About Us

(This page is currently under construction. Please come back to see a full list of the Kent In India team!)

These are the bios of the students enrolled in International Storytelling Spring 2012.

Kristin Bauer: I am a senior photojournalism major and photo illustration minor, originally from Westlake, Oh. I expect to graduate in December 2012 and then possibly may attend graduate school for curatorship and digital archiving.  In addition to my studies, I am a member of the Kent State Figure Skating team.  I work part time at many places on campus such as: The ESL, Daily Kent Stater, University Communications and Marketing, Fusion Magazine, and College of Communications and Information. In going to India, I  not only hope to experience another culture and way of life, but I also hope to broaden my understanding of  international journalism which will aid me in job searching after graduation.

Katy Brown: I am a broadcast news and international relations major from Charleston, WV. I plan to graduate in August 2012. While studying at Kent State, I have been activate within the school’s media. I have written for Kent’s newspaper, the Daily Kent Stater; co-hosted Black Squirrel Radio’s “News in a Nutshell” as well as served as a reporter; and produced, wrote, and reported for Kent State’s TV2. I was also part of Kent State’s first International Storytelling class, which traveled to China in March 2011. For this project, I hope to capture the personal struggles and triumphs in India, a collection of lives and reality.

Laura Contrucci: I’m a visual Communication design major and web design minor who will be graduating this May. I was born and raised in Kent but I love to travel, studied abroad in Florence last spring, and spent a couple months studying in Rhode Island a few summers ago. Through most of my undergraduate career I worked in a office in Whitehall and I’ve also had a couple summer internships-one at Kent State’s Alumni Association and one at Elevate Thinking, a branding agency in Columbus. Right now I’m production intern at Invent Now a non-profit in North Canton that organizes education programs from kids. With this class I hope to continue to broaden my view of the world and gain experience working with people from different disciplines.

Anne Dudley: Dudley is a journalism and mass communication graduate student working on her Master of Arts in public relations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from Kent State in 2010. Dudley will graduate in May 2012 and is hoping to work in higher education administration in communications, special events or recruitment. She is interested in strategic events in public relations and is building a course on the topic for her master’s professional project. Dudley is thrilled to be joining the International Storytelling course as a personal and professional challenge and new cultural experience.

Nathan Edwards: Nathan is a senior video journalist that has served in a number roles at Kent State University.  He is an active member of TV2 KSu, Kent State’s student-run television station that serves Portage County.  During his time at the station he has been the General Manager, News Director, Chief Photographer, Producer, and Reporter.  He has also served as the Black Squirrel Radio News Director and news talk radio host.  Outside of student media Nathan has had three internships.  He has spent time with WDTN-Dayton, WKBN-Youngstown, and Patch-Northeast Ohio.  Once his college career is over, Nathan plans on reporting and producing in a local news market.

Megan Hawsman: I am from Cuyahoga Falls and still live there at home (hey it’s free)! I am majoring in organazational communication which for anyone who knows me or will soon will find this very appropriate because I love to talk. I plan on graduating this coming December if everything goes as planned. I am interested in going to India because I am not sure when I will ever get this opportunity again. This will force me to become familiar with another culture that is so very different from my own.

Courtney Kerrigan: I am a senior magazine journalism major from Columbiana, Ohio, and I expect to graduate in May 2012. Outside of JMC I do freelance work for Cleveland Scene Magazine writing concert previews, band interviews, and sometimes music features. I’m also a waitress at Wild Goat’s Cafe in Kent on the weekends and a study abroad assistant in CCI during the school year. After studying in Florence, Italy, for four months last spring semester I caught the travel bug and now have a desire to travel anywhere and everywhere. This project not only gives me the chance to do that, but also allows me to gain global experience in my field of study. Not to mention the culture is fascinating.

Danielle Manfredi: I am a broadcast journalism major with a minor in political science, and I expect to graduate in December of 2012. I have been a reporter and a correspondent for TV2 KSU’s news program. In addition to my work with TV2, I am a server at a restaurant, and volunteer at the Champion Events Center, in Canton, to raise money for Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. In this class, I hope to draw on the experience from the last international storytelling in China course and fully explore a new society. I want to look at issues that come about, as India becomes more of a travel destination.

Monica Maschak: I am a senior photojournalism major graduating in May.  I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and decided to come to Kent State University because of its excellent journalism (more importantly photojournalism) program.  This semester, in addition to 18 credit hours, I am the Assistant Photo Editor at the Daily Kent Stater.  In my time here at Kent, I have discovered my ultimate interest is in documentary multimedia pieces.  This brings me to what my interest is for the outcome of this International Storytelling class: I would love to document New Delhi in a way that would break the stereotypical thoughts that many have in our first world culture.  I’m excited to kick start my documentary career with this class.

