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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

2024-2025 Staff

Jami Martin-Trainor
Executive Editor

Jami Martin-Trainor

(she/her/hers) Jami Martin-Trainor is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Political Science with a minor in Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies. Prior to her role as the Execut...

Marandah Mangra-Dutcher
Managing Print Editor

Marandah Mangra-Dutcher

(she/her/hers) Marandah Mangra-Dutcher is a fourth-year at the University of Iowa. She is studying journalism and mass communication and is seeking a minor in International Studies. Before working as Managing Print Editor, Marandah...

Jack Moore
Managing News Editor

Jack Moore

(he/him/his) Jack Moore is the Managing News Editor for The Daily Iowan. He is a third-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science with a minor in Media Ma...

Stella Shipman
Managing Arts and Opinions Editor

Stella Shipman

(she/her/hers) Stella Shipman is a fourth-year at the University of Iowa majoring in English and creative writing on the editing and publishing track and minoring in cinema and news and media literacy. Before working as Manag...

Cody Blissett
Managing Visuals Editor

Cody Blissett

he/him/his Cody Blissett is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa, double-majoring in cinematic arts and screenwriting and with a certificate in Entrepreneurship management. Before working as Managing Visuals Editor, ...

Grace Olson
News Editor

Grace Olson

(she/her/hers) Grace Olson is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism and mass communication. This is her second year working for the Daily Iowan where she currently serves as News Editor.

Roxy Ekberg
Politics Editor

Roxy Ekberg

(she/her/hers) Roxy Ekberg is a second-year at the University of Iowa. In the Honors Program, she is double majoring in journalism and political science. Prior to her role as Politics Editor, she worked as a news reporter at The D...

Liam Halawith
Elections Editor

Liam Halawith

(he/him/his) Liam Halawith is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa studying Journalism and Mass Communication and minoring in Public Policy. Before his role as Elections Editor Liam was a politics editor and reporter...

The Daily Iowan Sports Editor fall 2024.
Sports Editor

Colin Votzmeyer

he/him/his Colin Votzmeyer is a senior at the University of Iowa studying journalism and mass communication with minors in history and criminology, law, and justice. Prior to his role as sports editor, he previously served a...

Brad Schultz, The Daily Iowan Assistant Sports Editor fall 2024.
Assistant Sports Editor

Brad Schultz

(he/him/his) Brad Schultz is the DI's assistant sports editor. He is a third-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. Brad previously served as a sports reporter covering golf, wo...

Charlie Hickman
Arts Editor

Charlie Hickman

(he/him/his) Charlie Hickman is a third-year at the University of Iowa studying English on the Pre-Law track. This is his third year working at The Daily Iowan.

Carson Hartzog
Opinions Editor

Carson Hartzog

(she/her/hers) Carson Hartzog is in her final semester studying journalism and social work at the University of Iowa. Prior to her role as the Opinions Editor, Hartzog worked on non-profit communications for the Coralville Commun...

Emma Calabro
Visuals Editor

Emma Calabro

(she/her/hers) Emma Calabro is a second-year student at the University of Iowa, double majoring in Graphic Design and Enterprise Leadership. After working as a photojournalist for a semester, she is currently a visuals editor f...

Isabella Tisdale
Visuals Editor

Isabella Tisdale

(she/her/hers) Isabella Tisdale is a first-year student at the University of Iowa studying Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science. In her free time, Bella enjoys taking photos and listening to new music.

Riley Dunn
Digital Editor

Riley Dunn

(she/her/hers) Riley Dunn is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in English and Creative Writing and Journalism and Mass Communications. Prior to her position as Digital Editor, Riley was a digital producer...

Shreya Reddy
Audience Editor

Shreya Reddy

(she/her/hers) Shreya Reddy is a second-year Honors student at the University of Iowa. She is double majoring in political science and criminology with a human rights certificate on the pre-law track. Shreya has worked previous...

Senior Reporter & Copy Editor

Kate Perez

she/her/hers Kate Perez is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in English and a Writing Certificate. Prior to her role as a Senior Reporter and Copy Editor a...

