ProfilesVicki Michaelis

Vicki Michaelis, the John Huland Carmical Distinguished Professor in Sports Journalism and Society, is turning UGA into a top destination for students interested in sports media careers.

Michaelis, the former lead Olympics reporter at USA Today, is preparing future sports journalists and communications professionals through in-depth courses and experiential learning opportunities such as the Grady Sports Bureau, which connects students to internship experiences at professional news outlets. Through partnerships with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Associated Press, 11 UGA students were in Rio de Janeiro this summer to report on the Olympics and Paralympics.

“The funds provided by the John Huland Carmical Foundation and our other donors have given us the resources to build the country’s premier undergraduate sports media program. The annual allocation allows students the opportunity to continually build their knowledge and skills in real-world settings. We are able to organize conferences such as one earlier this year on sports media and crisis communications lessons from the Atlanta Olympics. We bring in top industry professionals to speak on panels and teach in the classroom. Thanks to our donors, from Day one our students are immersed in the industry, its demands and standards, and the ways in which sports and sports media intersect with society.”