Matthew Nelko: Still of a News Clip
Matthew J. Nelko (BA, Writing 91) is currently a broadcast producer for ABC's World News Now and America This Morning, as well as a writer for that network's Nightline. He is the recipient of a Daytime Emmy Award for Writing, and has been named in six Edward R. Murrow awards—three for work for ABC News, three for work at CBS News. Formerly a member of the board of directors for the Writers Guild of America, East, Nelko now serves as vice-president on the board of trustees for the New York Financial Writers' Association. He is also a national judge in the news and documentary categories of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Emmy Awards. His video portfolio and consulting work can be seen here.
Larissa Gula (BA, Writing, Communication; PPW certificate, 12) is a content marketing specialist for Treatspace, a Pittsburgh-based software company focused on improving healthcare coordination for its client base, which includes medical practices. Gula writes: "My position is the first of its kind for the company. The hiring decision was made based on the growing need for digital content focused on reader needs. There's a saying in my line of work: 'Content is king.' The reality is that GOOD content is kind, and—just like in every PPW class I took—good content is consumer-centric!"
Book cover: Appalachia North
Matthew Ferrence (MFA 99) teaches writing at Allegheny College. His second book, Appalachia North: A Memoir, was published early this past year by West Virginia University Press. Go here to read one of the reviews.
Logo: Tavern of Tales
Jordan Cromwell (BA, Film 15) completed an MFA at Emerson College in 2018 and is currently a scriptwriter for the immersive adventure startup Tavern of Tales.
Anthony Silvestri (BA, Film 14) is pursuing a PhD at the Media School at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He was a 2019 recipient of the Kinsey Institute's John Money Fellowship for Scholars of Sexology. To learn more about his research, go here.
Joseph Floro (BA, Film and History, 19) has worked for three different video game companies since graduating from Pitt and is now live services manager for the award-winning ZeniMax Online Studios. He writes: "My education from the University of Pittsburgh allows me to apply a creative and critical eye to all fields of my career."
Courtney Smith (BA, Literature and Film, 09) is currently working for the City of Pittsburgh.
Brian Ghingold (BA, Film 09) closed down Steel City Movers this year, after running it for 11 years, including during his time as a Pitt student. The reason: to welcome his first child—a daughter, Bayla Devorah Ghingold—this past June.
Album Cover: Van Allen Belt
Scott Bryce Taylor (BA, Film 04) is a filmmaker for Nonstop Everything and a band member with The Van Allen Belt, whose most recent album was produced by Misra Records. Check them out on YouTube.
Talha Aamir (BA, Film; BS, Psych, 14) is a UX Designer at Sourceability, after completing a Master's in Computer Science and in Human-Computer Interaction and Design.
Vincent Scott Balcerek (BA, Writing; minor in Literature, 90) wrote and directed a feature blues documentary, Satan & Adam, which has been bought by Netflix. This tribute to the Harlem street duo Sterling Magee and Adam Gussow has garnered several awards—including a Tribeca Film Festival selection—and received positive reviews, including this review in the New York Times. Be sure to check out the trailer!
Book Cover: Ordinary Woman
Julie Marie Wade (MFA 06) is an associate professor of English at Florida International University. In the coming year, her book-length lyric essay, Just an Ordinary Woman Breathing, will be published by The Ohio State University Press as part of its 21st Century Essays series.
Kim Olsen (MFA, 16; BA, Writing, and BS, Psych, 05) writes: "After two years as an editor at Washingtonian in DC, I quit in December 2018 to write a book proposal and start a company on eloping. Six months and a 45-page proposal later, my agent sold it to Chronicle Books, and it'll hit shelves in fall 2021. My company, artofeloping.com, will launch in February 2020 and is best described as 'The Knot meets Airbnb, but all about eloping.' I'm also freelancing for a new magazine from the Washington Capitals (but am a diehard Penguins fan, and the irony of being assigned a profile on Tom Wilson is not lost on me), and have written for Runner's World, Pittsburgh Magazine, and Pittsburgh City Paper." Curious about the art (and business) of eloping? Check out Olsen's Instagram account, @artofeloping.
Rick Shrum (BA, English 75) is a business reporter for the Washington, Pa., daily Observer-Reporter. He has earned statewide awards for business reporting each of the last three years and has won two individual Golden Quill awards.
Jay Yander (BA, Writing 03) is director of Graduate and International Admissions at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa.
Editor's Note: We publish alumni news in the Fall/Winter issue, but welcome news year-round. Please update us on what is happening here. Faculty, staff, and grad students can keep us posted on publications, promotions, prizes, projects, and other news here.