Amy Araya, B.S. Public Relations 2008
Associate Principal Counsel, Disney/National Geographic
Amy Araya uses the writing and fact-finding skills she learned from CJC Journalism Professor Mike Foley every day at the Walt Disney Company’s National Geographic.
“He sparked the curiosity in me on how I viewed story-telling and proper fact-checking,” she said. “It is incredibly relevant in my work in television law. I poignantly remember sitting in Foley’s
class and he was really questioning the source—primary and secondary. He would dock us heavily if we made a mistake in our submitted assignments, but he also treated reporting as recognition of humanity, the human side of things.”
Now living in Washington, D.C., she’s reconnecting with CJC to share her experiences, mentor students and encourage others to follow their dreams.
Read More
Tyler Rutstein, B.S. Journalism 2011
Senior Vice President, Global Brands and Marketing, Under Armour
In his freshman year, Tyler Rutstein was undecided about a major until he met Journalism Professor Ted Spiker, who suggested he major in journalism because he could write about whatever he was passionate about. That led him to the world of sports media and marketing.
Now SVP, Global Brands and Marketing at Under Armour, he spent most of the past five years helping to grow Overtime, which creates content, leagues and merchandise for sports enthusiasts
and now has more than 100 million followers across seven platforms.
Rutstein, who is a UF 2025 40 Under 40 honoree, prides himself on hiring the right people. “I would hire someone based off of them submitting a one- minute TikTok video that has a rich story or a story about themselves,” he said. In this changing media environment, he encourages students to understand how to brand themselves and to “challenge a lot of conventions.”
Ryan Schinman, B.S. Telecommuni-cation 1993
Co-Founder, Mayflower Entertainment
Ryan Schinman entered CJC not knowing what he wanted to do, but he found a caring staff, friends and a love for marketing and advertising — all of which led to his involvement in starting, co-founding or being a partner in 10 companies.
After graduation, he was ready to work at a radio station. “I thrived at CJC— I enjoyed the classes, the advertising and writing.” But he didn’t want to work in a small market making $28,000 so he accepted a job as an agent at Athletes & Artists, a sports marketing firm. He represented three UF football players in negotiations with the NFL.
Now he spends his days connecting some of the world’s most recognized brands with music and talent, increasing the impact of marketing through his company Mayflower Entertainment, and, having recently moved to Miami, reconnecting with CJC to help in any way possible.
Read More
Sara Sidner, B.S. Telecommuni-cation 1995, Hall of Fame 2011
Anchor and Senior National Reporter, CNN
Sara Sidner has spent nearly two decades tackling some of the most difficult stories of our time.
Her path to journalism was shaped at CJC, where she gained hands-on experience at WUFT, the local NPR and PBS affiliate. Sidner credits CJC’s Journalism program for giving her both the theoretical knowledge and real-world experience necessary to succeed in the field.
Among the major stories Sidner has covered are the George Floyd protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts in Afghanistan, Libya and India. But her most personal story came in 2023 when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Choosing to share her battle publicly, she used her platform to raise awareness, particularly about the health disparities that lead to higher mortality rates for Black women.
Read More
Rob Stecklow, B.S. Journalism 1995
Senior vice president marketing, cbs "streaming first" sports, news, primetime and original programs, paramount+
Rob Stecklow visited UF for the first time during Gator Growl. It made an impression.
“When I got back home, I told my dad, ‘I’ll die if I don’t go there,’” Stecklow said. “I was blown away by the campus, the atmosphere, the stadium, the Growl, everything UF had to offer. I had never seen anything like it.”
Since his days as a UF journalism student working at the campus TV station, Stecklow has scaled the ranks in sports, media and entertainment marketing.
In his role at Paramount+, Stecklow is focused on marketing CBS content on the streaming service. Along the way, he’s held more than a dozen positions at top-tier organizations, including ABC Sports, the NFL, DIRECTV, Verizon and DAZN.
“I’ve always looked for opportunities to grow and learn,” Stecklow said of his multifaceted career. “Whether it was starting out in production or transitioning into marketing, I’ve been lucky to work with great people and brands.”
