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October 21 – 22, 2026

Shift Happens: Define Your Next

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Grads Are Back 2026

Shift Happens: Define Your Next

This year’s theme, “Shift Happens: Define Your Next,” brings FAMU SJGC alumni, students, faculty and industry leaders together to explore how our industries are changing — from the rise of AI to new paths for journalism, design and public relations — and how to own what comes next. The celebration opens with WANM @ 50, honoring five decades of WANM-FM 90.5, followed by a full day of programming: the Knight Chair Speaker Series, the Colloquium, the Grads Are Back BBQ, the Homecoming Career Fair and discipline sessions led by Rattlers shaping the industry.

Sponsors

Industry Alumni and Friends in Attendance

Connect with graduates and allies shaping today’s media landscape and beyond.

Beyla Walker Anchor/MMJ WTVY News 4
Journalism
Ila Wilborn headshot
Ila Wilborn Content Producer CNN Newsource
Journalism
Rod Carter Weeknight Evening Anchor CBS 17 News
Vickie Bradley News Director & General Manager WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee
Johnita Due
Johnita Due CNN and TNT Sports
Journalism
Georgia Dawkins
Georgia Dawkins Producer CBS News and Stations
Justin Lloyd Public Relations Coordinator College Park Skyhawks (NBA G League)
Jefferey Hood Jr.
Jefferey Hood Jr. Production Assistant ESPN
L. Michelle Salvant
L. Michelle Salvant CEO LMichelleMedia
Ferrisa Connell
Ferrisa Connell Manager M Booth
Kena Lewis
Kena Lewis APR, Fellow PRSA, Founder Kena Lewis Communication Consultant
Tamara Blount headshot
Tamara Blount Regional Communications Manager American Red Cross
Tiffany Greene
Tiffany Greene ESPN
Nadia Sharis Felder
Nadia Sharis Felder Founder LOWKEY Communications
Eric Winkfield
Eric Winkfield M Booth
Broadcast Journalism
Denise Hendricks headshot
Denise Hendricks Supervising Producer CNN Digital
Kyon Hollis
Kyon Hollis Graphic Designer SECO Energy (Sumter Electric Cooperative)
Alyssa Copper Sports Journalist; Member Sports Journalism Institute
Melanie Newman
Melanie Newman Chief External Affairs Officer Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Ebony Houston
Ebony Houston Technical Production Manager, Tech Ops CNN
Shamonee Baker Anchor WKRG News 5
Avery Jacobs Director of Communications FIFA World Cup
Journalism
Laura J. Downey Executive Editor WebMD Magazine
Kailynn Kinney Sr. Integrated Marketing Manager Steve Madden
Shayla Cannady headshot
Shayla Cannady Chief Communications Officer Chiefs for Change
Maya Elyson Multiskilled Journalist THV11 CBS
Malik Burgess Producer, Content Editor DAZN
Calvin Sykes headshot
Calvin Sykes Community Affairs Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Catarah Coleman
Catarah Coleman Founder and CEO Southern Girl Desserts
Graphic Design
Brion Eason
Brion Eason Executive Director of Marketing & Communications Edward Waters University
Navael Fontus Planner Harris County Housing & Community Development
Carole Sykes
Carole Sykes Cultural Strategist The Carr Caldwell Collective
Jasmin Butler Reporter Action News Jax
Journalism
Will Ayers
Will Ayers Senior Communications Strategist Aderant
Graphic Design
Alicia Hope
Alicia E. Hope Instructor, Graphic Communication FAMU SJGC
Graphic Design
Brian Rice
Brian Rice Global Vice President, Head of Design Newell Brands
Marsha Archer
Marsha Archer M-Squared Public Relations + Crisis Management
Novia Lindsay
Novia Lindsay Sr. UX Designer Amadeus North America
Alta Spells
Alta Spells Senior Editor, National News CNN
Heidi Otway headshot
Heidi Otway APR, CPRC, President + Partner SalterMitchell PR
Leland Hall Director, Filmmaker, Writer Rose Gamble Entertainment
Corey Johnson Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative Journalist ProPublica
Newspaper Journalism
Tia Mitchell Washington Bureau Chief The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Skyy Sandifer Script Writer CBS Studios
Journalism
Dy'Min J. Cannon
Dy’Min Cannon Content Producer CNN Newsource
Public Relations
Arnika Frazier-Jackson
Arnika Frazier-Jackson Director, Student Professional Development Programs UNCF
Sean McLaughlin Graham Media Group

Schedule of Events

Our Grads Are Back schedule is growing every day. Event details and activities are being updated as they come in. More exciting events will be added as confirmations roll in. Check back regularly for the latest updates. We can’t wait to welcome all our alumni back home!

