Features

The race to make tech more equal

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:54:10 +0000

The race to make tech more equal Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/14/2024 - 15:54

By Joe Arney
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Back when Bryan Semaan’s mom had a Facebook account, doomscrolling wasn’t part of her vernacular.

The Iraqi culture she was raised in compels celebration of accomplishments and milestones, “so any time someone posted something, she felt she had to interact with it,” Semaan said. “That personal engagement runs very deeply through our culture.”

But it became exhausting for her to keep up as her network swelled into the hundreds, so she deactivated her account. For Semaan, it’s a fitting metaphor for his research—which challenges the assumptions tech developers make about the users of their products and services. And it’s the kind of problem he wants to study through the Center for Race, Media and Technology, which the �鶹ӰԺ unveiled in the spring.

“The people developing these technologies are in Silicon Valley—so, mostly male, mostly white,” said Semaan, director of the center and an associate professor of information science at CMCI. “A lot of the values we bake into these technologies are being forced onto people in different cultures, often creating problems.”

As a first-generation American, Semaan said he identifies with the liminal moments faced by others living between worlds—immigrants, veterans, refugees, people of color or Indigenous people—and the challenges of adopting to Western societal structures. Technology plays a big part, and the discipline’s blind spots are a key focus of Semaan’s research, which asks how these tools can create resilience for people in those liminal moments, such as a climate refugee fleeing disaster or a queer teenager anxious about coming out.

To kick off the center, in March, CMCI welcomed Ruha Benjamin, a professor at Princeton who’s developed her scholarship around what she calls the “New Jim Code”—a nod to both the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and the biases encoded into technology. Benjamin, he said, “focuses on how people consider technology to be a benign thing, when in fact it isn’t—tech nology takes on the values of those who create it.”

Fortunately, Semaan said, we’re at a moment when society is recognizing the importance of equity and justice, while seeing technology as a problem, a solution and a thread tying together the great challenges facing humanity—political polarization, disinformation, climate change and so on.

He’s optimistic that the Center for Race, Media and Technology will collect the broad perspectives needed to make, as he put it, “the intractable problems tractable.”

“What I imagine for the center is encouraging collaborations among the experts we bring together,” he said. “And I’m really hoping my research direction changes as a result of getting to work with the amazing people I’ll meet.”

If it’s collaboration he wants to get out of the center, Semaan’s successes to date have been more about tenacity. Early in his career, he said, some of his colleagues tried to steer him from migrants and veterans, dismissing his interest in making technology equitable as “a diversity ghetto.”

That didn’t deter him—and, with the benefit of hindsight, those rejections made him a better scholar.

These bigger challenges are going to require people thinking together at a much grander scale, which means changing how we work.”

Bryan Semaan

“In my research, the people you work with are incredibly vulnerable, or are so busy surviving that they can’t talk to you,” he said. “You have to be passionate about that work, and prepared for long-tail effort before you make progress.”

The work of the center will be a long game, but if successful, Semaan said, it will put CU �鶹ӰԺ at the center of the conversation around purposefully designed technology.

“It dovetails with the university’s broader mission around diversity,” he said. “It’s not just saying we’re going to increase diversity—it’s the issues we are approaching and the support we are building for different scholars across the university. Because these bigger challenges are going to require people thinking together at a much grander scale, which means changing how we work.”

A new center at CMCI is organizing faculty thought leadership to answer big, systemic questions about technology’s role in issues of social justice.

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From peaks to front lines

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:41:38 +0000

From peaks to front lines Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/13/2024 - 13:41

Jordan Campbell takes a selfie after spending more than a week in what he called a ‘not-so-safe safehouse’ that was under attack from Russian forces. Photo by Jordan Campbell.

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)

The clouds and clear skies fought for dominance over Kyiv, reflecting the tension on the ground, as Jordan Campbell stepped off the worst bus ride of his life—a 24-hour slog from Kraków, Poland, to Ukraine’s capital.

It was the second of what would be many trips to Ukraine, and the beginning of an ambitious documentary film. Standing at the bus station, weighted under camera
gear and body armor, he considered himself a storyteller.

Now, after three further visits to the front lines, he sees himself as a war journalist.

