Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn’t have to follow a single path.

“I intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,” said Austin.

In a way, Elon found her. Alumnus Royall Spence ’42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin’s extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.

“He always spoke so fondly of his experience at Elon and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,” she said.

The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. “When I visited Elon, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.”

She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but Elon had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew Elon was the place for her.

As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.

“One of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I’d track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,” she said.

One opportunity at Elon that greatly impacted Austin’s career was her experience with ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.

“During the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,” said Austin.

Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.

“Like many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I’ve built,” she explained.

She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.

In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region’s rapidly growing entertainment industry.

“I joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including ‘Outer Banks’, ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, ‘The Walking Dead’ and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,” said Austin.

One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

“During the introduction, the production assistant announced me as ‘Jenny Austin from CBS Sacramento,’ and Will Ferrell immediately joked, ‘Jenny Sacramento from Austin.’ It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,” Austin said.

She’s also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.

Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They’ve titled the platform . While it’s still a new project and they’ve already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.

Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she’s been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at Elon, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.

“Nearly every major opportunity I’ve had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,” she explained.

She credits ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.

“ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I’d dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,” she said.

It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was “realizing that I didn’t have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.”

Austin encourages ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.

“That’s what I love most about Elon. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,” she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn’t followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

From production, post-production, content creation, producing, writing, directing and performing, the panel offered a wide range of information to students of diverse majors who are in Los Angeles this summer for a unique core capstone course, experiential learning, alumni engagement and community service.

Zaman, who works at the post-production house Picture Shop, shared the excitement of being in the middle of the artistry of post-production. Among Picture Shop’s most recent projects was providing color correction work on Steven Spielberg’s current film “Disclosure Day.” She is also a first-time site supervisor, mentoring summer student Hammond Sherouse at a first-time Elon Los Angeles Picture Shop internship.

Campisano, who served as a selection committee member for the first ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall, spoke about the wide range of professional creative opportunities that await students who return to Los Angeles after graduation. Campisano is an award-winning filmmaker who often turns to the Elon Los Angeles alumni community when staffing and casting projects.

Kestlinger is a Physical Production Manager for television and feature films at SK Global Entertainment. Seawright, an actor, model, and entertainment and brand marketing specialist, currently performs at Disneyland Resort.

ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë Los Angeles offers an exciting, immersive spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë and National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 has built her career around helping people move through pain toward healing. As the founder of Animo Counseling and Coaching in Denver, Colorado, she works with clients through a holistic mind-body approach to mental health, including somatic boxing therapy. In the latest episode of “Elon Beyond the Bricks,” President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Martinelli-Taylor to explore the experiences that led her to a career in trauma counseling.

A graduate of Elon’s School of Communications, Martinelli-Taylor majored in strategic communications and minored in religious studies before her career turned toward mental health care. That shift began with moments she did not fully recognize at the time, including an Elon class on human trafficking that opened her eyes to the reality of trauma and stayed with her long after graduation.

“I think like a lot of things, there were moments, but I hadn’t added them up yet,” she said.

After graduation, Martinelli-Taylor’s path moved through customer service at Wayfair, nonprofit work in London and continued reflection on the kind of work that felt meaningful. Each step helped her better understand what she was drawn to, what she needed to move away from and how service could become a throughline in her life and career.

That search eventually led her to counseling, where she began working with clients who had experienced trauma. She noticed that talk therapy alone was not always the right entry point, especially when asking clients to revisit painful stories could bring them back into that experience. From there, she began developing a new approach.

“What can we do that still heals or helps the body get rid of this distress, this intensity, this pain, but not necessarily just… talking about it?” she said.

Somatic boxing therapy grew from that question and from Martinelli-Taylor’s own experience using boxing to process the emotional weight of counseling work. Over time, she began incorporating pads and bilateral movement into sessions, helping clients reconnect with strength, courage and a sense of agency.

“Find your strength, find your resilience find that courage,” she said.

While her work now sits in the mental health field, Martinelli-Taylor still sees clear connections to her Elon education. Her communications background has helped her explain a new therapeutic model, build a practice and share her work with clients and other professionals.