Wednesday

October 21

Reception

WANM Through the Decades

WANM @ 50 Anniversary Reception

Wednesday October 21, 2026 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Venue to be announced

Celebrate 50 years of WANM-FM 90.5. The evening features welcome greetings; “The Signal That Shaped Us,” a fast-paced oral history from three generations of WANM alumni; 50th anniversary honors for founders, pioneers, longtime advisers, alumni and students; “Future of the Frequency” with current students; and an anniversary toast and group photo recognizing all WANM alumni — followed by a reception with music and networking.

Thursday

October 22

Invitation Only

Board of Visitors Meeting

Thursday October 22, 2026 7:30 am – 9:35 am

The SJGC Board of Visitors assists the school’s efforts to advance its programs, student development, and reputation as an educational leader. Board members will gather to hear updates and share insights. Invitation only.

Panel

Knight Chair Speaker Series

The Power Shift: Who Controls the Story Now?

Thursday October 22, 2026 9:30 am – 10:45 am
Marsha Archer
with Marsha Archer

M-Squared Public Relations + Crisis Management

How AI is Redefining Our Now. Media professionals examine where influence is moving, how trust is earned, and what future communicators must do to remain credible, competitive, and competent in the age of AI.

Panelists
Corey Johnson

Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative Journalist

ProPublica

Vickie Bradley

News Director & General Manager

WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee

Brian Rice
Brian Rice

Global Vice President, Head of Design

Newell Brands

Will Ayers
Will Ayers

Senior Communications Strategist

Aderant

Career Fair

Career Fair

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:00 am – 4:00 pm SJGC, 2nd and 3rd floors

More than 25 employers will participate in the 2026 SJGC Career Fair, held on the second and third floors.

Colloquium

Colloquium / Thelma Thurston Gorham Presentation

Degree in Motion: Where Journalism Can Take You

Thursday October 22, 2026 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SJGC Lecture Hall (Room 2002)
with Rod Carter

Weeknight Evening Anchor

CBS 17 News

A rapid conversation featuring some of the newest Board of Visitors members, showing that journalism training travels well beyond the standard newsroom to public relations, health, network leadership, entertainment, brand strategy, and beyond.

Featured new Board of Visitors members
Laura J. Downey

Executive Editor

WebMD Magazine

Johnita Due
Johnita Due

CNN and TNT Sports

Sean McLaughlin

Graham Media Group

Eric Winkfield
Eric Winkfield

M Booth

BBQ

Celebrating 50 Years of Flava — WANM-FM 90.5

Grads Are Back BBQ

Thursday October 22, 2026 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm Plaza in front of the J-School
Panel

Graphic Design

Design IRL

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Photo Studio
Alicia Hope
with Alicia E. Hope

Instructor, Graphic Communication

FAMU SJGC

The classroom teaches you design, but what happens in real life? Our alumni keep it real, sharing the experiences and unexpected turns that shaped their careers. From an evolving industry to the rise of AI, this conversation explores what it really means to build a creative career.

Panelists
Kyon Hollis
Kyon Hollis

Graphic Designer

SECO Energy (Sumter Electric Cooperative)

Novia Lindsay
Novia Lindsay

Sr. UX Designer

Amadeus North America

L. Michelle Salvant
L. Michelle Salvant

CEO

LMichelleMedia

Brion Eason
Brion Eason

Executive Director of Marketing & Communications

Edward Waters University

Panel

Journalism

Day One Ready: What You Need to Know About Your First Amendment Rights

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm SJGC Lecture Hall (Room 2002)
Georgia Dawkins
with Georgia Dawkins

Producer

CBS News and Stations

A workforce pipeline conversation about what it takes to land your first newsroom job and understanding your First Amendment rights.