“It’s breaking my heart to see one of my favorite countries being hit like this,” Campbell (Comm’91) said. “I was embedded with NGOs, riding around in an ambulance, because I’m fascinated by humanitarians doing amazing work around the world. And the best thing I can do to serve humanity is go out, tell the stories and come back safe.”

Campbell traversed literal and figurative mountains to become the filmmaker he is today. Climbs in Tibet and Nepal gave him an up-close look at injustice and inequality, awakening a passion for humanitarianism. His work in media—in a senior communications role with Marmot and as a freelancer for National Geographic—gave him the tools to tell life-changing stories from across the globe.

“I was a corporate guy with a love of moonlight journalism,” he said.

In 2011, on assignment for National Geographic in war-ravaged South Sudan, Campbell documented the work of cataract surgeon Dr. Geoff Tabin. Upon returning to the States, he was approached by filmmaker Michael Herbener—who is also working on the Ukraine project—with the idea of using Campbell’s footage to make a documentary.

That film, Duk County: Peace Is in Sight in the New South Sudan, went on to win awards and was screened twice at the United Nations.

“The awards feel good, but I want to connect with the audience and have them feel the same way I felt when I was in the field,” Campbell said. “To take it to the United Nations twice, that’s the stuff that makes me feel like we’re having an impact.”

The desire for humanitarian impact—combined with his experience as a communications professional and visual storyteller—prompted Campbell to found Ramro Global
in 2019.

Its seven-person advisory council contributes insights into global challenges. Christina Tobias-Nahi, who specializes in the Middle East and North Africa for Ramro, met Campbell in 2018 when she spoke at CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Conference on World Affairs.

She is based in Washington, D.C., and as director of public affairs, research and advocacy for Islamic Relief USA, she often travels to places with mass displacement.

“I do a lot of advocacy,” she said. “Everything is so political and contentious, and I admire Jordan’s willingness to use his voice to change political will in Washington.”

Somewhat unconventionally, Campbell also appoints advisors for issues that demand global attention, which is how Michael Carter—an expert in the geopolitics of power and energy—came to the board.

Carter’s experience comes from more than 25 years in the energy industry, where he works on issues of transparency and inequity, like lack of access to sustainable power and movement toward a lower-carbon future.

“It takes a very thoughtful and calm, compassionate mind to look at inequity and do something about it,” he said. “That’s the essence of what Jordan is trying to accomplish.”

As a business strategist, Carter has helped Campbell develop Ramro Global from concept to company. As an energy expert, he provides unique insight into the humanitarian projects Campbell chronicles.

Jordan puts his life in danger to bring these stories to people. I really admire his bravery.”

Christina Tobias-Nahi

“Some of the first targets the Russian army hit were the Ukrainian power plants,” Carter said. “Power allows us to communicate—especially through mobile phones—and I want to help Jordan communicate his message. He has dedicated himself to humanitarianism.”

Campbell is also dedicated to truth and authenticity, which is why he kept returning to Ukraine despite the rising risk. He hasn’t shied from documenting the desperation and destruction he saw working alongside Project Konstantin, a front-line medical evacuation team. Last year, when the U.S. Senate hosted a Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum event, Campbell presented a six-minute cut of the film, Ukraine Under Fire. He also met with Ukrainian Embassy staff.

“There were representatives from 60 countries in attendance who appreciated my testimony because I was an expert witness on what was going on there,” he said. “I’m not a cataract surgeon, I’m not a pediatric cardiac surgeon. But I’m a journalist and I’m a visual storyteller, and I can make some noise and do good things in the world.”

Campbell’s goal with Ukraine Under Fire is to capture a slice of the war while focusing on themes like democracy, sovereignty and—perhaps most important—resilience. He posted a teaser on the company’s website for public viewing and hopes screenings of the completed film in Washington and throughout Europe will help to further those themes.

“This can turn into such a bigger conflict,” he said. “The scale and scope drew me to the subject. And if you’re a journalist, you want to capture something, add value—and then get out of the way.”

Not only has he been shaken by the devastation while on the front lines, but
the impacts have followed him home: Nearly every place he visited has since been bombed, and he’s lost friends to the conflict, as well. It has, as he put it, “gotten under my rib cage.”

That’s only strengthened Campbell’s commitment to honoring their courage and sacrifice through his film.