Madeleine Willis
Senior Audio Producer

Madeleine Willis

(she/her/hers) Madeleine Willis is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in History. She is also earning certificates in Event Management and Writing....

Johnny Valtman
DITV News Director

Johnny Valtman

he/him Johnny Valtman is a third-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. He is the DITV News Director in his third year working for DITV....

Brady Behrend
DITV Assistant Sports Director

Brady Behrend

(he/him/his) Brady Behrend is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Comminication. He is working as DITV's Assistant Sports Director in his second year at DITV.

Madison Johnson
DITV Tech Director

Madison Johnson

(she/her/hers) Madison Johnson is a fourth year student at the University of Iowa majoring in History and Ancient Civilizations with a minor in English and pursuing the Writing certificate. Prior to her role as Tech Director...

Fatima Salinas
News Reporter

Fatima Salinas

(she/her/hers) Fatima Salinas is a second year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism & Mass communications and Cinema. This is her second semester working for DI and when she's not working, she en...

Evan Watson
News Reporter

Evan Watson

Evan Watson is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Finance and Economics. He currently works at The Daily Iowan as a news reporter.

News Reporter

Miranda Davis

(she/her/hers) Miranda Davis is a first-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Psychology. This is her first year writing for the Daily Iowan as a news reporter. She is a...

Madison Schuler
News Reporter

Madison Schuler

(she/her/hers) Madison Schuler is a second-year at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in International Relations. She currently works at The Daily Iowan as a news reporter....

News Reporter

Elijah Exley-Schuman

Elijah Exley-Schuman is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Ethics and Public Policy. This year marks his debut at The Daily Iowan, working as a news reporter. Originally from Mount Vernon, Iowa, Elijah t...

Brianna Brands
News Reporter

Brianna Brands

(she/her/hers) Bri Brands is a third-year student at the University of Iowa, double majoring in English and Creative Writing and Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Social Work. This is her first year working as a new...

Isabelle Foland
News Reporter

Isabelle Foland

(she/her/hers) Isabelle Foland is a third-year Journalism and Mass Communication major and Spanish minor. This is her third year working for The Daily Iowan. She has previously worked as a news reporter for the DI and has in...

Zoe Smith
News Reporter & Digital Producer

Zoe Smith

(she/her/hers) Zoe Smith is a first-year student at the University of Iowa, she is currently an open major but has an interest in journalism. She is currently a digital producer and news reporter for The Daily Iowan.

Mia O'Connor-Walker
Politics Reporter

Mia O’Connor-Walker

(she/her/hers) Mia O'Connor-Walker is a second-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Economics and History with a minor in German. This is her second year writing for the Daily Iowan.

Trey Benson
Sports Reporter

Trey Benson

(he/him/his) Trey Benson is a third-year Tippie College of Business student majoring in Business Management and obtaining a minor in Political Science. This is Trey's second semester with the Daily Iowan working as a Sports R...

Sports Reporter

Jack Birmingham

(he/him/his) Jack Birmingham is a first-year student at the University of Iowa and a direct admit to the Tippie College of Business to major in marketing with a minor in sports media and culture through the College of Liberal Ar...

Mia Boulton
Sports Reporter

Mia Boulton

(she/her/hers) Mia Boulton is a second-year at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism & Mass Communication, minoring in Sport and Recreation Management, and getting a certificate in Entrepreneurship. She works at The D...

Arts Reporter

Hannah Childers

(she/her/hers) Hannah Childers is a first-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. This is her first year working for the Daily Iowan.

Flynn Milligan
Arts Reporter

Flynn Milligan

(he/him/his) Flynn Milligan is a second-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Cinema and Screenwriting Arts. This is his second year writing for the Daily Iowan. Outside of the DI, he enjoys working with fil...

Haya Hussain
Arts Reporter

Haya Hussain

(she/her/hers) Haya Hussain is a first-year student at the University of Iowa, and she is double majoring in English and Creative Writing and Psychology on a Pre-Med track. This is her first year writing for The Daily Iowan ...

