Meet our Journalism Program Alumni

Our J-grads build crossfunctional and transferable skills that can translate to a career in any medium, from digital and multimedia storytelling to documentary filmmaking. They also graduate with an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to evolve with the industry, with many potential paths to success. See what some of our outstanding alums are up to now:

digital illustration of Sarah Mensah
Journalism alum leads Nike’s Jordan Brand
Sarah Mensah '87, an SOJC alum, was the first Black woman to become chief operating officer of an NBA team. Now she leads Nike's Jordan Brand.
composite photo of Rachel Benner, Kyle Heiner, and Hannah Lewman
These SOJC grads went from Allen Hall to the Big Apple
Three Clark Honors College graduates from SOJC's class of 2018 say their theses helped them launch successful careers in the advertising industry.
headshot of Bonnie Shelton
Bonnie Shelton ’10 leads comms for Boise Parks and Rec
Journalism alum Bonnie Shelton explains how SOJC faculty helped prepare her for her job overseeing all communications for the City of Boise’s 96 parks and 210 miles of trails.
Carly Ebisuya poses for a portrait in front of a shiny silver background while tossing a basketball in the air
How a young alum landed her dream career in sports PR
In fewer than two years after graduation, PR and journalism alum Carly Ebisuya ’21 landed her dream job as director of PR for the WNBA team the Chicago Sky. Find out how the SOJC helped her get there.
black and white photo of a young Randy Shilts
SOJC alum Randy Shilts was an LGBTQ+ trailblazer
At the 30th anniversary of his death, OPB profiles SOJC Hall of Achievement member Randy Shilts ’77, a San Francisco Chronicle journalist who launched his career as an openly gay man.
portrait of Tony Fuller
Alum aims to expand American Indian representation
Journalism alum Tony Aaron Fuller ‘05 makes his identity central to his work as a Tribal affairs communication specialist for the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Craig Harris
Alumni Profile: Craig Harris ’89 champions the underdog through investigative journalism
UO School of Journalism and Communication alum, inspired by his mother’s sacrifices, holds companies and governments accountable with investigative journalism.
Bruce Poinsette stands in front of a classroom of students with a projector screen behind him
Alumni Profile: Bruce Poinsette ’11 finds a voice in freelance journalism and activism for Black media representation
A lifelong love for storytelling led the Oregon native to carve out a path for himself as a full-time freelance journalist, educator and Black activist, telling stories that expose social injustice.
Nate Jackson
Alumni Profile: Nate Jackson ’05 captivates thousands with his role as an emcee
Duck fans will recognize journalism alum Nate Jackson’s voice as the live emcee for Oregon football and basketball. He took a wide-ranging journey to come full-circle back to UO.
John Strong
Alumni Profile: John Strong ’07, the voice of soccer on FOX
Before journalism alum John Strong became the voice of soccer on FOX, he cut his teeth as a broadcaster on UO’s student-run radio station KWVA.