Panelists
Tia Mitchell

Washington Bureau Chief

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jasmin Butler

Reporter

Action News Jax

Beyla Walker

Anchor/MMJ

WTVY News 4

Shamonee Baker

Anchor

WKRG News 5

Panel

Sports Journalism

Game-Day Ready: How to Score Your First Sports Gig

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm TV-20 Studio B
Tiffany Greene
with Tiffany Greene

ESPN

Panelists
Malik Burgess

Producer, Content Editor

DAZN

Jefferey Hood Jr.
Jefferey Hood Jr.

Production Assistant

ESPN

Justin Lloyd

Public Relations Coordinator

College Park Skyhawks (NBA G League)

Maya Elyson

Multiskilled Journalist

THV11 CBS

Alyssa Copper

Sports Journalist; Member

Sports Journalism Institute

Avery Jacobs

Director of Communications

FIFA World Cup

Panel

Public Relations

Proceeding Through the Pivot

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Room 2037
Carole Sykes
with Carole Sykes

Cultural Strategist

The Carr Caldwell Collective

How to translate newsroom and communications strengths across corporate, public-service, and nonprofit careers.

Panelists
Shayla Cannady headshot
Shayla Cannady

Chief Communications Officer

Chiefs for Change

Tamara Blount headshot
Tamara Blount

Regional Communications Manager

American Red Cross

Ferrisa Connell
Ferrisa Connell

Manager

M Booth

Calvin Sykes headshot
Calvin Sykes

Community Affairs

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Arnika Frazier-Jackson
Arnika Frazier-Jackson

Director, Student Professional Development Programs

UNCF

Navael Fontus

Planner

Harris County Housing & Community Development

Panel

Journalism

Inside CNN: Rattlers Shaping What’s Next

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm SJGC Lecture Hall (Room 2002)
Denise Hendricks headshot
with Denise Hendricks

Supervising Producer

CNN Digital

A candid look inside what it takes to work at CNN — from the classroom to the newsroom.

Panelists
Ila Wilborn headshot
Ila Wilborn

Content Producer

CNN Newsource

Alta Spells
Alta Spells

Senior Editor, National News

CNN

Ebony Houston
Ebony Houston

Technical Production Manager, Tech Ops

CNN

Dy'Min J. Cannon
Dy’Min Cannon

Content Producer

CNN Newsource

Panel

Public Relations

Changemakers: Own Your Voice, Chart Your Trajectory

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm Room 2037
Heidi Otway headshot
with Heidi Otway

APR, CPRC, President + Partner

SalterMitchell PR

Turning values into influence across advocacy, consulting, leadership and public impact.

Panelists
Catarah Coleman
Catarah Coleman

Founder and CEO

Southern Girl Desserts

Nadia Sharis Felder
Nadia Sharis Felder

Founder

LOWKEY Communications

Melanie Newman
Melanie Newman

Chief External Affairs Officer

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Kena Lewis
Kena Lewis

APR, Fellow PRSA, Founder

Kena Lewis Communication Consultant

Kailynn Kinney

Sr. Integrated Marketing Manager

Steve Madden

Special Presentation

Graphic Design

The Creative Shift

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm Photo Studio

Join Brian Rice, Global Vice President and Head of Design at Newell Brands, as he shares what’s next for design. Get an inside look at the company’s new Design Center and Content Studio in Atlanta, the skills his team is building for the future, and how AI is fueling creativity across some of Newell’s most iconic brands.

Speaker
Brian Rice
Brian Rice

Global Vice President, Head of Design

Newell Brands

Panel

Film

Beyond the Byline: From Journalism to Film

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm TV-20 Studio B

FAMU SJGC alumni share how they transformed their journalism foundations into careers in film, screenwriting and directing. Panelists will discuss navigating career pivots, pursuing an MFA and translating skills in reporting, research and storytelling to the screen. This conversation will offer insight into finding your creative voice, embracing an evolving career path and breaking into the film and entertainment industry.

Panelists
Leland Hall

Director, Filmmaker, Writer

Rose Gamble Entertainment

Skyy Sandifer

Script Writer

CBS Studios

Our Community in Action

Networking and knowledge-sharing are in full swing at SJGC!