American journalism students on 3-week fellowship to Germany
June 30, 2022
American journalism students on 3-week fellowship to Germany
A total of 14 American students of journalism and related fields are spending three weeks in Germany to learn more about the role of broadcasting media during the Cold War, in particular the impact that Radio in American Sector (RIAS) had in overcoming the decades-long post-war tensions in Europe.
The student exchange project was created in 2018 with support from the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi).
The 14 American journalism students come primarily from universities in the Midwest, South and Southwest. The program started on June 20 and concludes on July 8. It includes trips to meet other RIAS alumni and German journalists in Leipzig, Hamburg, Cologne and Potsdam.
Here is a list of the participating students:
Marlowe Starling, University of Florida
Marlowe Starling is an early career environmental journalist from Miami, Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In fall 2022, she will begin pursuing her master’s degree at New York University for the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She has reported from the mountains of northern Tanzania for Earth Island Journal and has bylines in Mongabay and the Associated Press. Starling looks forward to taking her reporting abroad as an international reporter.
Jason Stahl, University of Montana
Jason Stahl completes his bachelor’s degree in May 2022 from the University of Montana. His undergraduate studies in history and journalism prepared him to
seek out narrative voices and prevent historical erasure, which he will continue to explore in graduate school. Stahl was born and lived most of his life in a Hutterite colony before coming to university. He is a lifelong Montanan, voracious reader, forever student, journalist, and food enthusiast. Stahl has a special interest in bringing history alive and preserving cultural knowledge through publicity and pilgrimage.
Sasha Hartzell, University of Arizona
Sasha Hartzell is a graduate student at the University of Arizona studying
Documentary Media and Human Rights. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Geography, and has interned with multiple news outlets including Arizona Public Media and the Arizona Daily Star. Hartzell currently works as a Client Services Director and Media Specialist for a North Carolina law firm, producing educational pieces on business topics, and as a freelance journalist.
Jessie Christopher Smith, University of Oklahoma
Jessie Christopher Smith is the breaking news and trending reporter at The Oklahoman, his state’s largest daily newspaper, where he has worked since 2021. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism at The University of Oklahoma, with minor concentrations in Religious Studies and English, Literary and Cultural Studies. He previously worked for Gaylord News, OU Daily, and Rap Chronicle.
Oreoluwa Ojewuyi, Southern Illinois University
Oreluwa Ojewuyi, recently received her Bachelors of Arts in political science and bachelors of science in journalism
and a French minor. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Egyptian newspaper from 2021-2022. She is currently a grant writer for the non-profit organization Chicago Votes and will be pursuing her master’s degree in public affairs reporting at the University Illinois Springfield in the fall.
Dayana Villanueva, New Mexico State University
Dayana Villanueva is a senior studying economics at New Mexico State University
after completing a degree in multimedia journalism in 2021. She has worked as a reporter and anchor for Spanish-language student-run newscasts at NMSU. Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Villanueva has reported on cultural, social justice, protest, and immigration issues. She is also a staff writer and multimedia specialist at The Round Up, an independent online newspaper at NMSU. She aims to become an investigative reporter in broadcasting.
Marien López-Medina, University of Oklahoma
Marien López-Medina is a rising senior in Journalism at the University of Oklahoma. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, she left her country in 2017 to earn her international baccalaureate diploma at Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in Victoria, B.C., Canada and arrived at OU in fall of 2019. She worked as a news reporter, assistant news editor and summer news managing editor at The OU Daily, where she discovered her focus in journalism: conflict zones, immigration, minority groups, diversity and human rights. López-Medina wants to pursue a career in investigative journalism in the United States, Latin America or Europe.
Jenna Calderon, Miami University, Ohio
Jenna Calderón is a recent graduate from Miami University in Ohio, with degrees
in journalism, Spanish, and global & intercultural studies. She has bylines in Men’s Health magazine, Cincinnati magazine, Dayton Business Journal and more. Calderón is particularly interested in rural communities in Central and South America and hopes to spend some time teaching English in these areas before starting a full-time career in journalism
Noah Mack, University of Oklahoma
Noah Mack is a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma studying journalism and political science. Noah produces his college’s student-led newscast, OU Nightly. He was associate producer of a show that won best video newscast from the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association. Mack is interning with an HBO documentary looking back at 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He enjoys reporting and producing, and is interested in politics, history and international affairs.
Madison Karas, Temple University, Philadelphia
Madison Karas is a journalist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She recently
graduated summa cum laude from Temple University’s journalism and economics undergraduate programs. Madison has interned for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and is currently a fellow at Resolve Philly and an editorial fellow at News Catalyst, where she supports the Tiny News Collective. Madison is interested in working at the intersection of editorial, engagement and product in newsrooms.
Mikaela DeLeon, University of Oklahoma
Mikaela DeLeon is a junior journalism student at the University of Oklahoma. She holds minors in political science and history and reported for the OU Daily. DeLeon has worked as a DC Correspondent with Gaylord News and is interested in media law and international relations.
Evette Giron, University of Central Oklahoma
Evette Giron is a recent graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma where
she studied education and photojournalism. Most recently she’s been teaching English to newly arrived Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City. Giron is looking forward to using her photography skills to report on the refugee crisis in Europe.
Brandon Leis, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Brandon Leis is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelors in English and Communication Arts. A Wisconsin native, he aims to learn more about journalism in Germany and foreign news coverage. Leis has ambitions to work in Germany.
Carlee Pascual, University of Oklahoma
Carlee Pascual is a rising senior Public Relations major at the University of
Oklahoma. She is minoring in History and Political Science and plans to attend law school after graduating. She has a huge passion for learning about the Cold War and her favorite US President is John F. Kennedy. Pascual is excited to travel to Europe for the first time.
