Student Media Alumni Highlights

Jessica Madhukar

Jessica Madhukar graduated Florida Atlantic University in the spring of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism. During her time at FAU she started off working as a marketing assistant with the University Press and later shifted over to volunteering with OWL TV. Very quickly she was promoted as the News Director of OWL TV and then finally served as Station manager her senior year. While juggling student media and classes, she managed to take on two major internships with WFLD Fox 32 in Chicago followed by WSVN in Miami. Madhukar was hired her last semester at FAU to work as a morning news writer for WSVN covering major stories like the Parkland shooting and the FIU Bridge collapse.

Currently she is working in market 1 as a general assignment reporter with News 12 The Bronx and Brooklyn. She's grateful for all that she has learned with Student Media and believes she would not be where she is if it weren't for the experience she gained.

Gabby Alvarado

Gabby is a journalist and a proud alumna of Florida Atlantic University. While she worked towards her International Business degree, Gabby dedicated her free time to Student Media, starting as a volunteer at Owl Radio, quickly becoming the station's Business Manager, and eventually being appointed as Owl Radio Station Manager. Following her term as Station Manager and during her senior year, she was also News Anchor and Reporter for Owl TV, Contributing Writer for the University Press, and Programming Assistant and Digital Producer at iHeartRadio, Inc.

At Owl Radio, she hosted and produced the first on-air show in Spanish, "Blending Homes" and the first Owl Radio morning newscast "Owl Radio News with Gabby Alvarado." Gabby also led the update of Owl Radio’s automation and remote-reporting technologies, as well as the establishment of the 1st Annual Owl Media Day; a day to showcase the many involvement opportunities offered by all three student media outlets.

Among Gabby's news coverages for Owl Radio, Owl TV, and the UP, are the FAU State of the Students Address, the University Budget and Appropriations Committee deliberations, the 2015 Student Government Elections, and the 2015 College Broadcasters Inc. Convention from Minneapolis, MN.

Currently, Gabby manages all digital and social media production, strategies, and activations at UNIVERSO (NBC Universal's Hispanic cable network). She has also been a digital producer for NBC Telemundo’s special coverages in 2016 and 2017, such as the Republican and Democrat National Conventions, Presidential Debates, Election Day, Inauguration Day, and the impact of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the 11/19 earthquake in Central Mexico. She’s also part of the digital and social media team for Premios Billboard, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, Premios Tu Mundo, and the Latin American Music Awards.

Gabby graduated from FAU in December of 2015 with a BBA in International Business and a minor in Political Science. She received her first News and Documentary Emmy Awards Nomination in 2017 for her participation in Telemundo's coverage of the 2016 Presidential Election.

Gabby wishes to continue her career in digital, news, and content production for television and digital platforms.

"FAU Student Media was the beginning of the realization of my dreams. So, simply put... GRACIAS!" - Gabby

Taylor Smith

Student Media alumna Taylor Smith graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton with a degree in broadcast journalism in May 2018. She was part of OWL Radio and OWL TV during her time at FAU, where she was a sports director for two years. She also interned at NBC 6 in Miami and CBS12 West Palm Beach. Now she is a reporter for WTVA News 9, in Tupelo Mississippi at the NBC/Fox affiliate station.

Taylor is excited to make a difference in her new community and continue to improve her journalism skills. She feels the practical broadcast skills she learned in Student Media are key to her success.

Patrick Martin

Patrick Martin is in his second career after serving in the Army’s 82nd Airborne. He was awarded the Purple Heart after sustaining injuries in his last deployment to Afghanistan. Patrick decided to pursue a career in journalism after encountering numerous journalists on his deployments, which lead him to study at FAU.

He was encouraged to write for the University Press, and quickly rose through the ranks to become news editor. The UP taught him how to work in a newsroom, and understand the workflow of bringing a story from concept to published piece. It also provided him with a portfolio of work that he could show local news outlets. Patrick graduated from FAU in May 2016. He then attended Columbia University Journalism school as the 2017 Chancellor Scholar, where he received his Masters of Science in Journalism. After grad school, Patrick went on to work at Bloomberg News covering the energy market.

Currently, Patrick works for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt producing investigative, enterprise and breaking news stories. “If you’re interested in the industry, you owe it to yourself to get involved in student media. Nothing can compare to working alongside peers to produce content you can be proud of.”

Emily Bloch

Emily Bloch is a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer and president of the Society of Professional Journalists. She was editor in chief of the University Press, and graduated in 2016 before reporting jobs in south Florida and the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. Before becoming president of the nation's largest journalism organization, she served as vice president and had been involved in other roles at the state level even dating back to her time as a student.

Ryan Lynch

Ryan Lynch is a reporter at the Orlando Business Journal. He was an editor in chief of the University Press before joining the OBJ in July of 2018, and he's covered economic development in central Florida since along with a host of other topics.

Lulu Ramadan

Lulu Ramadan is an investigative reporter at the Seattle Times. She was an editor in chief of the University Press and spent her professional time reporting in south Florida for the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News before heading to Washington. Her work as part of a team reporting on the pitfalls of sugar cane harvesting in Pahokee made her a Pulitzer finalist in 2022.