Decade: 1980-89
Brian Smith, BJ ’81
A new book photographed by Brian Smith, BJ ’81, features celebrities from film, music and television as a way to raise awareness of the arts in America. “ART & SOUL: Stars Unite to Celebrate and Support the Arts” includes 123 portraits accompanied by inspiring handwritten stories from the world’s most beloved and legendary actors, actresses, … Continued
Susan Mays, BJ ’83
Susan Mays, BJ ’83, has been named vice president of marketing and strategic initiatives for CH2M HILL in Denver. She joined the company in 1996 and previously served as director of marketing and communications.
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89, is the owner and principal of PRiority Public Relations LLC in Coralville, Iowa.
Sandi Straetker
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89, is owner and principal of PRiority Public Relations LLC. She is also an award winner, a mother, a counselor for Fortune 100 companies, a community leader, a volunteer, but most of all she’s a proud Missouri School of Journalism alumna. Marked at Birth Growing up in Moline, Ill., Straetker developed an … Continued
Vince Patton
What do you do? I spent 27 years in commercial TV news covering education, consumer, investigative, statehouse and environmental beats. During my final eight years I switched to public broadcasting for long-form TV news magazine reporting for Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Field Guide. At OPB I also reported for radio and the website. Nowhere else … Continued
Ellie Grossman, BJ ’86
Ellie Grossman, BJ ’86, has published “Mishegas of Motherhood. Raising Children To Leave The Nest…As Long As They Come Home For Dinner.” The book is written in the tradition of humorist Erma Bombeck with a Jewish twist. Chapters include “Everything I Need To Know I Learned From My Dog,” “Chocolate Makes Everyday Sweeter” and “Answering … Continued
John Duban, BJ ’87
John Duban, BJ ’87, is the executive vice president and global managing director for Starcom MediaVest Group in New York, N.Y.
John Duban
When John Duban got a “D” in his advertising principles and practices class, his professor told him, “Guys like you never make it in the advertising business.” Duban, BJ ’87, proved his professor’s judgments were wrong. After almost 25 years of advertising agency experience, he is now executive vice president, global managing director at Starcom … Continued
Bill Wright
How did you get started in your career? I went to school at Mizzou and wanted to get into the news-editorial sequence. My adviser, Jim Albright, steered me into the advertising sequence. He saw my writing style and thought it would be better suited to the advertising industry. I am really indebted to him for … Continued
Diana White Vowels
How did you get interested in journalism? In high school I worked on the school yearbook because I was really interested in design. What was your first job, and how did you get it? I was actually recruited on the MU campus by Gannett for an advertising sales position. I started at The Desert Sun … Continued