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Martha Dietz, published her second book, titled "Murder in Stoney Lonesome." She published her first one, “Luceta: A Fictional Biography,” in 2020. (October 2024)
Hannah Fidell is a writer, director and producer in Brooklyn, New York. She directed two episodes of Netflix's "Nobody Wants This." Her feature film, "The Long, Dumb Road," was featured at Sundance Film Festival in 2018. (October 2024)
Dan Goldblatt is the director of policy and communication at the Marion County Clerk's Office. The office oversees all elections in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was previously a media literacy instructor at Paramount Brookside, a public charter school in Indianapolis. (November 2024)
Pam Hegner is a Virtuoso luxury travel advisor based in Charlotte, NC, and plans global trips for leisure and corporate clients. Before moving to a full-time career in travel, Pam was a TV sports producer at CNN and WSB-TV in Atlanta. (October 2024)
Stephen Hofer received the Sagamore of the Wabash, an honorary award in Indiana given by the governor. Hofer is president of Aerlex Law Group in LA, and was profiled by the IU Alumni Association in a story entitled "Alum Stephen Hofer: More than an ‘Aviation Attorney to the Stars.’" He was also featured in an article in the fall 2023 edition of the IU Alumni Magazine entitled "Stories Set in Stone" which highlighted his role as the genealogical curator of the historic Dunn Family Cemetery in the center of the IU campus. (February 2024)
Shawn Mikus passed away Oct. 2, 2024, at the age of 38.
Mikus worked at Octagon Media and the Creative Artists Agency, working in public relations for places around the world. He was also the communications manager- Americas for Hilton, overseeing public relations efforts for the Midwest region spanning across Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and St. Louis. Previously, he was the head of public relations at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Orlando. He also worked as an account supervisor at Chicago-based Wagstaff Worldwide, where he developed and implemented marketing and communications plans for luxury hotels. (October 2024)
Josh Sanburn is a producer for Reveal, a radio show and podcast produced by the San Francisco-based nonprofit newsroom, The Center for Investigative Reporting. Based in New York, Sanburn is developing a new show for the Reveal podcast feed. (November 2024)
Ashley Sloboda, BAJ'06 received a Higher Education Media Fellowship, which is administered by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars and funded by the ECMC Foundation. Her fellowship project, Future Focused, features 11 stories over six days in October. She was previously a senior reporter for The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was selected for the Institute for Citizens & Scholars’ seventh class of Higher Education Media Fellows, a fellowship supported by the ECMC Foundation. Sloboda won third place for education reporting in the Best of Indiana Journalism Contest. The Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists presented the award during its 45th annual contest awards in late April 2024.
In 2022, Sloboda received an Education Writers Association Reporting Fellowship in June for adata-driven project exploring how the national debate over how schools should approach diversity, equity and inclusion is playing out in Allen County, Indiana’s school districts, which have seen their diverse student populations grow in recent years.The project published over four Sundays beginning Oct. 30. (November 2024)
Todd Starowitz is the director of corporate and stadium communications for the NFL's Buffalo Bills. (November 2024)
Laysha Ward received the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. Ward is executive vice president and chief external engagement officer for Target. She also served as a board chair for President Barack Obama and as a board member for the Corporation of National and Community Service under President George W. Bush. Ward currently volunteers as a graduation coach for Minnesota high school students through Achieve Minneapolis. In May 2019, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Minnesota for public service. (October 2024)
