Rob Severson (BA, Film Production, 2005) will appear on the popular television game show Jeopardy! in an episode scheduled to air Tuesday, Nov. 17. Sorry, no spoilers.
Severson’s appearance on the show came as little surprise to those who knew him during his Webster days. “It’s a perfect fit,” said Mike Steinberg, Webster University Film Series director. “It’s not a surprise at all. Rob is incredibly bright and very well versed. He was very much like a Renaissance man around the media department the entire time he was here.”
Join the Webster University’s St. Louis Alumni Chapter for a speed networking event at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 19, at Culpeppers in Kirkwood.
The event, sponsored by the Webster University Alumni Association, is designed to be a fast way to connect with local professionals in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Here’s how it works: Participants are given the chance to talk with a different person every few minutes to exchange contacts and ideas. Light appetizers will be provided and a cash bar will be available. RSVP by Nov. 13.
SCAN highlights School of Communications alumni who recently landed jobs in their field. Shayna Robinson (BA, Advertising and Marketing Communications, 2008) works as a marketing and programming coordinator at FOX Sports Midwest in St. Louis.
SCAN: How did you find out about the job you have?
SR: I made sure my portfolio was updated and neatly packaged. I did a little research on FOX Entertainment and its many different divisions. I thought of some questions I might be asked and my responses. I made sure they did not sound scripted. I just wanted to be prepared, professional and confident.
Adjunct Professor Gina Jensen(MA, Media Communications, 2001) will be the subject of an upcoming episode of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” thanks to several of her students who nominated her for the show.
The work of photographer Theresa Marshall (BA, Photography, 1991) chronicling the fall of the Berlin Wall will be on display Nov. 9-30 at Marbles Gallery in St. Louis — 20 years after the historic wall came down.
Marshall spent three years in Berlin serving as a sergeant in the Armed Forces when she witnessed —and documented — the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was an event met with tearful and jubilant crowds gathered all along the wall to celebrate the end of the Cold War. “Pieces of Berlin” offers a historical visual and intimate look at Marshall’s personal experience.
Adjunct Professor Gina Jensen (MA, Media Communications, 2001) will be the subject of an upcoming episode of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” thanks to several of her students who nominated her for the show.
The show’s hosts “ambushed” Jensen Tuesday during a taping of KSDK-TV’s (Channel 5) “Show Me St. Louis.” Jensen, who serves as the assistant director of the forensics and debate team, thought she was invited to the set to share her expertise in non-verbal communication.
Instead, show hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly confronted Jensen and offered her $5,000 for a new wardrobe. Several close family, friends and School of Communications Dean Debra Carpenter and University President Beth Stroble were there to witness the event.
Sure, it would be nice if her “Hollywood University” blog logged millions of hits and made her millions of dollars in the process, but that isn’t why Jessica Butler started it.
“I did this because I knew students needed it,” said Butler (BA, Media Communications with an emphasis in Scriptwriting, 2004). “It could become huge and that would be nice, but it’s not really why I’m doing it.
“A lot of people helped me when I was breaking into the industry, so I figured I could help out others in the same situation.”
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters recently recognized Kera Steavenson Mashek (BA, Broadcast Journalism, 2006) for excellence in journalism. Mashek is the central Kansas bureau chief for KSNW-TV in Wichita, Kan.
Mashek was honored with a first place single topic news coverage award, for a story highlighting the investigation of a local county sheriff. The sheriff was accused of domestic violence and botching the police investigation into the case. But a probe by the state’s Attorney General cleared the sheriff of wrong-doing and found the sheriff’s office should’ve conducted an independent investigation into the case.
Mashek was also awarded second place for a nightly news segment, along with KSNW anchor Stephanie Bergmann.