“Some people become the bystanders, and some people become the heroes,” Tobias-Nahi said. “Jordan puts his life in danger to bring these stories to people, and it gives a face to that humanitarian need. I really admire his bravery.”

To get to the front lines of Ukraine, Jordan Campbell (Comm'91) took the road less traveled—from corporate communications to the mountains of Nepal—before stepping foot on the streets of Kyiv.

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Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:17:34 +0000

Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 17:17

William W. White Outstanding Seniors are chosen by department faculty to recognize academic merit, professional achievement and service to the college. The Outstanding Graduate award honors the CMCI student with the highest overall GPA in his or her graduating class.

White, a �鶹ӰԺ native, graduated from CU’s School of Journalism in 1933. He was a reporter in �鶹ӰԺ, Denver and New York before becoming the foreign editor of Time from the early 1940s through the mid-1950s, based in London, Brazil and Montreal. At the advice of his friend Edward R. Murrow, who told him “it doesn’t matter what you do, what matters is that you do it where you want to live,” White returned to �鶹ӰԺ, where he started the White and White public relations firm. White and his wife, Connie, established this endowment in 1998.

Meet our graduates and read their stories.

Andrew Schwartz: College of Media, Communication and Information

Andrew's advice to students is to try everything and talk to as many people as you can—especially outside your major. That way, you'll broaden your perspective.

When it comes to impact and being able to make something I’m proud of, a big part of that is being able to make technology for the people to use it, and make things that people enjoy using and improve their lives. Info places a big emphasis on that."

Lisa An: Department of Critical Media Practice

Lisa started her CU career as a computer science major before switching to media production. She said this was one of the best decisions she ever made because through the program, she discovered a passion for photography.

"I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.

Elijah Boykoff: Department of Information Science

Going into college, Elijah's goals for himself were to learn as much as he could and make it to the finish line. He says he's made good on those goals, and this award is an exciting bonus.

Your professors are people just like you. Get to know them—if you are able to resonate with your professors on a deeper level, you will be much more enriched by the knowledge they have to share."

Bianca Perez: Departments of Communication, Media Studies

Bianca is the first CMCI graduate to win outstanding student honors from two different majors. She's now off to a prestigious Ph.D. program.

"What I have is like a wish coming true. You can work very hard and that can still not be enough, and I’ve seen that happen to people around me my whole life.

Sujei Perla Martinez: Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design

For Sujei, a first-generation college student, graduating means she's carving a new path for her family.

My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs."

Nic Tamayo: Department of Journalism

Nic's CMCI experience in three words: fulfilling, inspired, treasured.

"I will take with me the connections I’ve been able to make with people from so many corners of life. They’ve taught me lessons that I may never have learned without their friendship and mentorship.

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Outstanding senior: Sujei Perla Martinez

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:43:34 +0000

Outstanding senior: Sujei Perla Martinez Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:43

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Sujei Perla Martinez was determined to take charge of her college career in the same way she takes charge of being a role model for her younger brother.

“Before college, I thought I had everything figured out since I’m the eldest sister. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Perla Martinez said. “Over the years, I learned a lot about myself as I overcame many obstacles.”

“My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs.”
Sujei Perla Martinez

And she did so in style: She’s graduating as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design, having completed a degree in strategic communication with an emphasis in media design. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

Perla Martinez said when it came to overcoming those obstacles, the community she built at CMCI was key, especially the people she met through her countless volunteering experiences and her classes.

Most important was her multicultural leadership scholars cohort, the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority, and the UMAS y MECHA student group, as well as the classroom.

“My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs,” Perla Martinez said.

Her academic and extracurricular achievements were not just due to her hard work. She said she recognizes the efforts of those who came before her who fought for her right to an education—in particular, her parents.

“Growing up, I saw my mother work hard jobs to raise my brother and me,” Perla Martinez said. “Every day, I stand on campus and try my hardest to show my mother that her sacrifice wasn't in vain.”

“I’m the first in my family to get a degree. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I can finally say we did it.”

The first in her family to graduate college, Sujei is grateful for the family sacrifices that empowered her success.

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Outstanding senior: Bianca Perez

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:39:42 +0000

Outstanding senior: Bianca Perez Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:39

By Joe Arney
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

When Bianca Perez called her mom in the middle of the day to tell her she’d been accepted to a prestigious doctoral program at one of the nation’s foremost universities, she expected there might be some tears.

She wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t her mother who cried.

Perez’s mother, Leyda, was born and raised in Mexico, while her father, Ernesto, came to the United States from Peru. For almost 30 years, they have worked tirelessly at growing Perez Cleaning Services, in Steamboat Springs, in order to provide their daughter with opportunities they couldn’t imagine—and don’t always understand. When she explained that she was applying to schools to be a doctor, Perez (Comm, MediaSt’24) would clarify “a doctor of words,” since her family thought she was maybe interested in a medical career.

Now, as she explained on speakerphone that she was accepted to the PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Annenberg School for Communication, in Philadelphia, “my mom wasn’t sure what to make of it,” Perez said. “I could tell she was happy because she could hear the excitement in my voice.”

But the client her mother was speaking with when Perez called couldn’t believe his ears.

What I have is like a wish coming true. You can work very hard and that can still not be enough, and I’ve seen that happen to people around me my whole life.”
Bianca Perez (Comm, MediaSt’24)

“He was like, ‘Did I just overhear that your daughter's going to graduate school at Penn?’” she recalled. “And I could hear him start crying, and my mom said to me, ‘Oh, no, I have to go, one of the clients is upset.’ But he wasn’t—the guy went to UPenn for his undergrad, had wanted to go to grad school there but couldn’t, and he was so happy and excited for me.

“I think for my mom, seeing a random person cry like that and be so joyful, helped her understand just how exciting this was for me.”

Driven to change the world

It’s not the first time she’s had to overcome the barrier separating her lived experiences from those of her parents. But her working-class upbringing—combined with her curiosity, care and enthusiasm for working hard—has already made her a promising scholar in the realm of artificial intelligence and labor.

“It’s because of her humble background that she understands that the ability to be in college, to read books and write for a living, is a privilege,” said Sandra Ristovska, an assistant professor of media studies at the College of Media, Communication and Information at the �鶹ӰԺ, and Perez’s advisor. “It’s unsurprising she’s interested in questions around technology and labor because she is seeking, through her research, to improve the lives and livelihoods of working-class people, immigrants and people of color.”

Perez studies generative artificial intelligence and labor through the lens of copyright law. In the past year, artists and publishers have sued tech companies that have used copyrighted work to train generative A.I. platforms like ChatGPT, opening up a larger question of how to fairly value labor—not just of plaintiffs like J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and The New York Times, but everyday social media users, whose likes and shares train algorithms to better recommend content that keeps people online.

Because that data is disassociated from the users, the labor of whoever generated that data—those likes and shares—is obscured, meaning they can’t be compensated. And these are, of course, some of the world’s deepest-pocketed tech companies, whose forays into the development of A.I. are far ahead of gridlocked government regulators and already-alarmed ethicists.

“We have no way to check these models, even though we’ve all been producing them through our work,” Perez said. “It’s a new and complex expansion of wage theft. They’re taking all our labor and remixing it to make something else—but it’s still our labor. How is that fair?”

Fairness focus

That question of what’s fair is central to Perez’s identity. Just the time and space to work as hard as she does, she said, is a privilege, especially when in high school she would see other smart, ambitious students fall behind because of work or family commitments.

“I always feel that there’s only a few degrees separating me being a migrant daughter who’s picking cherries, to my being here,” she said. “My parents taught me how to work very hard—I can’t underscore that enough—but what I have is like a wish coming true. You can work very hard and that can still not be enough, and I’ve seen that happen to people around me my whole life.”

Fairness also ties into her related research interest in the exploitation of Black and Latino tech labor—like DoorDash drivers during the pandemic, or Amazon warehouse workers toiling in hotter facilities in a warming climate. The combination of her interests has resulted in some unique scholarship that’s already getting noticed: This summer, Perez will present her thesis at the annual conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, in Christchurch, New Zealand—an honor usually reserved for PhD students and faculty.

Ristovska, her advisor, also attended a prestigious conference as an undergraduate before going on to Annenberg for her PhD, and is excited to see how sharing her work at one of the field’s most prestigious events influences Perez’s future work.

“What she does is bring the human back to the discourse around A.I. and technology,” Ristovska said. “Her work makes us think about how human creativity and human engagement are central to the development of A.I., and why it’s so important we figure out labor protections now, before the technology is even more advanced.”

