Stories

Deciding on a Major

What majors do students choose at Bay Area universities?

Internships, Happiness, and the Big Leagues

Peter Summerville interned with Gabe Kapler, a former Major League Baseball player who is now a health and fitness guru. Kapler publishes a popular blog, and he gave Peter a chance to create a guest post that touched on his experiences in Prof. SunWolf's Science of Happiness course.

Student Spotlight: Mallory Miller

Student journalist honored for her reporting, writing, and editing.

A new film combats sexual violence on college campuses

"Can't Thread a Moving Needle" has brought students, alumni, faculty, and staff together to make colleges safer.

Ending Gridlock in Washington

At a time when many Americans are wondering if there is any way to tackle complex national issues, Chad Raphael points to civic forums as way to break deadlock and rejuvenate democracy.

Giving Back to a Shrinking City

Gordon Young is doing his part to fight blight in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. He raised more than $11,000 in crowdsource funding to tear down a vacant, decaying home that attracted squatters and drug users.

The Sharing Economy on Trial

Lisa Davis examines the legal landscape of Airbnb, the San Francisco company that connects potential guests online with private lodging in cities around the world.

Faculty Feats: Gordon Young

New anthology exploring the Rust Belt features the work of a Communication Department journalist.

Life After SCU: Jeremy Herb

Former student newspaper editor reports from Washington, D.C.

Faculty Feats: Michael Whalen

Associate Professor Mike Whalen, pictured with his wife, Nicole, was honored for collaborating with students and faculty.

Student Spotlight: Communication Honor Society

The new leaders of Lambda Phi Eta, the Communication Honor Society, have been selected for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Life after SCU: Liam Satre-Meloy

Communication Department graduate co-produces "The Motel Life" starring Dakota Fanning.

Student Social Justice Documentaries

Yahia Mahamdi describes how he helps students engage with the world through film. Communication majors collaborated on a film dealing with immigrant rights and human trafficking. Another profiled wrongfully convicted people exonerated with help from the Northern California Innocence Project.

The Lives of International Students

Flint, Michigan, is a place people tend to leave. So when international students show up in record numbers, arms open. Writing in the New York Times, Gordon Young chronicles the lives of students from nearly 50 countries traveling to this troubled American city.

Going Home Again

Gordon Young has focused his journalism work on his beleaguered hometown in Michigan as it deals with the Flint Water Crisis

When Communication Department Senior Lecturer Gordon Young traveled to his hometown of Flint, Michigan in the summer of 2009, he was hoping to rediscover and help a place that once boasted one of the world's highest per capita income levels, but had become one of the country's most impoverished and dangerous cities.

Documenting Our World

Communication Department faculty are creating documentary films that capture the nuance and complexity of modern life by exploring diversity, sexual assault, and what it means to be part of a family.

James Caan on Communication

Professor Mike Whalen interviews iconic actor James Caan about inhabiting roles, trusting your instincts, the importance of conflict in a scene and more.

Real Lives and Educational Equity

Christine Bachen and Chad Raphael worked with professors in other departments at SCU to reveal how game-based learning could help close the achievement gap in civic education.

Reporting What Matters

Tech journalist Kurt Wagner '12 reflects on his favorite class at SCU and his most rewarding story.

The Science of Happiness

Students in Dr. SunWolf's senior thesis course deliver a mini-lecture to members of Santa Clara University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

The Intersection of India and America

Rohit Chopra reflects on political and cultural trends in India and how they intersect with life in the United States in a series of articles and interviews.

The Hollywood Connection

Communication Department film students get a chance to work with Oscar winners and SCU graduates Blye Pagon Faust and Arthur Schmidt.

Red Nose Day

Students get silly to spread awareness of children living in poverty.

Students get silly to spread awareness of children living in poverty.

Bystander Intervention

Faculty members are working with students to reduce violence through their teaching, creative work, and service.

Talking About Faith

The Christianity and Communication Studies Network interviewed Paul Soukup, S.J. for their podcast series on essential questions in faith and communication.

The Christianity and Communication Studies Network interviewed Paul Soukup, S.J. for their podcast series on essential questions in faith and communication.

Winning the Pulitzer

Tatiana Sanchez, who won a Pulitzer Prize in April, got her start in journalism courses and at The Santa Clara student newspaper.

Young Scholars

SCU students presented their research and networked at a conference hosted by the Communication Department.

Ways of Knowing

Laura Ellingson's new book examines a holistic approach to research.

Laura Ellingson's new book examines a holistic approach to research.

In the Field

Former Communication student and editor of the campus newspaper heads to The Washington Post.

Finding Connections

Fr. Paul Soukup, S.J., is honored for his exploration of theology and communication.

A Writer's Life

Author Joe Tone reflects on his first book, the importance of journalism, and life at SCU.

Crisis Team

Andrew Ishak examines how firefighters communicate and gain experience while performing a dangerous job.

Reframing Workouts

Chan Thai examines how changing your attitude toward exercise can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Protecting the Innocent

Melissa Segura wins prestigious George Polk journalism award for stories focused on the wrongly accused.

