mentor and advisor for Ashoka Foundation’s Youth Venture, ACLF’s Alumni Leadership Committee, LT’s Alumni Leadership Committee, and the University of Washington Department of Communication’s Alumni Board. She also advises communication and marketing strategies for local and international organizations. Nguyen is committed to global citizenship with local action, citizen- and youth-level diplomacy, and issues relating to social and racial justice, environmental and food equity, and human rights for women and children. She especially enjoys connecting people, resources, and organizations to better our communities.
Kris Nichols: BA, 2005
Project Manager: T-Mobile
Chris S. Nishiwaki: BA, 1995
Chris Nishiwaki graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Journalism and Sociology. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He is a Mercer Island-based freelance writer with over 13 years of experience in journalism. he started his journalism career as the tennis beat writer for the Bellevue Journal American (now the King County Journal). He has gone on to cover the state legislature and professional and local sports for the Lewiston News Tribune in Idaho and The Kansas City Star. He has also written for the Northwest Asian Weekly, The Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Northwest Nikkei, The Northshore Citizen and several other publications.
Read more about Chris Nishiwaki >>
Jody Deering Nyquist: BA, MA; 1960, 1967 Speech Communication
2004 Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame
Jody Deering Nyquist is Associate Dean Emerita of the Graduate School at the University of Washington and an emeritas member of the graduate faculty of the Department of Communication. She was the University’s Director of the Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR) from 1984–2000. Both undergraduate and graduate work were completed at the University where she has been a faculty member since 1969. In the Department of Communication, Jody taught undergraduate and graduate courses in interpersonal and instructional communication, interviewing, small group facilitation, public speaking, and media.
Most recently she was PI for two major grants, one from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Spencer Foundation on the stages of graduate student development and the second from The Pew Charitable Trusts addressing the question of, “How can we re-envision the Ph.D. to meet the needs of the society of the 21st Century?” In addition to over 70 articles and book chapters, she has edited six books and co-authored Working Effectively with Graduate Assistants and Re-envisioning the Ph.D.: What Concerns Do We Have? Additionally she has published in such areas as service efficiency, service quality, and service delivery systems. Her expertise in research methodology lies primarily in the use of qualitative methods and the critical incident technique.
Jody has received numerous awards for her work in her discipline and in higher education from the University of Washington and from national and international organizations. Jody was President of the Western States Communication Association in 1984 and later received their highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. In 1992 she served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in New Zealand. In 1996, she was awarded the prestigious Robert J. Kibler Award and in 2002, the Samuel L. Becker Award, the highest award given for scholarship, teaching, and service by the National Communication Association. In 2003, the Department of Communication established an endowment to fund the Nyquist Excellence in Communication Awards, and in 2004, Jody was inducted into the initial class of the Department of Communication’s Hall of Fame.
Jody has served on Boards for over 50 universities, organizations, independent schools, and non-profit agencies. She has served on the editorial boards of nine journals and as an outside reviewer for ten universities. She has lectured at over 20 universities in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia. She was Visiting Professor at Nagoya University from September 5 to December 5, 2008.
