Alumni

While an ad major at the SOJC, Max Birch ’23 developed a rudimentary outfit generator that would become the first-ever prototype for the Fitted app. Now he’s chief marketing officer of the company.

Professor Emerita Lauren Kessler and Isaac Wasserman ’23 won first place for Project Reporting in the Best of the West Awards. Josephine Woolington ’13 won first place in Long Form Feature Writing.

Three SOJC alums in journalism and public relations are shaping the sports industry at various levels by inspiring young athletes, overseeing major events, and creating memorable highlight reels.

Kyle LaMontagne, SOJC Multimedia Storytelling Master’s alum, created a short film highlighting two people on opposite sides of the immigration debate, exposing the audience to the humanity of both men.

Paul Brainerd ’70—an SOJC alum who helped launch the personal computing era—died Feb. 15. Brainerd double-majored in journalism and business and was editor of the Oregon Daily Emerald.

A new memoir by SOJC journalism alum Francesca Fontana ’17 received a positive review in the New York Times. The book, “The Family Snitch,” delves into Fontana’s complicated relationship with her dad.

A book by journalism alum Jonathan Bach ’16 has been nominated for a 2026 Oregon Book Award. “High Desert, Higher Costs” explores the housing affordability crisis in Bend.

The Center for Community News in Vermont has named Twange Kasoma ’07, an alum of the SOJC’s Communication and Society PhD program, a faculty champion. She is an associate professor at Appalachian State University.