2025
2025 Stories & News
Legacy in the Making: Vanesa Hoxha's Chicago Storytelling Journey
Loyola senior Vanesa Hoxha spent 2025 building a body of work that shaped student media in Chicago. With six productions recognized by the NATAS Chicago/Midwest Chapter and multiple nominations from the Illinois Broadcasters Association, Vanesa proved she wasn’t just completing assignments. She was creating impact. Rooted in pride for her city and guided by mentors who pushed her forward, Vanesa turned her senior year into a foundation for her future. Her message is simple: Chicago shaped her, and now she’s ready to shape it back.
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The Art of Healing: Arely Rodriguez's Storytelling of Pain and Power
When graduate student Arely Rodriguez set out to create her final Digital Media and Storytelling project, she wanted it to matter. That intention led her to Palestinian artist Mary Hazboun, whose illustrations channel memory, displacement, and the long path toward healing. Their connection became The Art of Healing, a short film that went on to win a Crystal Pillar Award from the NATAS Chicago/Midwest Chapter. What started as a class assignment turned into something deeper: two storytellers using creativity to make sense of pain, power, and hope. The Art of Healing shows how art does more than reflect life. It helps rebuild it.
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SOC students enjoy Great Pumpkin Pop Up
Linus may still be looking for the Great Pumpkin, but Loyola students found the spirit of Halloween at the Great Pumpkin Pop Up in the School of Communication.
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What Do We Owe Each Other at Work?
SoC's Genevieve Buthod reflects on lessons from Professor Jill Geisler’s Master Class for Media Managers, exploring how emotional intelligence and the Jesuit value of cura personalis shape stronger, more compassionate leadership in today’s workplaces.
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Social Media Communication Through the Lens of Professor Lipschultz
In an era where technology shapes nearly every aspect of daily life, questions around privacy, online presence, and digital advertising have become increasingly urgent. These concerns often fall under the broad umbrella of social media law, a term that can feel abstract or intimidating at first glance. To help break it down, media scholar Prof. Jeremy Harris Lipschultz offers clarity and context.
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St. Ignatius takes field trip to School of Communication
Nearly 30 St. Ignatius students used professional video cameras and microphones to interview passersby near Chicago’s historic Water Tower, just steps from the School of Communication’s downtown campus.
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From East Lansing to the International Stage: Gretchen Rojewski’s Journey as a Ricci Scholar
This fall, Loyola University named four students to the highly selective Ricci Scholars Program for the 2025–2026 academic year, including Gretchen Rojewski of East Lansing, Michigan. A double major in Anthropology and Film and Digital Media, Rojewski brings an interdisciplinary perspective to her work, combining cultural analysis with media studies.
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Media Fellows Cook Up Community at Pizzeria Uno
What do you get when you combine the ingredients for a deep-dish pizza with more than two dozen bright, young Loyola students? A recipe for a fun adventure.
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Thinking Globally, Leading Strategically
After earning an undergraduate degree in communication and political science, Kate Perschke has established herself as a successful communication professional in the tech industry. Now, Perschke is pursuing a master’s degree in Global Strategic Communication (GSC) at Loyola to expand her skill set and position herself as a strategic leader in her field.
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In the Eye of the Storm: Loyola Alumna Rachel Ault Leads Crisis Communication for the U.S. Coast Guard
Just weeks after crossing the commencement stage, 35-year-old Rachel Ault (MS ‘25)—now a Public Information Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard—found herself navigating one of the most intense crises of her career. As floodwaters surged across Texas in early July, she led the charge to manage the national media response.
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Driven to Tell the Story: Tayis Stephens Captures His Brother’s Fight for the Finish Line
When Tayis Stephens entered Loyola’s Digital Media and Storytelling graduate program, he came with a mission. He wanted to learn how to tell stories that matter—and he knew exactly where to start: with his brother, Michai.
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Crowned and Connected
SoC Alumna Cara Walsh on Loyalty, Leadership, and the Queen’s Journey
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A Global Classroom: GSC Students Share Lessons from Spain
Graduate students from Loyola’s Global Strategic Communication program traveled to Spain over spring break, where they immersed themselves in international communication through coursework, agency visits and cultural exchange.
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Where Ethics Meet AI: Highlights from Loyola’s Digital Ethics Symposium
Accessible Intelligence: Designing for a More Ethical Present was the theme for the 14th Annual International Symposium on Digital Ethics that took place on March 14 at Loyola University Chicago. This event featured various panels composed of scholars, innovators, and educators sharing how to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence (AI) and digital ethics.
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Loyola Academy Students Visit School of Communication
Students from Loyola Academy in Wilmette experienced what it was like to be television reporters and newscasters during a recent field trip to Loyola University Chicago’s School of Communication. Nearly 30 Loyola Academy students used professional video cameras and microphones to interview passersby near Chicago’s historic Water Tower, just steps from the School of Communication’s downtown campus.
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The Beauty of Storytelling: Jordan Alexander on Branding, Purpose, and the Power of Narrative
When Jordan Alexander graduated from Loyola University Chicago’s Master of Communication in Digital Media and Storytelling program, she carried more than a diploma. She left with a sharpened creative voice, a network of professional connections, and a deep belief in the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and move people to action.
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