Elon University School of Communications

08/26/2026

🎉 From Elon News Network to PRNEWS’ Ones to Watch!

Congratulations to Amanda Gibson ’21, who has been named a 2026 PRNEWS Person of the Year honoree! 👏

Today, Amanda serves as director of public relations and business development at Hannah Cranston Media, leading client strategy and media relations across consumer brands, women’s health and wellness.

But her storytelling roots go back to Elon, where she was a journalism major, Honors Fellow and reporter and anchor with ENN. 🎥🎤

“Elon gave me a passion for storytelling and a tenacious curiosity, both essential to my career,” Amanda said.

We love seeing our alumni making their mark! 🌟

🔗 Read more about Amanda’s journey with the link in our bio.

08/25/2026

Happy ! 🎉

We often get asked: What makes a great photo? Elon branding, of course! 😎

Shout-out to first-year Communications Fellow Suzy Marshall for getting it right. 👏

08/21/2026

A little bit of rain didn’t dampen our Move-In Day!!

Here’s a look at students moving into Sloan Hall, home to the Communications and Sport Management & Media LLCs.

08/18/2026

A well-deserved honor for one of the most influential figures in history. 👏

Don Grady, associate professor emeritus of cinema and television arts, received the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor for service, during Monday’s Opening Day ceremony.

For 35 years, Grady was a steady hand in the growth of communications at Elon, serving as a professor, department chair, associate dean, mentor and adviser to generations of students. And, of course, his unmistakable baritone voice became a familiar part of the Elon experience.

Fittingly, Grady’s longtime colleague - and former NC State roommate - Gerald Gibson delivered the citation honoring his career and impact.

“So many of our graduates are doing great work in media markets all over the country. They’re the reason we do this work,” Grady said.

Congratulations, Don, on this well-deserved honor — and thank you for all you’ve meant to Elon Comm!

08/13/2026

Three alumnae. Three original films. One memorable night at Sony Pictures Studios. 🎬

Hard to believe it’s already been three weeks since Julie Boyd ’15, Bex Evans ’16 and Mirai ’07 premiered their grant-funded short films at the sold-out inaugural Elon Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival.

The evening celebrated the work of Elon storytellers and brought together alumni, students and entertainment industry professionals — including a panel conversation with Elon alumni Lindsey Emerson and Alex Stevenson.

Congratulations again to Julie, Bex and Mirai on bringing their films to the big screen!

🎥 READ MORE about the festival at the link in our bio.

Photos courtesy of Jesse Newman ’21 (Jesse Newman)

08/06/2026

From Elon to Hollywood. 🎬✨

Congratulations to Joyce Choi ’19, who has been named to Variety’s “Hollywood’s New Leaders: Class of 2026.” The annual recognition celebrates 34 rising executives, producers, agents and entrepreneurs helping shape the future of the entertainment industry.

Since joining Imagine Entertainment more than six years ago, Choi has risen from an executive assistant to vice president of film, where she leads development across the department’s slate. Her projects include “Dangerously Funny,” a feature about the Smothers Brothers’ battle with CBS censors, and she secured the rights to the books “200 Monas” by Jan Saenz and Rebecca Yarros’ “The Last Letter” for Amazon.

“You can’t succeed in a vacuum, and I think the best part of this industry is the camaraderie and community that you can find if you look for it,” Choi said. “To be recognized by the company where I grew up as a producer is incredibly meaningful, and even more than that, to look around and be celebrated by my peers and creative partners is everything.”

Read more with the link in our bio.

08/04/2026

Behind every newscast is a team of journalists committed to serving the public. 📺

In the latest episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, Matt Belanger ’05 reflects on his journey from Elon to becoming a six-time regional Emmy Award-winning journalist and morning news anchor at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

In his conversation with President Connie Book, Belanger shares what it takes to produce three hours of live morning news each day, the importance of investigative journalism and the experiences that have shaped his commitment to storytelling and public service.

🎥 Watch Matt’s full interview with the link in our bio.

07/22/2026

From Elon Sports Vision to Boston’s top sports radio station. 🎙️

For Rylee Marchand ‘28, a summer internship at 98.5 The Sports Hub means working on “The Joe Murray Show” – the very program she spent years listening to as a fan.

The sport management major answers listener calls, assists with the station’s YouTube stream, creates social media graphics, and has even gone live on the air.

“It’s just a really well-rounded internship, and that’s what I think is truly going to help me,” Marchand said.

The opportunity builds on two years of hands-on experience at Elon. Marchand has contributed to more than 50 Elon Sports Vision broadcasts as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter, called Elon football games on the radio, co-hosted her own sports radio show, and worked more than 90 shifts with Elon Athletics.

Tap the link in our bio to read more about Rylee’s internship journey.

07/16/2026

What does it take to stand out during an internship?

“I found great success in just always asking questions, always wanting to learn the most I can about a subject, because that shows people that you are interested, you’re engaged, and you actually care about what you’re doing.”

That mindset has guided strategic communications major Alex Arrasmith ‘28 during his summer at McKinney, where he’s working as a strategy and account intern after being selected as one of just 10 interns from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants.

From collaborating with strategy and account teams to learning the ins and outs of the healthcare industry, Alex is gaining firsthand experience that is setting him up on the path to success.

Read more about Alex’s internship journey with the link in our bio.

07/13/2026