Jargon | School of Media and Journalism Alumni Newsletter

A once in a generation moment for the city of Cleveland — hosting the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four Tournament, and days later, being in the path of totality for a solar eclipse — became a launchpad into content creation, social media and public relations for two Kent State students in the School of Media and Journalism.

According to the “State of AI in Education” report (Quizlet, 2023), 62 percent of teachers and students in the United States have used artificial intelligence (AI). At Kent State University, Associate Professor David Foster has been immersing himself in research related to AI, seeking ways to empower students to integrate AI into various aspects of life.

Tara L. Conley, an interdisciplinary scholar and media maker, brings an innovative teaching approach to her role as Assistant Professor at Kent State University, seamlessly integrating her previous and ongoing projects and research into her classrooms. 

Kent State student Anthony Scilla, '25, found himself drawn to the Savannah Bananas, fascinated by their innovative style of baseball entertainment known as "banana ball." The former amateur baseball team garnered national acclaim and amassed millions of fans and TikTok followers with its unconventional approach to the game, incorporating elements like kilts, viral choreographed dances, flaming bats and more.

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

Kent State alumna Portia Booker '16, also known as "Portia the Producer," has navigated the world of broadcast journalism and emerged as a multimedia producer, podcaster and author. Both of her parents have died since she began navigating life as a young professional, and the transformative experience of losing them became a driving force behind her mission to reshape perceptions of grief.