‘Someone who knows how to push me’

Perez called Ristovska “an incredible influence on me—someone who knows how to push me and who has held my hand on this journey, even though we were going uphill sometimes.” Among her mentors, she also counts professors Omedi Ochieng and Danielle Hodge, of the communication department, as well as Rory Fitzgerald Bledsoe, who is pursuing a PhD in media studies; Perez called her first course with Bledsoe the foundational moment of her time at CU.

Bledsoe recalled Perez for both her insatiable curiosity and her writing talent, which she called “refreshing and invigorating in an increasing sea of generic ChatGPT.”

“Bianca will be successful in her PhD for the normal things, like being diligent and curious, but also for her inimitable voice—both creative and critical—that I have no doubt will contribute to our field and make it better,” Bledsoe said. “People would benefit from being a little more like Bianca, by following your passion until it blooms in full force.”

“Her work makes us think about how human creativity and human engagement are central to the development of A.I., and why it’s so important we figure out labor protections now, before the technology is even more advanced.
Sandra Ristovska, assistant professor, media studies

Perez’s focus wasn’t always so direct. She arrived at CU �鶹ӰԺ thinking she’d major in media production, given her interest in documentary filmmaking, but after exploring different paths, arrived at her current combination after briefly considering information science. At commencement, she was honored as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for both communication and media studies, the first time a student has been recognized by two departments. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

“My different majors helped me discover different frameworks of thinking about the topics I was interested in, which has helped me think about my research more critically,” she said. “It wasn’t always a specific lesson I was taught, but professors like Dr. Hodge showed me to think about whether what I’m working on actually speaks to the community—and you do that by speaking with that community.”

It’s a new twist on what Perez said is the most important lesson she learned at home.

“The best thing my parents taught me was to actually care about what you’re doing—to show up for others when it matters,” she said. “Maybe cleaning is trivial to some people, but their business is pretty exceptional in our town, and it’s because they care very much for their reputation and the people they serve.”

That’s why her mentor is convinced Perez will make her CMCI professors proud years after she has graduated.

“Whether she chooses an academic career or the policy realm, I really think she’ll make the world a better place, because her commitment to justice is ingrained in her,” Ristovska said. “I’m so excited for what comes next for her.”

A CMCI graduate’s working-class upbringing has given her a unique perspective on tech, wage theft and exploitation, which she’s bringing to an Ivy League doctoral program.

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Outstanding senior: Lisa An

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:39:07 +0000

Outstanding senior: Lisa An Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:39

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

“Unpredictable” is how Lisa An describes her college experience.

“I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.”
Lisa An

She felt pressured to pursue a computer science major, in preparation for a technical career path, but realized it wasn’t her calling. Eventually, she came across media production and enjoyed the creative freedom that came with it.

“It ended up being one of the best decisions I made,” An said. “I often struggle to find the right words to describe what I'm feeling. With photography, I’m able to create something where the emotion I pour into the piece can speak for itself.”

She carried her curiosity and love for creativity and completed a second major in Art Practices with minors in Art History and Sociology. Now she’s graduating as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Critical Media Practices. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

The award didn’t come without hard work and effort. An has completed countless projects for her media production classes, but the one that stood out most was a book she made compiling her photography and design work. It was, she said, “rewarding to see my creation come to life physically, as well as being a part of the entire process of creating something.”

She has also completed an internship at the �鶹ӰԺ Museum of Contemporary Art, which she said gave her a clearer picture of what to expect in the field after graduation.

Her path may not have been linear, but she said that journey helped her surround herself with friends who guided her on the way.
“One thing I’ll miss is the sense of community and support I received from my professors and peers. I could feel that they all genuinely cared for my success and pushed me to produce work that I could be proud of,” An said.

The outstanding senior in the Department of Critical Media Practices, Lisa said her winding path helped her meet mentors and friends that set her up to succeed.

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Outstanding graduate: Andrew Schwartz

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:32:18 +0000

Outstanding graduate: Andrew Schwartz Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:32

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Before Andrew Schwartz knew he’d be an information science major, he had already attended a class. Now, he’s graduating—with a second major in philosophy—as the College of Media, Communication and Information's William W. White Outstanding Graduate.

