Class Notes

The book Activist Media: Documenting Movements and Networked Solidarity by Gino Canella (PhDComm’18), published in May, details Gino’s documentary filmmaking with activist groups Black Lives Matter 5280 and Denver’s Service Employees International Union Local 105. Gino is an assistant professor of journalism and media studies at Boston’s Emerson College.

While at CU, voice performance graduate Mary Kettlewell (MMus) received a graduate certificate in arts administration, which she credits for helping her land her position as program administrator at the Texas Commission on the Arts, a state government commission in Austin that works to fund arts organizations in Texas.

Morgan Liphart (Law) published her first poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running. Morgan’s contemporary poetry has been anthologized in journals across the world, such as the University of Oxford’s Literary Imagination, The Comstock Review and Third Wednesday. 

Interior design expert Kate Chapman (MBA) was appointed managing director of the new Denver studio of Blitz, an award-winning design firm. She currently serves as president elect for the International Interior Design Association’s Rocky Mountain chapter.

Nick Mott (MJour) is a reporter at Montana Public Radio and a producer for the podcast Threshold, which is focused on tackling environmental issues. The podcast was founded by Amy Martin, a former CU Center for Environmental Journalism Scripps Fellow. Nick’s reporting has been featured in The Washington Post and on NPR’s Morning Edition. Threshold’s second season, “Cold Comfort,” won a regional 2019 Edward R. Murrow Award in the News Series category.

Zoë Rom (MJour) won the Colorado Broadcasters Association Award for Best News Feature for her story “Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Is a Family Tradition.” Zoë is a morning host and producer for Aspen Public Radio. When she’s not telling stories, she’s running up mountains.

For the past year, Kelsey Simpkins (MJour) has worked as the digital and engagement editor at Anthropocene magazine and at Future Earth, a research initiative on global environmental change and sustainability. She’s based in Boulder.

Wide receiver Juwann Winfree (Soc) was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Winfree played in eight games as a senior and recorded 28 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

Karyn Kesselring (Law’18) recently joined the law firm Erise IP as an associate in its Denver office. 

Ishani Shrestha (Mgmt’18) graduated from CU’s Leeds School of Business in December. Ishani was crowned Miss Nepal 2013 in Bali, Indonesia, where she won the prestigious Beauty with a Purpose title for her work to educate rural communities in Nepal about the importance of oral hygiene. 

Indigo Fischer (Mus’19) is the artistic operations manager at The Music Academy of the West, based in Santa Barbara, California. Her role is focused on supporting the academy’s annual summer festival and year-round programming, which includes coordinating the logistics of guest artists, creating the festival schedule and helping produce over 120 master classes, concerts and competitions each summer. She told the CU College of Music in an interview last fall: “I had such an amazing undergrad and am so grateful for my time in Boulder. I miss the Flatirons, the farmers market, but mostly the community at the College of Music — I can’t wait to visit!”

An F-15 Strike Eagle weapons systems officer, lieutenant Magen Olander (Russ’19) is stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Wayne County, North Carolina. She credits the CU ROTC program with teaching her the importance of balancing her studies, work and personal life.

Pianist Mina Gajić (DMA’19) and her husband Zachary Carrettín, a violinist and conductor, released a CD in April with the Sono Luminus label. They run the annual Boulder Bach festival, which occurred in May. Mina also founded and is artistic director of the Boulder International Chamber Music Competition.

Founder and CEO of Auguste Research Group, LLC, Donna Auguste (PhDTechMedSoc’19) works with drones to create more STEM career opportunities in aviation within underrepresented communities. She is also working to use drones as mobile sensor platforms and transport vehicles. For more information on Donna’s company, which is located in Oceanside, California, visit augusteresearchgroup.com.

Rhodes Scholar Serene Singh (PolSci) was awarded the 2021 Diana Award. Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the award recognizes social action or humanitarian efforts. Serene’s Diana Award recognizes The Serenity Project, which she founded in 2016 to combat the stigmatization of mental health and suicide. Serene is currently pursuing a doctorate in criminology at the University of Oxford.

Rhodes Scholar Serene Singh (Jour, PolSci) was crowned the 2020–21 National All-American Miss, winning the world’s largest pageant.

Holly Mackin (Anth) was hired as the Bentwood Inn’s sustainability coordinator in Jackson, Wyoming. The inn is one of National Geographic’s “Unique Lodges of the World.”

Kelsey Kinzer (MThtr, MBA) never imagined starting her own business — until she developed an idea for sustainable glitter glue. She competed in CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge, a competition for entrepreneurs, with her company Gaia Glam, where she won the audience choice award.

Snowboarder Cooper Branham (Mgmt) was filmed at Colorado’s Eldora Mountain resort for Warren Miller’s 70^th feature film, Timeless. Cooper has been competing in snowboarding at the national level and hopes to continue a professional career in the sport.

The Associated Press interviewed Catherine Bowman (PhDSoc) in January for her expertise on the State Department’s J-1 visa program, which she studied for her dissertation at CU Boulder. The story is titled “Idaho Tourism Areas Rely on ‘Essential’ Work-Travel Program.” Catherine lives in State College, Pennsylvania.