“I’m glad I had a marketing background. I’m glad I had a little bit of a PR background because so much, even though it’s counseling and mental health, it’s a lot of business,” she said.

Martinelli-Taylor’s story was featured in the 2025 President’s Report because of the meaningful impact she is creating through service to others. For ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë students and young alumni still trying to find direction, she encouraged patience and forward motion, even when the larger path is unclear.

“Just take one step,” she said. “Don’t try to figure it all out right now.”

Toward the end of the conversation, Martinelli-Taylor shared a quote from Frederick Buechner that has helped frame her own sense of calling:

“Maybe the place you’re called is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet,” she said.

“For Martinelli-Taylor, that place has become the space where service, counseling and embodied healing meet. Her story is a reminder that purpose is often formed through the moments that stay with us and the courage to follow them into work that helps others heal.

Learn more about the podcast and listen to the episode here.

Learn more about the 2025 President’s Report and read it here.

The “Elon Dance Team Send-Off” video, directed and edited by Peter Sillitto ’26 and produced in collaboration with the Elon Dance Team, received a Sports Video Group (SVG) College Sports Media Award for Outstanding In-Venue Video – Collegiate Student Championship. The award was presented May 27 in Atlanta during the 18th annual SVG College Sports Media Awards ceremony.

The honor came just weeks after the Elon Dance Team captured two national titles at the 2026 National Dance Association College National Championships, winning the Division I pom and Division I hip hop competitions. The back-to-back victories marked a historic achievement for the program, including ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë first national championship in the pom category.

Produced for the team’s trip to nationals, the video took a more narrative approach than previous send-off productions.

“Producing a send-off video is something we do every year, with the final piece being shown in the Schar Center and shared across social media,” said Sillitto, a cinema and television arts major. “This year, we wanted to take a more story-driven approach by focusing on the team’s journey to nationals. Our goal was to showcase not only their performances, but also the hard work, dedication and experiences that led them there.”

In addition to Sillitto, the student production team included Kristen Pearson ’27 and Meghan McGarrigle ’28 as producers; and Zack Golub ’26 and Colin Dorroh ’27 as creative producers and camera operators.

across multiple locations, capturing both cinematic visuals and authentic moments from practices, workouts and team activities.

“One of the biggest challenges was making sure we told the team’s real story, which meant being present and ready to film during genuine moments,” Sillitto said. “Capturing those authentic interactions and experiences was an important part of the creative process and helped make the final video feel more personal and meaningful.”

For Sillitto, the award reflects months of collaboration and effort from both the dancers and the production crew.

“I’m proud of the project because every year our goal is to create the best video possible, and we have a lot of creative freedom to experiment with new ideas and push ourselves creatively,” he said. “The final video represents months of hard work from both the dance team and the production crew, so we’re excited and grateful that the project has been recognized.”

Sillitto graduated from ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë in May and recently accepted a position with Booz Allen Hamilton as a videographer and social media content creator.

Sillitto and Dorroh attended the 2026 SVG College Summit in Atlanta alongside Anthony Bamford ’25, coordinating producer for Elon Sports Vision; Patrick Cunningham, director of live broadcast production for Elon Athletics; and students/recent graduates Philip Doherty ’26, Anthony Eppolito ’27 and Joey Marinello ’28.

This year marked another strong showing for Elon at the national competition – the university won its first-ever award in 2025. In addition to the winning Elon Dance Team send-off video, four other Elon productions were recognized as finalists in the Collegiate Student Championship division: “Football: Elon vs. North Carolina A&T,” “Strength Beyond the Game – Brodie Carroll,” “Win The Moment – Asher Cunningham” and “What It Takes – Elon Men’s Basketball Halftime Hype.”

“I was in this place of, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do?'” she said.

She remembers a moment of doubt during her final year when Professor Emeritus Rich Landesberg provided the “tough love” she needed to move forward.

“He kept saying, ‘Just pick. You’re going to be fine. No matter what, you’re going to land on your feet.’ I really needed that at the time,” Polk said.

