2019 Team

Mairi Vannella is a first-year Mass Communication graduate student at Texas State University. Before coming to Texas State, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with teaching certification from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio and worked as an instructional assistant and substitute for several years. She now works as a research assistant in Texas State’s OWLS Department. In her free time, martial arts is a personal passion, and she even holds two different black belts. She also loves exploring unique shops and eateries, reading online journalism, and dreams of traveling across the United States.

Christina Noriega is a first-year Mass Communication graduate student at Texas State University, with a focus on digital communication. She also earned her undergraduate degree at Texas State in Electronic Media and minored in Spanish. She currently works as a graduate assistant where she helps students produce content for the university’s radio station, and puts together the university’s newscast-- Bobcat Update. In her free time, Christina loves going to Crossfit or doing anything that involves being active!

Stephanie Robinson is currently a second-year graduate student at Texas State University majoring in Mass Communications. She also graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Theatre Performance and Production. She is currently a Graduate Instructional Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Her career aspiration is to work in music promotions and she is on her way to fulfilling that dream by working part-time at iHeartMedia in Austin, TX. In her spare time, she loves to read, attend concerts, learn about space and spend time with her cat Kennedy.

Vincent Verduzco is a second-year graduate student in Mass Communication-Digital Media at Texas State University. He received his BA in Communication from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Along with his studies, Vincent also works for Texas State University as a Graduate Instructional Assistant, instructing the lab component of the Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media course. In his few moments of free time throughout the semester, you can find Vincent hiking, watching Star Trek [Voyager] or eating as many avocados as he can.

Jessica Knight is a second-year graduate student at Texas State University earning her Masters in Mass Communication. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin in Linguistics. Currently she works for H-E-B at the Wimberley location, filling various roles as needed from bookkeeping to receiving. Her career aspirations after graduation focus on UX research and design and freelance content creation.

Logan Self is a second-year graduate student at Texas State University working on his MA in Mass Communication, concentrating in digital media. Prior to Texas State, Logan graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BA in Mass Communication, concentrating in multiplatform journalism. Aside from his studies, Logan is also a graduate assistant for the undergraduate course Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media, teaching the course’s required labs. When Logan is not studying or working, he likes to watch the Houston Astros and consume unhealthy amounts of coffee.

Sean Smith is a second-year graduate student studying digital media at Texas State University. He is a Houston native who graduated with a BA in multiplatform journalism from Sam Houston State University in May 2017. He is also a teaching assistant who teaches Web Design and Publishing and manages the social media for the Media Innovation Lab at Texas State. When not in class or teaching, Sean can be found devouring copious amounts of barbecue in the Austin area or struggling to play golf.

Megan Boyle is a second-year graduate student at Texas State University getting her MA in Mass Communication - Digital Media. Megan began her career as a professional actress after graduating from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles and eventually transitioned into video production. She graduated from The New School in New York City with a BS in Film and Media Studies and now works as a Virtual Events Manager for GLG. Megan currently lives in Austin with her husband and miniature dachshund, Taffy. She juggles her free time between running, performing improv, and maintaining a strict diet of chips and salsa.

Faculty

Cindy Royal is a professor in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Texas State University where she teaches online and digital media topics. The SXTXState project began as part of her graduate Advanced Online Media course in 2008 and has grown into a course of its own. Students apply to attend and cover the event. Prior to her doctoral studies at the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas, Cindy had a career in marketing at Compaq Computer (now part of Hewlett-Packard) in Houston, Texas, and at NCR Corporation in Dayton, Ohio.

Jon Zmikly

Website: www.jonzmikly.com
Twitter: @jonzmikly

Jon Zmikly graduated from Central Michigan University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast and cinematic arts and a minor in media design, production, and technology. After working at two television stations and one radio station in his home state of Michigan, he earned his master’s degree in media studies at Texas State University with a concentration in new media. During that time, he worked as a graduate instructional assistant, teaching Writing for Mass Communication (MC1313) labs and assisting with Television News (MC3312) classes. He also produced a variety television show called Studio B, interned at SXSW Interactive, and became the webmaster at San Marcos Community Church. Jon currently teaches Web Design & Publishing and Fundamentals of Digital & Online Media at Texas State. He also co-founded a digital media agency in Austin called coiski and works as the social media manager for the School of Journalism & Mass Communication.

Dale Blasingame

Website: www.daleblasingame.net
Twitter: @daleblasingame

Dale Blasingame is a senior lecturer in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He received a master’s degree in new media from Texas State in 2011 and an undergraduate degree in journalism from Texas State in 1999. Dale teaches courses in the Digital Media Innovation sequence, such as Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media, Drone Journalism, Mobile Storytelling in the Park, and Advanced Social Media and Analytics. He is a member of the Online News Association, Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Prior to teaching, Dale spent nine years as a producer at News 4 WOAI, where he won two Emmy awards for Best Newscast in Texas. He is also the social media manager for Leadhub, an Internet marketing company in San Antonio, Texas. In his free time, Dale is an avid hiker and traveler. He was one of eight honorees on Texas Highways Magazine’s list of Extraordinary Texans for 2016.

Jordon Brown

Website: www.jordonmbrown.com
Twitter: @THEJordonBrown

After Jordon Brown received a bachelor’s degree in film from Southeast Missouri State University in 2006, he moved to LA and worked on several major motion pictures, including Nanny Diaries and Take Me Home Tonight. Not loving Hollywood, he moved to Austin and ran social media for a BBQ restaurant. Discovering how much he loved digital, Jordon then got his Master's from Texas State University. Jordon stayed on at Texas State and is now a lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. When Jordon isn't at school, you can probably find him at the Alamo Drafthouse or hanging out with his pet pig Mortimer.