UM School of Journalism Alumni
More than a century of journalism graduates have come through this program. They hold Pulitzers and Emmys. They report for the New York Times, NPR, and the Washington Post. They run newsrooms, start publications, shape public policy, and tell stories that reach national audiences. And according to a recent alumni survey, 94 percent of UM Journalism graduates are working or in graduate school immediately after leaving Missoula.
This is what a UM journalism degree looks like in the world.
The Careers Our Alumni Build
Prospective journalism students today are most interested in careers as digital content creators, news reporters, investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers, and photojournalists — and UM graduates are doing all of it. A few recent examples:
Maddie McCuddy — national Hearst Photojournalism Champion, 2026
Claire Bernard — second place, Hearst National Writing Championship, 2026; Bloomberg News intern, Washington D.C.
Nora Saks — independent radio producer; creator of the award-winning Richest Hill podcast
Roman Stubbs — sports enterprise reporter, The Washington Post
Seaborn Larson — investigative reporter, Lee Newspapers
Nathan Rott — reporter, NPR
Freddy Monares — arts and culture reporter, Seattle Public Radio
Ryan Divish — Mariners beat writer, Seattle Times
Kellyn Brown — founding editor-in-chief, Flathead Beacon
Luella Brien — founder, editor and publisher, Four Points Press
Erin Billings, MA '95 — senior vice president, Global Strategy Group, Washington D.C.
You can also check out a few spotlights here.
Over the decades, 48 School of Journalism graduates have received UM's Distinguished Alumni Award. Alumni hold Pulitzers, Emmys, and senior positions at news organizations from the New York Times to public radio stations across the West.
Updates from the School
Starting in fall 2025, the School began publishing a Director's Update each semester — a look at what's happening in Missoula, what students are working on, and where the program is headed.
Stay Connected
We want to know where you've landed and what you're working on.
- Share your news and we'll celebrate it on social media and in the Communiqué
- Follow the School on Facebook and Instagram — we highlight alumni work regularly