Emma Isenhart
Arts Reporter

Emma Isenhart

(she/her/hers) Emma Isenhart is a third-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Art. This is her first year reporting for The Daily Iowan.

Isabelle Lubguban
Arts Reporter

Isabelle Lubguban

she/her/hers Isabelle Lubguban is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in English and Creative Writing. This is her second year as an Arts Reporter. She is also an ambassador for the English department, currentl...

Opinions Columnist

Reese Thompson

(she/her/hers) Reese Thompson is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in Communication Studies and is also working towards receiving a Writing certificate. She is currently an Opinions columnist at the Daily Iowan....

Opinions Columnist

Abigail Jones

(she/her) Abigail Jones is a first-year student at the University of Iowa in an open major area of study but with interests in writing, psychology, sustainable sciences, art, and French. This is her first year working as an op...

Muskan Mehta
Opinions Columnist

Muskan Mehta

(she/her/hers) Muskan Mehta is a first-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Political Science and Psychology on the pre-law track. This is her first year working at The Daily Iowan as an opinions columnist....

James McCurtis
Opinions Columnist

James McCurtis

(he/him/his) James McCurtis is a third-year student at the University of Iowa with majors in Journalism and Mass Communications and Ethics and Public Policy. He is currently an Opinions Columnist for The Daily Iowan. During h...

Cole Walker
Opinions Columnist

Cole Walker

(he/him/his) Cole Walker is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Communication Studies with minors in History and Sports Studies. He is currently an Opinions columnist for the Daily Iowan. ...

Caden Bell
Opinions Columnist

Caden Bell

(he/him/his) Caden Bell is a fourth-year transfer student at The University of Iowa majoring in Ethics and Public Policy. This is his second year at The Daily Iowan.

Opinions Contributor

Jackson Mendoza

(he/him/his) Jackson Mendoza is a second-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications. This is his first year writing for the Daily Iowan as an opinions contributor and he previously had expe...

Kennedy Lein
Opinions Contributor

Kennedy Lein

(she/her/hers) Kennedy Lein is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and minoring in International Studies. She is currently an Opinions contributor for The Daily Iowan....

Amy Scott
Designer

Amy Scott

she/her Amy Scott is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Graphic Design. This is her third year working as a designer for the Daily Iowan.

Designer

Emily Pavlik

(she/her/hers) Emily Pavlik is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication with a certificate in Writing. This is her second year working at The Daily Iowan as a designer. Outside ...

Designer

Jacob Statler

(he/him/his) Jacob Statler is a fourth-year at the University of Iowa studying Graphic Design. This is his third year working at The Daily Iowan as a designer.

Joanna Guerrero
Designer

Joanna Guerrero

(she/her/hers) Joanna Guerrero is a first-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and Sports and Recreation Management. She is currently a Design and Digital producer for The Daily Io...

Designer

Panfua Thao

(she/her/hers) Panfua Thao is in her final semester studying Graphic Design. She works as a designer for The Daily Iowan.

Hannah Neuville
Photojournalist

Hannah Neuville

they/them Hannah Neuville is a first-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications and Cinema. This is their first year working as a photojournalist with the Daily Iowan. Previously, they wer...

Photojournalist

Ryan Paris

(he/him/his) Ryan Paris is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism with a minor in Sports Media and Cinema. He previously worked as a video productions intern for the Joliet Slammers.

Izzy Gerharter
Photojournalist

Izzy Gerharter

(she/her/hers) Izzy Gerharter is a first-year student at the University of Iowa. She is double majoring in Psychology and Journalism. This is her first year working as a photojournalist on the visuals team at The Daily Iowan....

Photojournalist

Talan Nelson

(he/him) Talan Nelson is a first-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Sport Media and Culture. He is currently a Photojournalist at the Daily Iowan. Prior to the Daily Iowan Talan worked at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Co...

Photojournalist

John Charlson

(he/him/his) John Charlson is a second-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Screenwriting and Cinema. Before working for the DI, John interned with KCCI 8 News: Des Moines.

