College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
School of Journalism and Media Studies Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The School of Journalism and Media Studies continues to thrive because of the creativity, resilience, and dedication of our students, faculty, and supporters. This past year, students embraced emerging storytelling tools, tackled complex social issues, and strengthened connections with the communities they serve, demonstrating the essential role journalism and media play in fostering informed civic dialogue. One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is watching students grow into confident, ethical storytellers and media leaders. Through hands-on reporting, multimedia production, research, and community engagement, our faculty mentor students as they develop the skills needed to navigate today’s evolving media landscape. Looking ahead, we are excited to expand opportunities in digital storytelling, investigative reporting, media innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Philanthropic support makes this progress possible, empowering our students, advancing faculty innovation, and preparing the next generation of journalists and media professionals to inform, engage, and inspire.
Temple Northup, Ph.D. Director and Professor School of Journalism and Media Studies
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Baldwin Family Newsroom Fund This fund will support the School of Journalism and Media Studies’ student media program by enhancing the learning environment and expanding opportunities for student journalists. Funding will help renovate and maintain the classroom/newsroom space to ensure it remains a modern, 21st-century newsroom that reflects current industry standards and practices. Additional support will provide meaningful educational and professional experiences for students working within the newsroom, including opportunities to travel and cover important news events, participate in student media programming, and attend national conferences and professional development experiences. These investments help students strengthen their reporting, storytelling, leadership, and multimedia skills while preparing them for successful careers in journalism and media industries.
Attending a Feb. 4 celebration at the Baldwin Family Newsroom were (from left) SDSU President Adela de la Torre, Shawn Baldwin, JMS school director Temple Northup, and associate dean Kurt Lindemann. (Photo: Ken Jacques)
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Calista Stocker, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Journalism “I hope our graduating class gives themselves grace during the job search process. Don’t dwell on the ‘should haves’ and instead focus on the ‘will do’s,’” says Calista Stocker, outstanding undergraduate in journalism and outstanding student for the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Originally from New Hampshire, Stocker said moving across the country to attend SDSU was challenging at first, but she is grateful she stayed and grew into the journalist she is today. During her time at SDSU, she served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Aztec and president of both the SDSU Society of Professional Journalists and Soundwave A Cappella. Stocker interned with EdSource, The San Diego Sun, and Times of San Diego, where she gained hands-on experience reporting investigative stories on public policy and infrastructure alongside professional journalists. She hopes to begin her career in broadcast news as a multimedia reporter and eventually return to higher education as a journalism professor. Stocker credits instructor Louis Weiner as a key mentor who inspired her passion for broadcast journalism and continues to support her professional growth.
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From leading The Daily Aztec to reporting investigative stories, Calista Stocker credits SDSU mentors and hands-on experiences for shaping her future in journalism.
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Student Spotlight
Christine Apostol, Class of 2026 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Learning Design and Technology “My career aspiration is to design and lead learning experiences that cultivate compassion and drive meaningful, equitable change,” says Christine Apostol, outstanding graduate student in learning design and technology. She credits San Diego State University with strengthening her foundation in learning theory while equipping her with skills in research, project management, instructional design, and learning technologies. Apostol’s research with Minjuan Wang focused on emerging technology in education and contributed to the development of an AI-focused graduate curriculum. Her nonprofit-based capstone project centered on creating instructional materials for justice-impacted youth and adults, designing accessible and engaging resources that addressed diverse learning needs. Apostol credits lecturer Dan McDowell and instructional designer Nava Amoona for shaping her perspective on empathetic design and evidence-based practice, reinforcing her commitment to creating learning experiences that inspire compassion and positive change.
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Christine Apostol credits SDSU mentors Dan McDowell and Nava Amoona for shaping her commitment to empathetic design and evidence-based learning that drives positive change.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings SDSU’s Journalism and Media Studies programs ranked No. 96 through the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) Statistics of Interest JMS continues to support a growing and dynamic student community within San Diego State University. SDSU enrolls more than 41,000 students and is recognized as a high-research-activity institution by the Carnegie Classification. The School’s faculty are actively engaged in research and creative work focused on journalism, media ethics, public relations, advertising, digital storytelling, emerging technologies, and community engagement. Students in JMS gain hands-on experience through multimedia reporting, student media organizations, internships, and professional development opportunities that prepare them for careers in journalism and the media industry. Recent Highlights For the first time in its history, JMS’s advertising capstone class stepped onto the stage to compete in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) and walked away with a third-place finish in the district competition. The annual event challenges advertising students across the country to develop and pitch a full-scale advertising campaign for a major client. Last summer, the JMS Public Affairs Officer program earned a Student Bernays Mark of Merit Award—the first in the program’s 22-year history. Area Head of Public Relations and JMS Graduate Advisor and Military Public Affairs Master’s Program Coordinator Dr. Hongmei Shen said the recognition was especially meaningful for students and faculty alike.
Top 100
JMS ranked No. 96 through the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP).
Student Success
Third-place finish for JMS’s advertising capstone class in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) district competition.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Jesse Marx Title: Student Media Manager College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Achievement: Jesse Marx’s investigative reporting has contributed to statewide policy reforms and earned recognition from organizations including the First Amendment Coalition and SPJ San Diego. His work on public records, policing, and government accountability continues to shape important conversations around transparency and civic engagement. Jesse brings investigative journalism experience into the classroom, helping students connect ethical reporting and public service journalism to real-world impact. Through his mentorship and professional expertise, he prepares students to become thoughtful, community-focused journalists ready for today’s evolving media landscape.
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By bringing investigative reporting into the classroom, Jesse Marx equips students to pursue ethical journalism that informs communities and drives accountability.
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Alanna Peebles, Ph.D. Title: Program Head of Learning Design and Technology College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Achievement: Dr. Alanna Peebles’ research on how children and adolescents engage with media has been published in leading journals, including Communication Research, Media Psychology, and Computers in Human Behavior. Dr. Peebles is passionate about helping students better understand the relationship between media, technology, and young audiences. Her teaching and research focus on how children and adolescents engage with and are emotionally impacted by media experiences, encouraging students to think critically about the role media plays in everyday life. Drawing from her professional experience at Common Sense Media and her background in early childhood education, Dr. Peebles brings a thoughtful, research-driven perspective into the classroom. Students benefit from her mentorship, interdisciplinary approach, and commitment to exploring how media can shape learning, development, and communication in meaningful ways.
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Through research and mentorship, Alanna Peebles empowers students to better understand the powerful role media plays in young people’s lives.
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Featured Areas
Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations During AY 2025-26, philanthropic support through the Broom Center continued to create meaningful professional and educational opportunities for School of Journalism and Media Studies students. Funding supported seven Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter students who attended the Public Relations Student Society of America’s ICON conference in Washington, D.C., and 16 students who attended the PRSSA Western District Conference hosted by California State University, Fullerton, allowing students to network with industry professionals and gain valuable career insight. Support also helped five students pursue the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations, further strengthening their professional development and industry preparation. In addition, Broom Student Fellow alumni selected four seniors to serve as this year’s Broomie cohort. Students participated in exclusive mentorship and networking opportunities with industry leaders, including a three-day agency trip to New York City featuring job-shadowing experiences and meetings with communications professionals, including members of New York City Mayor Mamdani’s social media team. Philanthropic investment also enhanced classroom learning experiences. Students in the JMS 585 capstone course represented real-world clients, including the Library Foundation San Diego, Wildlife Madagascar, and the Diversity Action Alliance, through opportunities made possible by the Broom Center sponsorship.
Broomies explored New York City while connecting with industry leaders and gaining firsthand public relations experience.
Thank you for your generous support.
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