Our online master’s alumni—a subset of UNC Hussman's 17,000 worldwide alumni—work across North Carolina and the country in various communications industries but stay connected with one another via social media groups. While in the program or after graduation, many of our online master’s alumni have accelerated their career paths and advanced to management roles within their organizations. Others have used their new credential and enhanced knowledge to land new jobs, often in fields they hadn’t explored before the program.

Spotlight on Alumni

John Frank '16

John Frank joined Axios Denver in 2011 as a reporter and lead newsletter author. He previously co-founded The Colorado Sun, a community-supported, journalist-owned digital media startup launching in summer 2018. He has also reported for The Denver Post and Raleigh's News & Observer. Several of his UNC master's program projects appeared in The Post, one of which won two major writing awards. After graduating, John led the creation of a new strategic digital plan for the paper’s political desk that is being replicated across the newsroom and highlighted as an example of what works through a Knight-Lenfest and Poynter initiative.

Sarah Lamm '15

Sarah Lamm is principal marketing specialist for multinational analytics software developer SAS Institute, where she leads go-to-market strategies for customer intelligence solutions. While studying in the online master’s program, she helped launch Raleigh, N.C.-based CRISP Agency. She was named vice president of client and brand strategy in May 2017 and was the architect for and liaison to all enterprise-level account relationships, spearheading brand strategy and account management. Sarah also serves as vice president of the Girls on the Run of the Triangle board of directors.

Miranda Reed '15

A four-time regional Emmy winner for breaking news and weather coverage as a news producer in Raleigh, N.C., Miranda Dotson accepted a job as a consumer unit coordinator for ABC7/KGO-TV in San Francisco after completing the master’s program. In that leadership role in one of the country’s top television markets, she hires, trains and manages a team of consumer counselors and interns. She has since pivoted to work in internal communications. Mirand is a former fellow with the Radio Television Digital News Foundation and was among 12 journalists selected for a fellowship in Germany.

John Zhu '13

After completing the online master’s program, John Zhu became the senior public affairs officer at the Duke University Graduate School. He has since revamped the school's communications operation, overseen the development of a new school website and significantly expanded the school’s social media footprint. He is a member of the school’s senior leadership team, wrote the school's new strategic plan and was the lead writer and editor on a successful application for a $1 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. John is also an adjunct instructor at the Hussman School.