Brandon, Mississippi, native, Wendy Stowe Zupa, graduated from Mississippi State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a concentration in Broadcasting. Zupa worked as a news anchor and reporter across the state of Mississippi and in Nashville until a job in another area of communication presented itself.
Three Mississippi State students are finalists for the prestigious international Rhodes Scholarship. The finalists are advancing to the last round of interviews Nov. 12-15 in consideration for one of the world’s highest academic honors. Tafada Wright, a senior communication major concentrating in broadcast and digital journalism from Spanish Town, Jamaica, interviews in Kingston, Jamaica.
Karley Woods, a Florence native, is a senior Communication major with a concentration in Print & Digital Journalism. Woods currently serves as an intern in the College of Arts & Sciences where she works as the social media coordinator.
Mississippi State University Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Head, Dr. Terry Likes, interviews Taylor Howard, a senior, graduating in December with an emphasis in Broadcast & Digital Journalism. Taylor has already won more than a dozen national, regional, and state awards in categories for radio, podcast, and tv. She has completed two internships in Jackson (MS) and Tulsa (OK). Taylor discusses why she chose television news as a career option, the importance of internships and networking, building her media portfolio and her job prospects.
Starkville native Aundrea Self has worked in broadcasting her entire career. Shortly after receiving a bachelor's degree in English and Mass Communication from Stillman College, Self began working in radio. She then moved to television, working as a producer, reporter and eventually an anchor.
Department of Communication, Media and Theatre is making waves nationally with Assistant Professors Rex Jones and Marty Lang earning two of the four Best of Show awards in the Broadcast Education Association’s 2025 Creative Media Competition.
For Jess Terrill, the path from Mississippi State’s Department of Communication, Media & Theatre to the courtroom wasn’t one she had planned from day one—but looking back, every step prepared her for where she is now.
Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication student-produced newscast, Take 30 News, earned top honors this spring at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards, winning Best All-Around Television Newscast—one of the contest’s most prestigious categories.
Mississippi State University Department of Communication,
Media & Theatre Head, Dr. Terry Likes, interviews
associate professor, Dr. Larry Strout, who will retire
August 2025. Strout spent many years working in professional media
before spending his final 18 years in teaching Media Law, and Media
Wrriting at Mississippi State. Strout discusses what has made him
most proud over his distinguished career, his time working
in the media, and why he went back to school to earn additional
credentials.
Kate Myers is a sophomore from Ruston, Louisiana, majoring in communication with a concentration in broadcast & digital journalism. She is the news editor of The Reflector, and is currently involved with Delta Gamma sorority, Lambda Sigma, RUF, and the Shackouls Honor College.