Katie Rickman: I am a senior photojournalism major. I love to travel and tell stories through photography.  I grew up in a small town not too far from Kent and look forward graduating and moving to a bigger city.  I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to end up doing after graduation, but I’m excited about the endless opportunities out there.  The sky is the limit when you have a camera in your hand — and a good cup of coffee in the other.

Jess Schmidt: I’m a broadcast journalism and psychology duel major planning to graduate in the spring of 2013. I’m originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and hope to spend some time working there one day. I’m a very active member of Kent State University’s student-run television station TV2 KSU. I’ve reported, anchored, assistant produced, floor directed, and acted as a debate moderator. Currently I’m on the board of directors as the Classroom Content Manager. I absolutely love what I do, and I can’t wait to share my passion with the people I meet in India. I’ve always wanted to travel abroad and explore different cultures. I knew I had to grab hold of such a great opportunity.

Megan Shaw: I’m a junior, broadcast journalism major and I expect to graduate in May 2013, if all goes as planned. I am from a small town called Coshocton, Ohio. It’s only about an hour and a half away, however, I’m continually asked if its out of state. I am very active in TV2 here in Franklin Hall. This semester I am serving as the Assignment Manger for the station in addition to anchoring the Wednesday newscasts. When I graduate I plan to move south and work as a general assignment reporter. I enjoy being out in the field and talking to new people every day. During this project I want to learn the differences and similarities in the education systems in the US and India. I am interested to learn how they begin and end their learning process.

Jennifer Shore: I am a senior magazine journalism major with an English minor. Currently, I am the managing editor for visuals for the Daily Kent Stater, the managing editor of The Burr and an editorial intern at the Kent State University Press. I graduate in May, and I don’t plan on returning to my hometown of Mars, Pa., which is 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. I love reporting, writing and editing, so I hope to go into book publishing/editing or magazine writing/editing.

Jessica Schmidt: I’m a broadcast journalism and psychology duel major planning to graduate in the spring of 2013. I’m originally from a suburb of Cincinnati and hope to spend some time working there one day. I’m a very active member of Kent State University’s student-run television station TV2 KSU. I’ve reported, anchored, assistant produced, floor directed, and acted as a debate moderator. Currently, I’m on the board of directors as the Classroom Content Manager. I absolutely love what I do, and I can’t wait to share my passion with the people I meet in India. I’ve always wanted to travel abroad and explore different cultures. I knew I just had to grab hold of such a great opportunity!

Anthony Vence: My name is Anthony Vence, and I am a senior photojournalism major at Kent State University. I was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y.

Photography became a passion for me after I took a film photography class during my senior year of high school. I really enjoyed the variety of images that could be captured through photography and the concept of capturing the perfect moment. I later gained interest in journalism after completing my sophomore year of college. I started following the news more frequently and became interested in feature stories. That is when I decided I wanted to take my skills as a photographer and try to learn journalistic skills to become a photojournalist.

I am looking forward to taking my skills as a photographer and a journalist to India. I am excited to see the unique culture and landscape that makes up India.

Melinda Yoho: I am a senior majoring in photo illustration and minoring in photojournalism, expecting to graduate in 2013. I live in Cuyahoga Falls. I am the photographer/designer for the CCI marketing team, and I do freelance work for various departments around campus. I worked as choreographer and Senior Still Photography and Graphic Design Manager for KSU Independent Films’ Research: The Musical, which I am currently helping promote. I studied photography abroad last year in Turkey and Greece. I have a number of Indian friends, and I am excited to experience some of their culture first-hand. I am interested Dalit ministry and Christian minorities.

Maura Zurick: I’m originally from Freedom, Pennsylvania, a small town just north of Pittsburgh. I decided to come to Kent State because of my passion for writing and traveling, and Kent had great opportunities for both. I am a junior newspaper journalism and international relations major. I studied abroad in Florence, Italy during my freshman year and that furthered my love of travel. I have an amazing family who helps make all of my travel goals possible. I’m a reporter for the Daily Kent Stater, a member of Amnesty International and Phi Sigma Pi. I plan to travel the world and report on culture, politics and human rights.

Administrators:

LuEtt Hanson: LuEtt Hanson is the Associate Dean for the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, a post she has held since the college was created ten years ago. Before becoming a full-time administrator, she was an associate professor in Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She taught video production and media writing there from 1987 to 2002. Dr. Hanson earned her baccalaureate degree at Winona State University in Minnesota, and her Master’s and doctorate degrees at Kent State. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, travel, singing with the Kent Chorus and going to plays, movies, concerts and museums.