That foundation was built primarily within the School of Communications, where Polk, a broadcast communications major, found a safe space to test her leadership skills. She points to a producing class taught by Assistant Professor Ray Johnson as a key turning point where the details of the profession finally clicked. Johnson tasked her with being the executive producer for the class, a role that involved managing her peers and overseeing a project from concept to delivery.

“It was so much work, but I loved it,” she said. “You just realize how many people are leaning on you.”

She credits Johnson’s ability to “put on a show” in the classroom as a major inspiration for her own leadership style, teaching her that engagement and enthusiasm are just as important as technical skills.

“He was so good at his job… I think about him often,” she said.

Upon graduation, Polk’s preparation was put to the test when she was accepted into the prestigious NBC Page Program in New York City. Moving from the college environment of Elon to the fast-paced world of NBC required a quick adjustment. She rotated through high-stakes assignments, including “The Today Show,” the US Open, and Syfy publicity, a journey that required her to adapt to a more rigorous schedule, one that demanded the fundamental discipline of the network.

“I used to be a very late person,” she admitted. “But I got it out of my system because of the Page Program. Elon prepared me for the presence, how to present yourself well and dress the part, but the Page Program taught me the discipline.”

Her trajectory eventually led her to Los Angeles and the Hallmark Channel for 12 years, where she rose to the position of vice president of development and programming. In this role, she oversaw the production of up to 30 projects annually, yet she never lost sight of the “human-centric” focus she cultivated at Elon. Polk made it a priority to increase diversity and inclusion within the network’s programming, working to amplify diverse voices to ensure that Hallmark’s signature films reflected a broader range of the human experience. She describes herself as a kindness-first connector, a philosophy that has allowed her to attract top-tier talent and build lasting relationships with writers and agents across the industry.

Now, as she leads Simply Believe Creative, Polk is focused on catalyzing original romantic comedies and holiday films for the modern streaming market. Even from her home in California, she remains deeply connected to the campus where her journey began. She notes with a smile that she still sees familiar faces in the Elon news, including former classmates who have returned to the university in leadership roles.

Her advice to the next generation of Phoenix is a reflection of her own resilient path.

“Go after the things that scare you and push right through the fear to do them anyway,” she said.

“Take on as many projects as you can, but do them to the absolute best of your ability. Stay curious… the yeses always come,” she said.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online:

Doug Williams ’13 has a specific rule about writing news copy: You can only use the phrase “only time will tell” if your story is about clocks. It’s a piece of advice he received from Professor Emeritus Richard Landesberg, and he uses it subconsciously every morning behind the anchor desk for CBS New York.

Whether he is recapping a local strike or reporting from a war zone, those lessons from his professors remain the backbone of his daily scripts.

“I realistically use those teachings with every single script I write,” Williams said. “Everything is copy. Everyone has a story.”

Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department, vividly remembers that drive.

“Several things stood out about Doug when he was my student,” Hatcher said. “He was naturally curious and asked good questions. He was also smart and a go-getter. When he was assigned stories in my Media Writing class, he had an instinct for finding people… and getting good quotes.”

For many, the Jane and Brian Williams Studio in McEwen is a landmark of the university’s state-of-the-art facilities. For Doug, it is a reminder of why his parents “bought into” the Elon experience. Though neither attended the university, they were impressed by the real-world training Doug received as a broadcast journalism major. They were blown away that he was already writing, shooting and editing as an undergraduate.

“I think the ‘legacy’ was made possible by the professors I learned from and the education I left with,” Williams said. “It was a way for my parents to express their gratitude for that, while paying it forward”.

Hatcher notes that Williams’ composure was evident even during a study abroad trip.

“He has a calm demeanor that sets other people at ease,” Hatcher said. “When he traveled with me on a Winter Term study abroad, I never worried about him getting left behind. He absorbed the material quickly and made the most of his time.”

Initially, Williams believed his future was set in stone; in a 2017 interview, he intending to stick strictly to sports. However, after seven years at SNY, a period he describes as “magic,” he began to feel the risk of becoming too comfortable.

Following the advice of his mentor and former boss, Curt Gowdy Jr., Williams decided to diversify his skillset. The transition was a “humbling leap” that didn’t immediately lead to a new desk. Williams spent a year navigating the “crickets” of the job market, an experience that forced him to build his networking muscle from scratch.

