Updates for College of Communications Alumni
Information for this list is collected from alumni surveys and other communications with alumni and is updated periodically. If you are a graduate of Communications and wish to be included in the list, let us know. If information needs to be corrected, let us know. (comm@astate.edu, 870-972-2468) or College of Communications, P.O. Box 540, State University, AR 72467). (Updated Jan. 24, 2008.)
January 24, 2008
Libby Anderson (RTV ’03) works as freelance production coordinator for television commercials, Webi-sodes and music videos. Based in Los Angeles, she is working on her first feature film as the production coordinator. Principal leads are Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn.
Tony J. Astin (Jour '97) is project coordinator for The Gladlands in St. Francis and Lee counties in eastern Arkansas. Astin lives in Forrest City.
William Robert Calhoun (RTV '69) of Lawrenceville, Ga., passed away Dec. 3, 2007. Retired department chair Charles Rasberry said, "Bob was truly one of the students who helped make the ASU RTV department what it is today. He was a great guy -- a fine student, very sharp and simply a pleasure to work with and have around KASU and the Department of Radio-Television." Calhoun was married to the former Wanda Moore -- Dean Robert Moore's daughter.
Marie Crawford (Jour '83) has received the Glen T. Kellog Leadership Award from the southwest section of the American Water Works Association. She is director of communications for Central Arkansas Water of Little Rock.
Kayla Eubanks (Jour '06) is account coordinator with Wunderkind Public Relations in Atlanta. She served on the National PRSA Student Internship Task Force, which developed internship guidelines that were presented to the PRSA board in October and approved as best practices for all PRSA chapters.
Chuck Maulden (RTV '79) has been named news director at KTHV-TV, channel 11, in Little Rock. Maulden joined KTHV in October after serving as director of news operations for NBC affiliate KSDK-TV, channel 5, in St. Louis.
Kris Higdon (RTV '94) is an attorney with the Arkansas Department of Human Services in El Dorado.
Wayne Hoffman (RTV '94) is communications director for Congressman Bill Sali of Idaho.
Matt Hubbard (RTV '07) has been promoted to production assistant with PGA TOUR Productions in Jacksonville, Fla.
Tom Kaemmerling (RTV '78) is marketing manager for Criticare Systems Inc. in Waukesha, Wis. Criticare Systems manufactures vital sign monitors for the medical industry. Tom and wife Debbie reside in Menominee Falls, Wis.
Bill Klutho (RTV '75) is manager of strategic public relations for Deere & Company at One John Deere Place in Moline, Ill.
Sharon Knignt (Jour '86) is editor of Stewart Houston Times in Erin, Tenn. She joined the Gannett newspaper in November 2008.
April Shye (RTV '05) is a marketing specialist with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. She works with the fund-raising arms for the hospital, developing and maintaining content for the field operations intranet.
Jeana Vaughan (RTV '93) is director of development for the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation in Little Rock.
Daniel Westerhold (RTV '02) is a reporter for Bright House Cable Networks, Bay News 9, in Tampa, Fla.
Miranda Wheeler-Bland (Jour '07) is working in advertising sales for the Jonesboro Sun.
Rhindi White (RTV '07) is a production assistant at KARK4 in Little Rock and is marketing coordinator for "The Genius Club," a Christian-based film.
October 12, 2007
Dr. Anas Al-Rasheed (Jour ’91, MSMC ’95) has been named an ASU Distinguish Alumnus. The award was bestowed during homecoming 2007. Under Dr. Al-Rasheed's leadership as minister of information, Kuwait approved a law giving the country the greatest press freedom in the Middle East. Dr. Al-Rasheed is a professor of journalism and media at Kuwait University and was named as media advisory to the Kuwait minister of education.
Jason Ball (RTV ’92) is evening executive producer for KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, Calif. Ball was previously morning executive producer for WLPG-TV in Miami, Fla.
Clyde Bass (RTV ’86) has joined Main Line Broadcasting as market manager of its four-station cluster in Richmond, Va. The station group includes adult hits WWLB-FM, 60's and 70's hits simulcast WBBT/WARV and country/rock hybrid WLFV. He was previously vice president of Duke Broadcasting in Jonesboro before Cumulus transferred him the Lexington, Ky., and later Youngstown, Ohio, as market manager. He and wife Michelle have three children, Houston, Sophia and Chynna.
Sally Shackleford Bergeman (RTV ‘92) is in technical operations for CNN in Atlanta. She previously was an operations engineer for WPLG-TV in Miami, Fla. Her husband works for CNN in satellite operations.
Terry Black (RTV ’83) reports that his Super Smokers BBQ is the Illinois State Pork champion and earned a place in the WCBCC. Super Smokers BBQ is headquartered in St. Louis.
Dana Callaway (MSMC '02) has become media coordinator for the University Museum and Cultural Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She had been coordinator of media relations for Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan.
