As another semester comes to a close, Kent State Student Media enters a season of transition, one that brings both heartfelt goodbyes and exciting new beginnings. This semester, we celebrate two graduating student leaders who stepped into their roles for just one term and made an extraordinary impact: Kay Simmons, audience engagement director, and Adriana Gasiewski, The Burr editor-in-chief.
Adriana joined The Burr after working in other spaces such as The Kent Stater and Her Campus, bringing with her a renewed energy and vision. In just one semester, she grew the magazine's staff to nearly 30 members, leading with confidence, professionalism and joy. Under her leadership, the team produced a truly phenomenal magazine and strengthened the sense of community within the organization.
Kay took on the tremendous challenge of launching a brand-new Kent Stater Instagram account from zero followers. Through strategic content creation, collaboration and tireless outreach, she and her team grew the account to nearly 3,000 followers in one semester. Kay's creativity, enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate across outlets, along with her consistent tabling and outreach efforts, helped elevate Student Media's visibility across campus.
Looking ahead, across our 10 media outlets and 11 total student leadership roles, seven leaders will be returning next semester, while four outlets will transition to new leadership. Audience Engagement welcomes Emily Yanchak, formerly social editor, as the new director. The Burr will be led by Quinn Schafer, previously copy editor, as editor-in-chief. A quick fun fact about Quinn is that she is a second-generation Burr editor-in-chief, as her father, Dave Schafer, served as EIC in 2001. Fusion transitions from Ivory Herman to Ari Collins, formerly managing editor, now editor-in-chief. The Newsroom (The Kent Stater & KSTV) transitions from Anthony Leonardi to Lillian Glaze, formerly photo editor, as news director.
The following outlets will maintain their current leadership: Flash Media advertising director Alex Andrade; A Magazine editor-in-chief Hannah Planey; Luna Negra editor-in-chief Jamie Zickefoose; Uhuru co-editors-in-chief Nuhami Miller and Sydney Stevenson; Audio & Entertainment director Cohlman Arthur; and Production & Film Distribution director Devin Gallagher.
Congratulations to all of our new leaders, best wishes to those beginning a new chapter beyond Kent State, and cheers to the students who continue their leadership journeys. Together, these students carry forward the mission of Kent State Student Media: to create, lead and make a lasting impact on campus and beyond.