John Moran, B.S. Journalism 1978
Before he was a celebrated nature and an award-winning newspaper photographer, John Moran was a teenage rock ’n’ roll photographer in the 1970s, when Gainesville “was a magical place in a magical time.”
That’s how Moran describes his first years at UF and as the first house photographer for the Great Southern Music Hall. “A mighty river of musical talent flowed through our town. And if I wasn’t front row center with my camera, I was often onstage with the performers.” Moran shot dozens of concerts in 1974–75, including Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Melissa Manchester and Blood, Sweat & Tears.
His advice to students: “There are just so many opportunities; stories and pictures unfold in front of your eyes. Let curiosity be your guide. Find the stories that turn you on, then dive in.”
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Christine van Blokland, B.S. Broadcasting 1995
Christine Van Blokland wanted to be a Disney animator when she came to UF. Life took her in a different direction. After a circuitous career journey as a journalist, self-taught weather broadcaster, feature writer and travel host, Van Blokland created the Curious Traveler, an educational, international travel series on PBS, where she is host, writer and executive producer.
Now in its sixth season with more than 60 episodes, Van Blokland has been nominated for three National Daytime Emmys for Curious Traveler: one for Outstanding Host and two as executive producer in the Outstanding Travel Program category.
And even though she strayed from hard news, she hopes her fellow journalism grads and new students notice that she continues to incorporate the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of journalism into every episode of Curious Traveler.
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Richard Johnson, B.S. Telecommunication 2015
Richard Johnson’s exuberant personality cascades through his work as a college football writer, television analyst and podcaster for Sports Illustrated.
Johnson began his sports journalism journey at the Independent Florida Alligator, which led him to ESPN, SB Nation and now SI. He showcases his multimedia talents in “Split Zone Duo,” a podcast about everything college football.
His contribution to college football has earned him national acclaim, appearances on the SEC Network and even a journalism award that recognizes his talent and influence in the industry.
Johnson tells aspiring journalists to “be honest with yourself, be honest with audiences and it’ll take you places.”
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Dayana Falcon, B.S. Advertising 2011
To Dayana Falcon, CJC is more than just a college. It’s an institution that provided her with an education, a home base to engage and empower others, and a place to be involved in impacting the future.
After graduating, her rapid trajectory led her to her current position as Talent Mobility manager at ESPN. In her role, she focuses on fostering a culture of career fulfillment.
“Equity is in my DNA, and so much of that is at ESPN,” she said.
In 2023, Falcon founded Gators UNIDOS, a career-focused non-profit centered on educational, mentorship and sponsorship opportunities connecting one generation of Latino UF Gators to the next. Working with The Agency, her team created a line of clothing, available at the UF Bookstore, to help fund their efforts.
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Matt Gilhooly, Online Master’s 2022
Throughout Matt Gilhooly’s life, he chose the paths with the most resistance. So, when he enrolled in the CJC Online Master’s program, he signed up for classes that would push him to his limits, which eventually led him to founding The Life Shift podcast.
He took “The Art of Podcasting” in spring 2022 because he knew the class would push him out of his comfort zone and challenge him. “The class offered what most indie podcasters in the industry miss — the research,” Gilhooly said.
The Life Shift Podcast focuses on events that changed the trajectory of his guests’ lives, positive or negative. It highlights life-altering moments and humanizes the struggles and triumphs through them all. With over 80 episodes, the podcast has garnered nearly 15,000 downloads from its thousands of listeners.