Faced with a plethora of potential fields, it was a lecture by Morgan Klaus Scheuerman (PhDInfo’23) that initially attracted Schwartz to the field.

The discussion focused on ethics, machine learning and gender—and created a sense of curiosity to explore more topics through the lens of data.

“I chose information science because I am interested not just in computing, but computing as a social and cultural phenomenon,” he said. “Info gives us the skills to look at topics from a lot of different domains with a critical thinking lens and data-driven quantitative perspective, and that’s a skill that’s broadly applicable.”

The White Outstanding Graduate award honors the CMCI student with the highest overall GPA in his or her graduating class. Schwartz’s academic record is important to him, but more important is the societal impacts of both technology and his work. In the middle of the pandemic, that meant connecting with The COVID Tracking Project, whose data were used by news organizations, two presidential administrations and an array of federal agencies—including the CDC and FDA.

“Working on this project kick-started me thinking that I can actually make things with code that are useful for people,” he said.

As a first-year student, he assisted Robin Burke, professor and chair of information science, in studying fairness in recommender systems. Not only was he able to quickly understand the platform they used for conducting machine learning experiments, but he also helped make improvements to the software that increased its efficiency. Moreover, despite ongoing releases of the software, Schwartz’s code is still supporting it.

“His interest in philosophy was one of the things that attracted him to our research group, which looks at fairness and other ethical dimensions of recommender systems,” Burke said. “For our department as a whole, ethical and critical reflection is a key value, so I think that’s one reason info was a good fit for Andrew.”

Thanks to his work with Burke as well as developing a relationship with Brian Keegan, he was able to take both his experience and his education abroad as an invited researcher at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

“Info gives us the skills to look at topics from a lot of different domains with a critical thinking lens and data-driven quantitative perspective, and that’s a skill that’s broadly applicable.”
Andrew Schwartz

“I studied in Seville for my junior year and completed most of my philosophy coursework while I was in Spain,” Schwartz said. “One of the priorities for me was language acquisition and immersion. So, I lived in Madrid over the following summer and did a research collaboration with Brian’s colleagues—Andrea Peña-Calvin, Javier Arroyo and Samer Hassan—and we got published this spring.”

In Spain, he and the team studied how online communities govern and organize themselves. This experience, and others, emphasized to him the myriad ways data touch various fields, as well as the critical thinking skills needed to leverage technology effectively.

That’s something he feels he developed through both his majors.

“When it comes to impact and being able to make something I’m proud of, a big part of that is being able to make technology for the people to use it, and make things that people enjoy using and improve their lives,” he said. “Info places a big emphasis on that.”

Not only has Andrew Schwartz contributed to a collaborative paper investigating online communities, he also developed code for The COVID Tracking Project, among other research opportunities.

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Outstanding senior: Elijah Boykoff

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:59:47 +0000

Outstanding senior: Elijah Boykoff Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 10:59

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Programming is more than ones and zeros for Elijah Boykoff.

The blend of technical and social skills his information science major provides helped Boykoff discover his passion for his studies.

“My first info coding class challenged me greatly, but the satisfaction I felt from solving coding errors was like putting in the last piece of a 1,000-piece puzzle,” Boykoff said. “It was an academic rush I'd never felt before.”

He will graduate as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Information Science, having been chosen for the honor by CMCI faculty in recognition of his academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college. He earns his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude for successfully defending his honors thesis, in which he observed institutionalized racism among soccer players in the English Premier League to explore how the experiences of minority athletes have changed in the last five years.

“The satisfaction I felt from solving coding errors was like putting in the last piece of a 1,000-piece puzzle. It was an academic rush I'd never felt before.”
Elijah Boykoff (InfoSci’24)

That project was especially meaningful to Boykoff, as he hopes to eventually work in data analytics for professional sports teams. For now, he’ll spend the next year completing his accelerated master's degree, also in information science.

What was more impactful than the work itself were the relationships he created in the past four years. Like his classmates, Boykoff’s CU �鶹ӰԺ experience began fully remote, with classes, club meetings and other interactions taking place virtually. But he pushed himself to connect with his classmates and build relationships with faculty despite being behind a screen.

“Professors are people, just like us. If you can resonate with your professors on a deeper level, you will be much more enriched by the knowledge they have to share,” Boykoff said.

Those connections made him feel like there was always someone in his corner.