Bobby Caldwell (RTV '70), owner of KWYN and East Arkansas Broadcasters, recently acquired the Clear Channel stations in Jonesboro. EAB also manages, markets and originates the ASU's sports network, broadcasting ASU football, men's and women's basketball and baseball. He is a 2005 Distinguished Alumnus of the university.
Rachel Earls (Jour '06) has joined the Little Rock office of Sells/Clark, a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency in Little Rock and Fayetteville. She will work as an account coordinator.
Chelsea King Folts (RTV '06) is a weekend producer for KARK-TV in Little Rock.
Raven Goodrich (Jour '03) is director of communications/programs with the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Ali King Sugg (RTV '04) is working for Organon Pharmaceuticals as a territory sales manager. She was formerly employed by Clear Channel Communications in Jonesboro as a morning show cohost at KIYS-FM. She is married to Joe Sugg. She reports that Ashley King Marsh (RTV '99) has opened a dance studio in Seymour, Tenn. She was formerly employed by the Journal Broadcast Group in Knoxville as a mid-day personality. She is married to former ASU basketball player and College of Business graduate Micah Marsh. They have two daughters, Madison and Avery. Sid King (RTV '74) is the general manager of his two radio stations KGFL/KHPQ in Clinton. He also owns a movie theater in Clinton and reopened the GEM movie theater in Heber Springs. He and wife Judi live in Clinton. All three of their children, Ashley, Ali and Tyler, are ASU graduates.
Michael Lewellen (Jour ‘83), former head of corporate communications for Black Entertainment Television (BET NEtworks), has been appointed vice president, public relations, for Universal Orlando Resort. Lewellen assumes primary responsibility for Universal Orlando's external media communications, theme park and attractions publicity and crisis management. He will also serve as Universal Orlando's primary media spokesperson.
Kyle McDaniel (Jour ‘04) has earned a master's degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri. He has accepted a photo editing position at the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison.
David McGough (Jour '98) has joined the staff of the Arkansas Press Services (a part of the Arkansas Press Association) as a marketing consultant. He had been director of marketing for Lindsey & Company Inc. in Searcy.
Vicky Rudy (Jour ’75) has become city manager for Rollingwood, Texas, an interurban city in Austin. She formerly was director of communications for Boys and Girls Country of Houston Inc.
Carrie Strode (Jour '07) is working for the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway.
Kenneth Washington (MSMC '93) is a technical writer with the global defense and technology giant Northrop Grumman in Washington, D.C. He formerly was managing editor at Phillips Investment Resources, a financial newsletter publishing company.
July 23, 2007
Pamela Bailey (MSMC '06) is an academic advisor at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.
Terry Black (RTV ’83) writes that his Super Smokers BBQ has been named best BBQ in St. Louis by the River Front Times.
Eric Blackwell (Jour ’00) is working with the Hillary Clinton campaign for the presidency.
Dorothy Bland (Jour '80) is director of the journalism division of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University in Talahassee.
Holly Byars (RTV '94) has earned Accreditation in Public Relations from PRSA and continues to work as marketing manager for The Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. She reports that husband Carey Byars (RTV '94, MSMC '98) has earned an MFA in digital cinema from National University in San Diego, Calif. Carey is starting his fifth year as an assistant professor of broadcasting and film at JBU.
Brandi (Craig) Childress (RTV ’04) is working with Stone Ward in Little Rock as a media planner/buyer.
Kenneth D. (Korky) Christy (RTV ’97) is video producer/photography editor for Alltell Corporate Communications in Little Rock.
P. Jay Clark (RTV ’94) directs ministry for youth and their families at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
Hector J Cuellar (Printing ‘77) works as a senior estimator and planner for Westland Printers (Consolidated Graphics CGX) in Burtonsville, Md. He and wife Janice live in Clinton, Md., with their two daughters, Katherine and Sarah.
Dustin Faber (Jour ’06) is an editor with the Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs.
Sarah Stephenson Gatling (Jour '81) has joined the Siloam Springs Herald-Leader as managing editor. A native of Forrest City, she had been working in Florida as a community editor and page designer for Citrus Count Chronicle in Crystal River, Fla. She also had worked at the Marathon (Fla.) Free Press as managing editor.
Darrell Greene (RTV '91) is moving to Orlando, Fla., to become 10 p.m. news anchor at WFTV/WRDQ (ABC 9) on Aug. 8. He has been a news anchor in New Orleans for the past 10 years.
Ryan Gregory (RTV ’00) is working in the education department with AETN in Conway.
Emily Jones Griffin (Jour ’04) is head photographer for Arkansas Times in Little Rock.
Harper Grubbs (RTV '95) is Web manager for Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. His responsibilities include seven public sites and four intranet sites.
Amber Wolfe Henderson (Jour '00) is a senior manager of internal communications in corporate affairs at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville. She has one son, Tyler, 4.
Chad Heritage (RTV '91) is director of country programming for KSSN and KHRN in Little Rock. He is also on-air for KSSN during afternoon drive time (3 p.m. - 7 p.m.)
Freddie Hettle (RTV ’91) is communication coordinator in the benefits administration department at Wal-Mart in Bentonville.