During this time, he embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, taking overnight shifts and freelancing for MLB Network Radio, CBS Sports Radio and WFAN. He credits these grueling live radio sessions with making his current TV ad-libbing feel easy by comparison.

Since starting at CBS New York in January 2023, Williams has found a new sense of purpose in local journalism. While he traded clubhouse interviews for the unpredictable world of breaking news, the move was put to its highest test in late 2023 when he spent . This assignment remains his most challenging to date, leaving him with a profound perspective on his own luck and a professional hope to be called for such vital reporting again.

Today, the “magic” of his career has evolved from the baseball diamond to the grit of the morning news cycle. He now reports on high-stakes human interest stories, from the to sensitive criminal investigations.

“The job shatters the walls of your comfort zone every day,” Williams said, noting that the lack of routine is exactly what he now loves about the role.

Professor Hatcher, a print journalist by trade, isn’t surprised by Doug’s success in the transition.

“I stress accuracy, context, fairness, self-editing, and completeness… I’m not surprised Doug puts those qualities into practice as he writes news copy, primarily because he’s a consummate professional.”

While his professional excellence is expected, Williams continues to surprise the industry through his dedication to his alma mater. Hatcher emphasizes that Williams’ willingness to mentor current students and network with majors has a “huge impact on elevating the Journalism Department.”

Throughout his rise in the New York market, Williams has navigated the unique pressure that comes with a famous last name. It was a challenge his parents prepared him for early on, advising him that he would often have to “destroy assumptions” people might have about his path.

“People will assume you’re going to be a certain type of person before they meet you,” Williams said, echoing his parents’ guidance. “It’s up to you to surprise them.”

While he credits his family for that foundation, Doug has made that mission his own, focusing on his unique craft to ensure his work, not his name, defines his reputation in the newsroom.

Now a father to a one-year-old son, Williams’ current advice to students is focused on balance. He warns that while fun doesn’t disappear after graduation, it stops happening by accident.

“Fun is now something I have to put on my calendar,” he said.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online: elon.edu/u/advancement/alumni-in-action-feedback/.

As Nikki Sanz ’18 first stepped onto ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë campus, she found a stage. A student who succeeded on a busy schedule, Sanz spent her four years leaning into the culture of involvement that represents the Elon experience. She found that the university’s environment encouraged students to take initiative from the very start.

“Most ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë students just love to get involved,” Sanz said. “I was able to jump right into those opportunities starting in my freshman year”.

Today, that same spirit of initiative has led Sanz to the front of the music and tech world. As the founder and CEO of , a professional career platform designed specifically for the live event industry, she was recently recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work in turning the industry into a modernized community.

Majoring in sport and event management, along with a double minor in business administration and leadership studies, Sanz used Elon as a sandbox to test her ideas. The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow balanced academics with leadership roles in Alpha Xi Delta and the LEAD program, where she served as a tier captain mentoring new students.

Shaina Dabbs, associate professor of sport management, said that Sanz’s internal drive was evident early on.

“Nikki consistently showed a strong eagerness to be involved and fully engaged,” Dabbs said. “She brought a genuine passion for the details and the process, understanding that executing the small things well is what elevates the overall outcome. Her internal drive to excel set her apart, and she developed a system that allowed her to successfully manage multiple roles and responsibilities without compromising quality.”

Sanz credits the Elon environment for giving her the room to experiment and create. Whether she was working with Elonthon or performing her own music around town, she was building the foundation for her future career in event production.

“I brought music to Oak House,” Sanz said. “I asked Phil [the owner] if I could do an open mic one night… I did it about once a month, and then he got bands to come and play. And so, the fun fact is, I started music there.”

After graduation, Sanz’s career took her into the heart of the touring world, working with industry giants like Live Nation and the CMA Awards. She spent years on the road as a production professional for major artists, including Eric Church and George Strait. It was during these high-pressure tours that she noticed an opportunity, as there was no center for the thousands of “gig” workers who make live events possible.