Photojournalist

Ava Neumaier

(she/her/hers) Ava Neumaier is a second-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in English and Creative Writing. Outside of The Daily Iowan, she has been the arts editor for Earthwords and Ink Lit magazine, and has ...

Jordan Tovar
DITV Digital Liaison

Jordan Tovar

(he/him/his) Jordan Tovar is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications. Currently, he serves as DITV's Digital Liaison.

Dravin Murti
DITV News Reporter

Dravin Murti

(he/him/his) Dravin Murti is a first-year student at the University of Iowa with a double major in Economics and Journalism. Outside of DITV and The DI, Dravin has written for the sports site Stadium Rant since 2022, hosted, ...

Sydney Goldberg
DITV Reporter

Sydney Goldberg

she/her Sydney Goldberg is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Sports Media and Culture with a minor in Therapeutic Recreation. She is working towards becoming a sports broadcaster and is looking forward ...

Nick Eyles
DITV Reporter

Nick Eyles

(he/him/his) Nick Eyles is a first-year student at the University of Iowa with a major in Journalism and Mass Communication. This is his first year reporting for DITV after being a Sports Reporter and Executive Sports Editor f...

Kayla Smith
DITV Reporter

Kayla Smith

(she/her/hers) Kayla Smith is a third-year at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Political Science. This is her second year working with DITV. She is looking forward to repor...

DITV Reporter

Marshawn Gunn

(he/him/his) Marshawn Gunn is a fifth-year student at the University of Iowa in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Prior to coming to the University of Iowa, he attended Iowa State University, where he studied ...

Elise Gan
DITV Reporter

Elise Gan

(she/her/hers) Elise Gan is a second-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Sport Media and Culture. She is striving to become a sports broadcaster and loves to cover sports of all kinds, specific...

Elizabeth Schultz
DITV Reporter

Elizabeth Schultz

(she/her/hers) Elizabeth Schultz is a third-year transfer student majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is currently a Reporter for DITV planning to pursue a career in Broadcast Journalism.

Sofia Schultz
DITV Reporter

Sofia Schultz

(she/her/hers) Sofia Schultz is a second-year student at the University of Iowa with a major in Journalism and Mass Communications and a minor in French. This is her second year working with DITV and she is looking forward to repor...

DITV Reporter

Julia Rhodes

(she/her/hers) Julia Rhodes is a second-year at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Criminology with a minor in Dance. This is her second year with DITV and she is looking forward to reporting on politics, the arts...

Tara Gillespie
DITV Reporter

Tara Gillespie

(she/her/hers) Tara Gillespie is a second-year at the University of Iowa double majoring in Communications and Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in Cinema. She is looking forward to reporting on politics, news, an...

Hannah Lipski
DITV Reporter

Hannah Lipski

she/her/hers Hannah Lipski is a third year studying journalism and musical theatre as well as minoring in political science. She started out in print her first year and has been a reporter with DITV since. She loves live rep...

Aaron El-Kerdani
DITV Reporter

Aaron El-Kerdani

(he/him/his) Fouad "Aaron" El-Kerdani is a senior student at the University of Iowa, a double major in cinema and Journalism. He first started journalism in High School, then he worked as an opinions writer for the Daily Iowan in...

DITV Tech Staff

Dan Dickerson

(he/him/his) Dan Dickerson is a fourth year student at the University of Iowa studying Communications, Theatre, and Music. He is working towards a career in TV production and voice over. He works on the tech staff for DITV....

DITV Tech Staff

Maura De Cicco

(she/her/hers) Maura De Cicco is a fourth year student at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications. She works as a producer and for the tech side of DITV.

DITV Tech Staff

Caleb Wetzel

(he/him/his) Caleb Wetzel is a third-year English and Creative Writing major at the University of Iowa. He works as a member of the tech team at DITV because he finds it engaging and enjoys the people and culture.

Copy Editor

Emma Hussin

(she/her/hers) Emma Hussin is a third-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in English and Creative Writing and Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Media Management. She is currently a copy editor and digi...