Each year, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication employs students to assist with a wide variety of tasks, including communications and social media, prospective student advising and tours, event planning and more. Meet the students proudly representing the SJMC this year.
Olivia Bartman – Director’s Fellow
Olivia is a senior in the SJMC with concentrations in journalism and strategic communication as well as certificates in Gender & Women’s Studies and Education Policy Issues. She is a Senior Admissions Representative at UW–Madison’s Office of Admissions and the Online Editor of The Issue media outlet. As one of our two Director’s Fellows, Bartman works closely with our Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Sandra Kubat, and promotes the undergraduate program to prospective students and families, helps students apply to the SJMC and serves as an ambassador of the School.
Emma Castillo-Kozina – Inclusion Committee Undergraduate Student Representative
Emma Castillo-Kozina is a fourth-year student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison getting her bachelor’s in strategic communications with certificates in Data Science and Digital Media Analytics. Castillo-Kozina is also an Arts Editor at The Badger Herald, and a Diversity Peer Mentor. Emma loves fashion, creative writing and going on runs on lakeshore path! As the undergraduate student representative for the SJMC Inclusion Committee, Castillo-Kozina provides valuable insight to our faculty and staff about our SJMC community and helps to make the School an inclusive place where all feel they belong.
Amélie Mahony – Career Fair Coordinator
Amélie Mahony is a Journalism and Mass Communication professional Masters student intending on graduating this December. She specializes in entertainment journalism and hopes to work as an entertainment writer post-grad. Amélie is a managing editor at Her Campus Wisconsin where she edits and formats other members’ articles about entertainment, lifestyle and beauty. Amélie holds two roles at the SJMC. She is a grader for J335: Principles and Practices of Reporting, a position she has had since last spring. She also the Career Fair Coordinator for the Advertising, Communications and Media Career Fair happening October 29.
Mai Nguyen – Digital and Social Media Intern
Mai is a senior with concentrations in strategic communication and reporting. She is also pursuing two certificates, one in Entrepreneurship and one in Digital Media Analytics. Nguyen has been the Digital and Social Media Intern at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication since Fall 2023. In this role, she works closely with Communications Manager, Kara Rheingans, to develop and execute the SJMC social strategy across multiple platforms. Additionally, Nguyen is the Co-Founder and Advisor of the Vietnamese International Student Association (VISA), having served as the President the previous year.
Beth Shoop – Communications Intern
Beth Shoop is a senior with concentrations in strategic communication and reporting and certificates in Digital Media Analytics, Sports Communication and Leadership. On campus, Shoop is the President of Her Campus and a member of Bucky™PR, PRSSA and Kappa Alpha Theta. Shoop loves spending her time in Vilas Hall, specifically in the Journalism Reading Room! As the Communications Intern, Shoop works closely with Communications Manager, Kara Rheingans, develop and create content for our website and social media channels.
Binbin Wang – Inclusion Committee Graduate Student Representative
Binbin Wang is a current Ph.D. student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in health communication. She is passionate about advocating for underrepresented groups, striving to ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued. Her research explores how mass media impacts vulnerable populations like adolescents, and marginalized communities, in particular LGBTQ+ individuals. Wang holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, where she majored in Advertising and Hospitality Business. As a graduate student representative for the SJMC Inclusion Committee, Wang provides valuable insight to our faculty and staff about our SJMC community and helps to make the School an inclusive place where all feel they belong.
Molly Zedeck – Director’s Fellow
Molly is a senior in the SJMC with a concentration in journalism as well as another major in Communication Arts. She is a Senior Tour Guide at UW–Madison and is the Research Assistant for The Maggie Daun Show on Civic Media. As one of our Director’s Fellows, Zedeck works closely with our Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Sandra Kubat, and promotes the undergraduate program to prospective students and families, helps students apply to the SJMC and serves as an ambassador of the School.
Chenjie Zheng – Inclusion Committee Graduate Student Representative
Chenjie Zheng, first-year PhD student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, holds a MA in Global Media and Communication from LSE (UK) and USC (US) and a BA in Broadcasting and Television from Zhejiang University (China). Zheng spent two years working in the documentary industry in China as a director and editor and started researching the field of mass communication in 2022. In her free time, Zheng enjoys watching movies, doing yoga/pilates and traveling. As a graduate student representative for the SJMC Inclusion Committee, Zheng provides valuable insight to our faculty and staff about our SJMC community and helps to make the School an inclusive place where all feel they belong.