“Sport and live events are becoming increasingly complex and commercialized, and relying on informal hiring practices is no longer sustainable,” Dabbs explained. “Platforms like Giggs help standardize the way talent is sourced, evaluated and deployed, much like analytics transformed player evaluation. When opportunities are only ‘word-of-mouth,’ they limit access and opportunity for highly qualified people who may not ‘know’ the right person.”

Sanz spoke very highly of her senior-year experience in Dabbs’ Event and Venue Management course, where students were tasked with running an event without a ‘how-to’ guide. According to Dabbs, this learning by doing model is intentional.

“The point is to place students in situations where there isn’t a script, because the live event and sport industry rarely provides one,” Dabbs said. “This experiential approach builds professional resilience and shifts students’ mindset to see challenges as opportunities to lead and create solutions. It equips them with the confidence, adaptability and problem-solving skills needed to navigate an industry that is constantly evolving, and to shape it, rather than simply react to it.”

Despite her success in Nashville and her global ambitions for Giggs, Sanz remains rooted in the lessons she learned as a student leader. Her advice for current Phoenix looking to break into the industry is to be open to the different paths the “gig” world offers.

“If you really want to work in sports or concerts, you can move,” she said, encouraging students to explore the various sectors of the industry to find where they fit best.

Reflecting on her own journey from Phoenix to tech founder, Sanz emphasizes that there is no single “right” way to enter the industry.

“The impact that I want this to have on the industry is that there’s a way in, there’s actually a path,” she said.

For Dabbs, Sanz’s trajectory serves as a blueprint for the next generation of sport management students.

“Nikki’s journey shows students that they do not have to accept the industry as it is. They can change it,” Dabbs said. “Her story highlights that leadership is about impact, not title, and that success comes from trusting yourself, building inclusive networks and being willing to act.”

This spirit of leadership earned her a spot among ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award winners. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Sanz encourages students to use their time at Elon to explore the size of the field, whether your interest is in concerts, TV or corporate trade shows; the goal is to find a professional community where you can truly thrive.

As she continues to change the traditional hiring process, her mission remains to head in the same direction of inclusivity she felt on her first day at Elon by ensuring every professional in the live event space has a way to be seen.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online:

“As soon as I finished moving in, I walked over to the McEwen Communications Building and met a guy named Joe Bruno and a woman named Julie Morse, and not 72 hours later, I was in a car on my way to Charlotte, as part of Elon Local News’ (Elon News Network) Democratic National Convention coverage,” he recalled. “Sure, I was carrying a tripod around the streets of Charlotte for one of the senior reporters, but I was there. And that was just the beginning.”

That “beginning” launched a trajectory that would take him from the student-run newsroom of Elon Local News to the heart of the nation’s capital as a reporter for NBC News. Today, Grumbach is a key player in the network’s reporting, covering everything from the Supreme Court to the criminal trials of some of the most important people in American politics.

Grumbach credits his success to the immersive, high-pressure environment of Elon Local News.

“We took ourselves very seriously at Elon Local News. Some might say too seriously,” he said. “But we did that, because we loved it. We loved learning, we loved reporting, we loved breaking news, and we loved the people we did all of that with.”

Over the next four years, Grumbach traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Des Moines, Iowa; from Concord, New Hampshire, to João Pessoa, Brazil, reporting on everything from North Carolina’s controversial bathroom bill to the future of the internet.

Reflecting on the fast-paced newsroom environment at Elon, Grumbach sees how directly those experiences translated to his career today.

“Whether it was 1 a.m. in the edit suites finishing a piece for the morning show, or 5:59 p.m. in the control room trying to load all of the video into the system, the adrenaline kept you going,” he explained. “After graduating, I realized that same feeling crosses the stage with you.”

The hustle and dedication he developed at Elon Local News carried over to national television, where, as Grumbach puts it, “the show goes on the air at its scheduled time, whether or not you’re ready.”

He points to specific mentors, like Professor of Journalism Janna Anderson, whose Reporting for the Public Good class pushed students to find, write and submit stories within hours.

“It was a fast, exhilarating, stressful experience—but so is real-life journalism,” he said.

Grumbach also credits recently retired professor Richard Landesberg, along with faculty members Anthony Hatcher and Staci Saltz, as key influences in shaping him into the journalist he is today. Grumbach knew Elon was the school for him after his first tour, led by a family friend.

