Decade: 2000-09
Jeff Sonderman, BJ ’04
Jeff Sonderman, BJ ’04, has joined The American Press Institute in Arlington, Va., as deputy director. Sonderman was most recently the digital media fellow at The Poynter Institute. He previously worked as the managing editor of TBD.com, a digital news operation in Washington, D.C. As deputy director, Sonderman will explore how digital technology can be … Continued
Matt Jacob, MA ’00
After a six-year stint in public relations, Matt Jacob, MA ’00, is back to his journalism roots. Jacob recently returned to The Dallas Morning News to join the investigative projects team as a newsroom data specialist.
Erin Gitau, BJ ’09
Erin Gitau, BJ ’09, has been promoted to account executive at Geile/Leon Marketing Communications in St. Louis. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of agency clients including GreenLight Innovations, Enterprise Truck, Enterprise Fleet Management and XIOLINK.
Blythe Terrell, BJ ’05
Blythe Terrell, BJ ’05, has completed her master’s in public health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She left for Swaziland, Africa, in June 2012 to begin a two-year assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer. Terrell is educating the citizens on HIV prevention and writing their newsletter.
Matt and Amanda LePoire, BJ ’02
Matt and Amanda LePoire, BJ ’02, are the parents of Benjamin Matthew LePoire, born on Feb. 27.
Benjamin Hochman, BJ ’02
Benjamin Hochman, BJ ’02, received an Associated Press Sports Editors award for beat writing for cities with a circulation of more than 175,000. Hochman is a sportswriter for The Denver Post. He has won four APSE awards in the past four years in the investigative, game story, breaking news and now beat writing categories.
Brittany Pieper, BJ ’08
Brittany Pieper, BJ ’08, will join KOMU-TV as evening co-anchor on March 4. Pieper comes to KOMU 8 News from KSLA in Shreveport, La., where she is an anchor and reporter covering education. Previously, she worked as a reporter, anchor and producer at KCBD in Lubbock, Texas.
Katherine Johanns, BJ ’02
Katherine Johanns, BJ ’02, is the communications director at the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the nation’s largest independent educator organization.
Daxton “Chip” Stewart, PhD ’09
Daxton “Chip” Stewart, PhD ’09, had his first book, “Social Media and the Law: A Guidebook for Communication Students and Professionals,” published by Routledge in December. Stewart edited the book, which features chapters by 11 authors, including one of his own on developing social media policies and guidelines for journalism organizations. In 2012, he was … Continued
Colleen Cusumano, BJ ’07
Four J-School alumni staff the public relations department at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. From left: Michael Kateman, MA ’91; Whitney Dreier, MA ’10; Colleen Cusumano, BJ ’07; and Brandi Herrman, MA ’08.