Alumni

We are proud of our Department of Communication graduates and their career accomplishments. We welcome your stories, having you visit our classrooms and engaging with our students. If you are an alum of our program, contact Laura Vazquez at lvazquez@niu.edu to have your profile added, join us at events or visit classes.

Alumni Spotlight

Vicky Baftiri

Journalism and Communication Studies

B.A., 2002; M.A., 2005

Supervising Producer for WGN-TV News

Paul Booth

Communication Studies

M.A., 2005

Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at DePaul University

Mike Buda

Journalism

B.A., 2011

Sports Director at WIFR-TV in Rockford

Alan Cesar

Journalism

B.S., 2008

Associate Director of Digital Engagement and Philanthropy

Sarah Chung

Communication Studies

B.A., 2014

Graduate student at Adler University studying counseling with a specialization in sports psychology

Ioana Cionea

Communication Studies

M.A., 2006

Assistant Professor in Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma

Daniel Dick

Communication Studies

M.A., 2015

Advancement and Communication Manager for the School of Human Ecology at University of Wisconsin – Madison

Cori Frankenberg

Communication Studies

B.A., 2014

Baseball Communications Coordinator, Minnesota Twins

Stephanie Gandsey

Journalism and Communication Studies

B.A., 2004; M.A. 2005

Marketing Director for a CPA Firm

Matt Knutson

Communication Studies

B.A., 2005

Executive Producer of Windy City LIVE at WLS-TV in Chicago

Kartikay Mehrotra

Journalism

B.A., 2005

Reporter at Bloomberg News

Beshanda Owusu

Journalism

B.A., 2001

Emmy-nominated Journalist and Author

Anya Pratskevich

Communication Studies

M.A., 2014

Product Marketing Manager at Mixpanel

Greg Russell

Communication Studies

B.S., 2008; M.A., 2011

Lead Consultant of Learning Effectiveness for Claims Learning and Development at Allstate

Craig Andrew Smith

Communication Studies

B.A., 2001

Market Development Manager

Matt Solomon

Communication Studies

B.A., 1986; M.A., 1988

Managing Editor for StoryBridge Studio; fiction and comedy writer

Mark Valadez

Communication Studies

B.A., 1992

Television writer

Ericka Wilson

Journalism

B.A., 2015

News Producer at WHEC-TV/News10NBC in Rochester, NY