Diana Iles (RTV ’05) is a weekend anchor at KLAB in Alexandria, La.
Tim Ingram (RTV ’95) is general manger at KAIT in Jonesboro. He previously was operations and marketing director for KLTV in Tyler, Texas, and a senior producer/director at WAVE in Louisville, Ky.
Kenny Jackson (RTV '99) is owner of Kenny Jackson Video, providing full-service high-definition video production in Northeast Arkansas.
Grant Keller (RTV ’03) operates his own video business, Frameworks Videography, in Jonesboro. His first full-length documentary, "Valley View Football: The First Varsity Season” debuted in April.
Lee Kneibert (RTV '86) is a purchasing agent at Saint Louis University.
Mara Kuhn (Jour ’05), photographer at the The Sentinel-Record of Hot Springs, reports, “I can now say that I have been published internationally! I don't know if you saw my picture from when the people got stuck upside down on a roller coaster at Magic Springs for about 30 minutes this past week, but the AP picked it up and it literally went all over the world.” The picture was published in Sydney, Australia, South Africa and London and appeared on Fox News.com, AOL and David Letterman.
Kortney Penny Lacombe (RTV ’01) is morning news producer and news videographer at WLUC TV6 in Negaunee, Mich.
Kris Layher (Jour ’05) is attending the art direction portfolio program at Miami Ad School in Miami Beach.
Karen Lewellen (MSMC ’93) hosts a talk show program, Prime-Time, airing in several markets. The program can be accessed on-line.
Dale Maas (RTV ’07) was one of 30 applicants accepted into a media sales institute at the University of North Texas. The institute was organized by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF).
Christy (Veara) McKeel (MSMC '02) is executive diretor of the Delta Syphony Orchestra, which is heaquartered in Jonesboro.
Kathryn McMorries (Jour '06) has joined the Nicholson Communication Agency in Little Rock as an account partner.
Sidney Melton (RTV '82) is director of FEMA's Mississippi transitional recovery office. He had been head of the individual assistant section for transition recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Mike Meroney (Jour ’95) is ranked among the top 25 Texas lobbyists by Capitol Inside. Mike is corporate lobbyist and spokesman for Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer of chemicals with more than 11,000 employees in 22 countries.
Sue Mills (Jour ’04) covers education and city government for the Oxford (Miss.) Eagle.
Sherrie Mitchell (Jour ’00) is community program representative in Jonesboro for the American Cancer Society.
Anjuli Porter (RTV ‘02) has accepted an anchor/reporter position in Hartford, Conn., after two years at KVBC Channel 3 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Joe Price (Jour ’05) is working as a copyeditor for the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Va.
Matt Ramsey (SCom ’04) will be a visiting professor at ASU-Jonesboro in 2007-2008 after completing a doctorate in speech communication at Southern Mississippi.
Brenda Randle (MA ’06) is an instructor in Communications Studies at ASU and is studying for a doctorate in education leadership.
Donna Wilson Shaull (Jour ‘01) recently accepted a position in the foundation office at Mid-South Community College in West Memphis after working five years as information coordinator at the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Danny, and one-year-old daughter, Kayla, live in Turrell.
Tory Shirley (RTV ‘94) is the sales coordinator at KAIT in Jonesboro. Tory was recently named to the ABC Affiliate Research Advisory Board. She and husband Jeremy Shirley (RTV ‘00) live in Paragould, AR.
Allison Slinkard (SCom ’04) is assistant to the director for the Arkansas appointment boards and commissions in Little Rock.
Kevin Spangler (RTV ’05) has moved from TV news at KARK in Little Rock to a sales position with Yellow Book.
Brandi (Baird) Stafford (Jour '00, MSMC '02) is a communications specialist for Alltel at the company's headquarters in Little Rock. She handles both internal and external communications.
Robert Tabern (RTV '01) is the senior morning news producer at WDJT, the CBS television affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisc. During the summer months, he also works as a tour guide for Amtrak on trains that run between Chicago and Minnesota.
Beverly (Jones) Tanner (RTV ’02) is morning anchor at WXVT in Greenville, Miss.
Brian Thompson (Jour ’03) is managing editor of the Wynne Progress and East Arkansas News Leader.
Dawnetta M. Van Dunk (Jour '95) is senior manager in the technology services division for L3 Communications in the Washington, D.C., area. She previously was director, corporate relations, and assistant director of the Research Opportunities Program for Information Technology at Purdue Univesity.
Blake Vickers (University College DMD ’07) is a CBT specialist with Lockheed Martin doing Vector drawings and 3-d with Lightwave. He interned with Lockheed and now is working for the company doing models for the C-130 aircraft associated with Little Rock Air Force Base.
D. J. Welte (RTV ’05) is video and technology coordinator in athletics at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Yvette Whiteside (RTV ’05) is working on-air for WDIA-FM in Memphis.
Mathew Woods (Printing ’02) is a graphic designer for the Searcy Daily Citizen. He lives in Russell.
College of Communications | Arkansas State University