Major: 
MA- Communication
Year Graduated: 
2009
Hometown: 
Berea, KY
Current City: 
Lexington, KY
Current Employer: 
Producer/Director for Public Affairs programming at Kentucky Educational Television
Top played song on your playlist?: 
Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth – The entire album.
Where has your CI degree taken you?: 

Almost immediately after graduating with a Master’s degree from CI, I was offered a position at Kentucky Educational Television, a place I had dreamed of working for many years.  My undergraduate degree from EKU gave me the technical skills and tools to work in the broadcast industry. My graduate degree from UK gave me the critical thinking skills and leadership abilities to excel anywhere I would choose to work.  Kentucky Educational Television offered me an opportunity to do the work I’ve always wanted to do, make meaningful programs that would capture the audience with good story-telling and beautiful images.  Without my graduate degree from the College of Communications I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

Most recently, I led an agency-wide initiative on the opioid crisis in Kentucky.  The initiative put forth many hours of programming related to different aspects of the epidemic.  I shot and directed interview programs with some of the state and nation’s top experts on addiction, law enforcement, public policy, and citizen advocacy.  We traveled to Atlanta, Ga for the Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md, and all across the state of Kentucky.  This year long initiative culminated with two major releases:  Journey to Recovery, a documentary focused on the various forms of opioid addiction treatment that is available in the state and across the nation which I produced and directed, shot video, and conducted the interviews.  Also, our Inside Opioid Addiction Forum, which brought together a diverse panel of treatment providers, advocates, people in recovery, and policy officials.  The forum also provided an opportunity for our large studio audience to ask questions, provide insights, and add comments to the discussion.

I was also asked to meet with various members of the media from across the state to promote the initiative and describe the epidemic as I saw it during the many hours of interviews I conducted for the documentary.

The documentary has been very well received and has generated more discussion about the epidemic.  I couldn’t be more proud of that work.

What is your favorite thing about your job?: 

I most enjoy working on projects that have a lasting impact on the state that I love so much.  Dedicating the time and energy to projects that truly matter to the Commonwealth and its citizens means so much to me.

What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?: 

I learned so much about how to analyze problems, break work down into sizeable chucks, and how to approach leadership and collaborate with a team.  These were just a few of the valuable lessons I developed in CI.

What advice would you give to current CI students?: 

My best advice to current students is to work in a field that really inspires you.  Many people offer this same advice, but it really is true, working in a field and doing a job that provides you with a sense of purpose and happiness is paramount!