“At CU, I've learned numerous technical skills—but most importantly, I've learned what it means to be part of a collective,” he said.

Elijah appreciated that his classes sharpened both his social skills and technical expertise.

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Outstanding senior: Nicolas Tamayo

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:37:42 +0000

Outstanding senior: Nicolas Tamayo Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 10:37

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Being a first-generation college student means discovering new things and pushing past limits. In their time at the �鶹ӰԺ, Nicolas Tamayo went above and beyond those expectations and didn’t let fear hold them back.

“I'm absolutely a different person than I was four years ago, and I hope to be able to continue growing as time goes on.”
Nicolas Tamayo (Fren,JourSt’24)

As he prepares to graduate, Tamayo will go on their greatest adventure yet: They were accepted to the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and will be teaching English in Montpellier, France.

“It can be daunting to try new things, especially if you’re going in by yourself,” Tamayo said, “But it’s so much more rewarding and fulfilling to say yes to new opportunities, instead of saying no and missing out on what could have been.”

Tamayo will be graduating as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Journalism with degrees in both journalism and French. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

Service, in particular, defined Tamayo at CMCI: They participated as a resident assistant for summer bridge programs, served as president of CMCI student government and were active in multicultural organizations. As they go forward, they’re looking to continue that mindset.

“I want to work with people and help them find success in whatever they choose to set their mind to,” Tamayo said.

Much of that relates to paying forward all the support they received as a Buff.

“I achieved so much more than I ever thought possible. Every person who’s been a part of my life and my network over the past few years has helped me to grow,” they said. “I'm absolutely a different person than I was four years ago, and I hope to be able to continue growing as time goes on.”

Saying yes to opportunities served Nic well as a student—and will help him in a competitive Fulbright program in France.

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By Joe Arney

As much as she was ready for a new professional challenge, leaving the Front Range where she’d lived her whole life was hard for Keely Walker. So she made a promise to herself—wherever she wound up, she’d still have her view of the mountains.

But not all mountains are created equal, as she learned when she interviewed for a producer position with KOMO, in Seattle.

“The news director asked me how I liked the mountains out there, and I told him they were beautiful,” said Walker (Jour’06), now nightside executive producer at KING 5 Media Group. “Then he told me, ‘Well, what’s better is that ours explode.’

“I was like, no, no, that’s not a selling point!” Walker said, laughing.

Maybe backyard volcanoes aren’t quite her thing, but it’s no question Walker has hit her stride since arriving in the Pacific Northwest. Since joining KING, a Tegna-owned, NBC-affiliated station, the self-described “Colorado girl, through and through” has rapidly climbed the ranks while producing journalism that’s both award winning and thought provoking.

Climbing the ranks

Moving to Seattle, she said, was a chance to challenge herself professionally without sacrificing those mountain views.

“I knew the Denver market inside and out after eight years,” she said. “A lot of people talk about Seattle news being smart news. People don’t want the surface story—you need to really dig into the news, which was a new challenge.”

It meant learning about things like salmon and orcas that don’t typically enter the conversation in Colorado, but what hasn’t changed are the fundamental skills she built studying broadcast journalism at CU and being a trusted leader in the media space.

Don’t touch that dial

Keely Walker is like a lot of journalists, in that when you ask her what her biggest challenge is, it’s that no one is watching. When she visited a CMCI class in the fall, “we asked the students who watches the news, and no hands went up,” Walker said.

Her dirty little secret? “I don’t have cable, either,” she said.

That’s not unusual for Generation Z—or the Seattle market, where engagement through mobile apps or over-the-top media services like Roku, Hulu or Apple TV is incredibly significant. So, her station typically airs content for TV first before repackaging it for digital distribution. “Our biggest business challenge is, how do you get people to watch when it’s not part of their routine?” she said.

Patrick Ferrucci, associate professor and chair of the journalism department, said curricular refreshes and conversations with his board of advisors are helping guide CMCI students toward new jobs in news.

“Journalism now is less platform dependent,” Ferrucci said. “There are still paths to traditional broadcast jobs, but what we’re increasingly trying to do is embed visual and multimedia journalism into all aspects of our curriculum, so that our students learn how to tell good stories regardless of format.”