Award-winning Communication Majors

Students honored for essays that draw connections between different fields of study and reflect on their education, their goals, and how their learning impacts themselves and others.

Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Joins SCU Communication Department

Director-producer Nicole Opper tackles social issues through film

Renowned Sports Journalist Meets SCU Journalism Students

Bryant encourages students to ”bet on themselves”

Filmmaker Reese Joins SCU Digital Filmmaking Program

“Thrilled” to bring diverse voices to film’s storytelling process

Feminist Filmmakers

Tricia Creason-Valencia discusses increasing inclusion and diversity in the film industry.

Film, Family, and Italian Culture

Michael Whalen and students in conversation with director Francis Ford Coppola.

Chan Thai Receives 2018 Dean's Service Award

Comm professor praised for work with campus suicide prevention program

Facts Matter

Two reporters and SCU grads return to campus to discuss the vital work of journalists on and off campus.

Shadowing Program Demystifies Film Industry

Communication students spent spring break exploring careers in film

Confronting Tragedy

Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hobbs '11 reflects on the emotional toll of covering the Parkland school shooting and how SCU influenced his journalism career.

Democracy and Environmental Justice

SCU students are working with Communication Department faculty to understand and promote environmental justice.

Loewen Gets In Sync With Audiosync

Rising senior calls SCU a cappella “family”

Tapping into the Inner Artist

Sophomore Millie Barman’s REAL internship was an important step in a promising career of creativity.

Nico Opper Named Eureka Fellow

Nico Opper, assistant professor of communication, has been recognized for artistic excellence by the Fleishhacker Foundation

Fulbright Winner

Mariana Perera '20 will use her fellowship to study disability rights policy in Brazil

Professional Connections

"Creative Cafes" link students with the world of media and entertainment

The Voice of Change

Nico Opper worked with students to create When I Write It, a film that examines race, culture, and creativity

Getting Creative Amidst COVID

Tricia Creason-Valencia (Communication) encouraged students to explore their creativity while at home as part of her Introduction to Digital Filmmaking course

Embracing Change Means Being Resilient

Instead of written reports, Associate Professor Justin Boren asks students to create short video presentations.

Creative Energy

Andrew Ishak made 52 short films in a single year. It wasn't always easy, but it was definitely worth it.

Honors and Awards

The Communication Department honors the many achievements of students who excelled during challenging times.

Little Lightbulbs Along the Way

ASG Vice President Ann Codiga ’21 said she felt “like an ant” at her first college. Transferring to Santa Clara changed that, and prepared her for law school.

Trial and Error

After calling for a do-over on her first college decision, transfer student Caroline McInerney ’21 says Santa Clara let her embrace all of her interests.

A Golden Opportunity

The summer Olympics are back and Jack Benjamin ’18 will be on the call for NBC Sports.

Mike Whalen Recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences

Mike Whalen awarded the Professor Joseph Bayma, S.J., Scholarship Award

Forging a Path, Reflecting Community

Former hairstylist Tanesha Cartwright ’18, M.F.T. ’23 is fulfilling a dream of becoming a therapist for Black community members.

An Entertaining Career

Veronica Rodriguez '13 is a screenwriter and director for film and television in Los Angeles. We caught up with her to discuss career choices, family life, and advice on how to make it in the entertainment industry.

Coping with Covid

Gabriela Sepulveda '21 chronicled her mother's spiritual approach to life during the pandemic in an audio story that earned national recognition.

Giving Students a Voice during the Pandemic

With funding from the REAL program, transfer student Alexis Takagi '22 worked on a research project designed to understand and give voice to community college students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promoting Better Policy

Alexis Takagi '22 wanted to be an agent of change. She is making that happen as a participant in the Independent California Colleges Advocate Program

Hitting Hollywood from Home

San Jose native Lucy Nino ’22 worked with an Oscar-winning team of producers during an internship with Story Force Entertainment.

Baltimore Through a Lens

A Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship fellowship gave Hannah Miller ’22 a unique opportunity to help share the stories of Baltimore-based social entrepreneurs determined to make lasting change in their communities.

The Power of Words

Students in Professor Barbara Kelley’s Advanced Journalism class told the stories of Calle Willow as residents and business owners fought to stay in the historic district.

Creating an Outlet for Student Voices through Journalism

As the Editor-in-Chief of The Santa Clara, Carolyn Kuimelis ’22 played a pivotal role in establishing an online presence for the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accelerated Internet

Communication Assistant Prof. Melissa Brown explores the advantages and dangers of life online

Why I Want to be Friends With Mark Duplass

This year’s Sinatra Artist-in-Residence offered refreshing affirmations and advice for young artists in an exclusive interview.

Lights, Camera, Action

Five SCU students go behind-the-scenes with Assistant Professor Nico Opper on the set of an independent film.

Elevating Their Voice in Film

Non-binary filmmaker and SCU Assistant Professor Nico Opper receives a career-shaping award for outstanding documentarians.

Recognizing Experiences

Assistant Professor Melissa Brown examines how self-defense laws are often rooted in racism and sexism

We’re Greater Together

From couch surfing to college graduate, Leandra Couto ’23 discusses her path as a first-generation student at Santa Clara.