“I picked Elon because of the incredible broadcast journalism program,” he said. “From top to bottom, there is no School of Communication like ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë. Professors don’t just know about broadcasting—they’ve worked in broadcasting.”

That foundation helped Grumbach transition seamlessly from the classroom to a career at one of the biggest broadcast news organizations in the country.

“At NBC News, millions of viewers and readers rely on you for fast, accurate, and digestible information,” he explained. “Having the opportunity to learn those core tenets through Elon Local News and in the classroom was invaluable.”

Since joining NBC News, Grumbach has been on the front lines of history. He has traveled to 41 states and Canada, covering Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the 2020 campaign trail, and as part of the NBC News White House team covering the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the trail, his daily life often resembled a one‑man production crew.

“I did it all with a camera, tripod, LiveU satellite backpack, luggage and two phones in my pocket,” he said. “I shot video, logged video, broke news, walked backwards following the candidate in a parade—and that was just before lunch.”

One of Grumbach’s proudest professional moments came during the 2024 Hunter Biden gun charges trial. Inside a federal courthouse where phones and computers were prohibited, Grumbach needed a creative way to beat the competition in reporting the verdict.

“In the media room of the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, there are windows that look down to the street below,” he explained. “The nice thing about windows is that they work both ways.”

Grumbach and his team devised a plan using color‑coded pieces of paper labeled “G” for “Guilty” and “N” for “Not Guilty.” As the verdict was read, Grumbach held up the papers for each count. By the time the judge finished, three pieces of paper read “G.” NBC News beat every other television network to the story.

“The other networks may still be trying to get out of that building,” he jokes.

Grumbach notes that some of the hardest moments in his job come while covering high‑tension events such as protests. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness as conditions can change quickly.

“I’m thankful NBC News takes our safety and security in the field seriously and doesn’t take any chances,” he said.

On the technical side, large crowds such as those at protests present additional challenges.

“When tens of thousands of people are streaming, tweeting and texting at the same time, it can be difficult to get a quality live signal,” Grumbach said. That requires creativity and ingenuity.”

Despite the intensity of his career, Grumbach says one of his favorite parts of the job has been connecting with people on the ground.

“What I found most interesting, particularly from covering candidates on the campaign trail, is that from Nevada to Iowa to South Carolina to Vermont, the answers from voters weren’t all that different,” he said. That realization has reinforced his commitment to reporting the truth and helping connect people across the country.

Despite his national success, Grumbach remains deeply connected to his roots. He was recently selected as one of ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë Top 10 Under 10 Alumni, a recognition he views with immense gratitude. For him, the “Elon bubble” never truly burst; it just expanded. He now lives and works with fellow alumni and had nearly two dozen of them attend his wedding.

Looking ahead to the next decade in a rapidly changing media landscape, Grumbach’s goal remains simple—to keep the public informed.

“There’s nothing I love more than explaining breaking news to colleagues and viewers—from the latest lawsuit filed to a complicated Supreme Court decision,” he said. “Having the opportunity to tell people something that could truly impact their lives, and making sure that information is easy to understand and fact‑based, will always be important.”

Since 2011, ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

She Built This City’s mission is to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women and marginalized communities. In her role, Faustin has launched key initiatives for the organization, including Adult Workforce Development, and expanded youth programming through partnerships with local government and community organizations.

Faustin received undergraduate degrees in corporate communications and Spanish from ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë, before getting her master’s in business administration from the university in 2010. In 2016, she received her master’s in educational leadership and administration from Queens University, as well as a certification in nonprofit/public/organizational management from Duke University in 2022, and a certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Building a Diverse Workplace from Cornell University in 2023.

In 2023, Faustin was recognized with the Charlotte Business Journal’s Power 100 award, and ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. In 2024, she received Atrium Health’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing the Dream Award.
Faustin is also president-elect for the ÁńÁŤappšŮˇ˝ÍřŐžČë Alumni Board, and founder and managing director of Stay Ready Consulting Solutions.

Her impact will be featured in the Most Admired CEO Special Section published in the June 19 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.