“I have such pride in being a CU alumna,” Walker said. “The campus is beautiful and the academics are great, but it’s more than that—it’s like, hey, we have astronauts, we have Nobel Prize winners. There’s a lot to brag about.”

Including, for the first time in a while, the football team. Walker remains a longtime Buffs season-ticket holder whose earliest visits to �鶹ӰԺ involved playing on the turf at Folsom Field during a family weekend game.

More recently, she was on the field in the fall, after the Buffaloes defeated Nebraska in an early-season rivalry game.

“Some of my co-workers have been like, ‘So are you going to rush the field after every game now?’” she said. “You know, it’s been a hard few years, OK? Just let us appreciate this and do what we want to do.”

Hands on with the news

That’s also the motto that’s guided her career in news. In her current role, Walker is responsible for the nightside newscast. Early each day, she works with reporters to identify the most promising stories, coaching them as the news moves from pitch to production. She also leads a team of producers who make each broadcast come together.

“I’m a teacher, when it comes down to it,” Walker said. “I love teaching young producers, sharing my knowledge with them and then watching them succeed.”

Joyce Taylor, an anchor at KING 5 who’s been covering Seattle for decades, said Walker’s enthusiasm and positivity make her a strong mentor, whose hands-on involvement in sourcing and scripting help reporters become better at their craft.

“Keely is a great listener and communicator,” Taylor said. “In a newsroom, you find all different types of personalities. Having someone in a leadership role who can work with all those kinds of personalities is a huge asset for us.”

Walker’s work has been recognized with multiple Emmys, as well as awards from Peabody and Scripps Howard, but more important to her than hardware is impact. She’s extremely proud of a project she worked on as a producer shortly after joining KING 5 that investigated racial inequality, racism and racial privilege, especially in the Seattle metro area.

Facing Race was proposed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the resulting uprising around the country; the 13-part series was impressive for both how it handled sensitive material and the relative skeleton crew that produced it during the pandemic.

“It was hard—I had to find a new comfort zone of talking about race, equity and inclusion, because we hadn’t seen this kind of a discussion on TV before,” said Walker, who produced the show on top of her daily broadcasts; Taylor hosted each edition. “But I look back at these episodes, and it’s like—dang, we really made people think.

“It’s the shining accomplishment of my career, and I think will be until it’s over.”

Following that award-winning series, the station created a dedicated unit—including a reporter, executive producer, photographer and support staff—for Facing Race stories, which Walker said have consistently been supported by leadership. The show ran after the station’s Seahawks coverage ended, giving a controversial topic substantial coverage.

‘Doing the work because she loves the work’

Part of what makes her successful is that, even though there can be hard days in the news business, Walker finds ways to make work fun; her colleagues praised her sense of humor in the face of a demanding job.

“We’re here to seek the truth and solve problems,” Taylor said. “There is no task where Keely can’t find a way to get the job done, get the best information and meet the challenge, whatever it is.

“In these times, journalism has never been more important, and Keely sets a great example as somebody who’s doing the work because she loves the work and really sees the importance of journalism and its role in our democracy.”

Walker said she enjoys the challenge to be a little better every day, and to make the workplace more fun.

“If you talk to anyone in my newsroom, they know my laugh, because I laugh all day—I crack jokes and things like that,” she said. “People work better when they’re having a good time.”

In a recent visit to a CMCI class, she tried to share some of that perspective with a group of students.

“You need to find a way to unplug after those days when it feels like you’ve been hit by a truck,” Walker said. “Do that and the next day, you find you can laugh at work, you can find things to look forward to in the news world.”

She reinforces her own positive attitude by exploring her new home state, kayaking, and through a mix of reading “and really trashy reality TV. That’s how I escape the news,” she said, laughing.

Each fall, though, escape comes from one of her first loves.

“There’s a great alumni group in Seattle that gets together to watch football—and there’s more people showing up this year, which is fun,” she said. “And I usually make it back to Colorado for a couple of games, too. Some of my best memories from CU are just from being on that beautiful campus, and so much comes back to me when I’m walking through the quad or seeing the buildings where I took classes.”

“I’m a teacher, when it comes down to it. I love teaching young producers, sharing my knowledge with them and then watching them succeed.”
Keely Walker (Jour’06)

When an award-winning producer decided to move on from Denver, the one thing she wouldn’t negotiate on was a view of the mountains.

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