Arizona PBS, Cronkite School collectively nominated for 36 Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards


August 26, 2022

The Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy Awards recently announced nominations for its 45th annual ceremony. Arizona PBS and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University collectively received 36 Emmy and Student Production Award nominations.

“It’s inspiring to see Cronkite and Arizona PBS be recognized with so many nominations,” Cronkite School Dean Battinto Batts Jr. says. “This is a great honor and serves as another indication that Cronkite is one of the best places in the world to study journalism and mass communication. I congratulate all students and members of the Arizona PBS team who contributed to the nominated projects.” People seated in front of several TV monitors in a control room. Download Full Image

In total, 28 Cronkite students received 25 Student Production Award nominations in 11 categories. Arizona PBS pulled in 11 nominations, with five going to “Check, Please! Arizona,” the station’s local restaurant review series, and four going to Central Sound, the station’s audio production team that records Arizona’s music for the world to hear.

“Although we don’t do what we do for awards and accolades, I’m thrilled to see the Arizona PBS team recognized for their hard work,” says Adrienne Fairwell, general manager of Arizona PBS. “A year ago, this team was in the early stages of restarting production activities that had been previously halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. I couldn’t be prouder of how far they’ve come, nor could I be more excited for the direction we’re headed and the future that lies ahead for this station.”

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honors the art and science of individuals working in television with Emmy Awards, and covers the regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and southeastern California. The awards ceremony will take place in Phoenix on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Arizona PBS and Cronkite nominations are listed below. To view a complete list of all nominees, visit rockymountainemmy.org.

Arizona PBS nominations:

  • Interview/Discussion Content: “Check, Please! Arizona: BBQ, Burritos and Bread.”
  • Interview/Discussion Content: “Check, Please! Arizona: Breakfast, Brunch and Dinner.”
  • Interview/Discussion Content: “Check, Please! Arizona: PBS Picks.”
  • Interview/Discussion Content: “Check, Please! Arizona: The (College) Kids’ Table.”
  • Public Service Announcement Campaign: “Delta Dental Kids Campaign.”
  • Program Promotion Single Spot / Image: “Check, Please! Arizona.”
  • Editor Short Form Content: Timothy Larsen.
  • Audio Live or Post Produced: “Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana,” Central Sound.
  • Audio Live or Post Produced: “From Edge to Hope,” Central Sound.
  • Musical Composition / Arrangement: “What I Miss the Most,” Central Sound.
  • Musical Composition / Arrangement: “From Edge to Hope,” Central Sound.

Cronkite School student nominations:

  • College Newscast: “Cronkite News,” produced by Sarah Oven, Kelly Donohue and Tyler Wegleitner.
  • College News Report – Serious or Light: “Eating Disorders Increase,” by Faith Abercrombie.
  • College News Report – Serious or Light: “Rodeo Returns After Wrangling with COVID,” by Zachary Larsen.
  • College Multimedia Journalist: “Joe Jackson,” by Emily Bernstein.
  • College Multimedia Journalist: “Bee Theft,” by Karen Marroquin.
  • College Multimedia Journalist: “Randolph Wins,” by Faith Abercrombie.
  • College Multimedia Journalist: “Chaparral Swimmer Heroics,” by Zachary Larsen.
  • College Multimedia Journalist: “Rez Ball Returns,” by Amna Subhan.
  • College Video Essay: “Cemetery Preservation,” by Samantha Chow.
  • College Video Essay: “Hope Coach Drivers,” by Miles Green.
  • College Non-Fiction Short Form: “The Last Remaining Jaguar,” by Filip Raketic, Andrea Polanco, Elena Kortmann and Anna Gniwotta.
  • College Non-Fiction Long Form: “Red Light District: Adam Stewart Story,” by Michayla Lopez and Mike McQuade.
  • College Public Affairs / Community Service: “Case By Case,” by Kamilah Williams.
  • College Public Affairs / Community Service: “Point in Time,” by Raven Payne.
  • College Sports Story or Segment: “Supercross Course Construction,” by Andrew Kurland.
  • College Sports Story or Segment: “Xavier Prep Softball Dedication,” by Benjamin Garcia.
  • College Sports Story or Segment: “Boxing to Beat Parkinson’s,” by Ryan Blank.
  • College Sports Story or Segment: “Basketball in a Non-Hearing World,” by Talia Massi.
  • College Sports Story or Segment: “Athletes in Conflict,” by Conor McGill, Zach Larson, Ryan Blank, Ike Everard and Austin Ford.
  • College Sports Program: “Cronkite Sports Report,” produced by Ike Everard.
  • College Talent – News or Sports: Andrew Kurland, anchor/reporter.
  • College Talent – News or Sports: Evan Lis, weather and sustainability reporter.
  • College Talent – News or Sports: Payton Major, weather.
  • College Writer: “Corbin’s Legacy,” by Kamilah Williams.
  • College Writer: “Spaces of Opportunity,” by Andrea Villalobos.

Public affairs professor to learn about academic leadership from the inside as Watts College's 1st Dean's Fellow

Angel Molina will spend 9 months working with current leaders, conducting projects to advance college's mission


August 26, 2022

College deans are administrators by definition, but they are educators first, who earlier in their careers decided to pivot into academic leadership.

While many knew what they were getting into, other potential leaders may not be aware of the opportunities and the challenges associated with such a path, says Dean Cynthia Lietz of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Lietz established the Dean’s Fellowship program this fall to “create a stronger pipeline to leadership positions for faculty members who seek to know more about service in college administration. Portrait of Angel Molina, ASU School of Public Affairs assistant professor. Associate Professor Angel Molina of ASU's School of Public Affairs is the first Dean's Fellow in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Photo courtesy ASU Download Full Image

Faculty members chosen for the fellowship will exhibit a commitment to the college’s mission as well as have an interest in leadership, Lietz says.

“They do not have to have demonstrated experience. This is for those who have had little to no exposure already,” she says.

For the inaugural fellow, Lietz said she selected a mid-career Watts College professor who will spend the next nine months becoming better oriented and informed about “what leadership looks like from a day-to-day perspective.”

During the fall semester, Assistant Professor Angel Molina of the School of Public Affairs will shadow the college’s executive leadership team and learn about many leadership roles and responsibilities, Lietz says. In the spring semester, Molina will manage two to three projects to help further the college’s mission to build more vibrant, healthy, equitable communities.

“Dr. Molina is a talented faculty member who aspires to move into leadership as he progresses in his career. He is interested and open to learning more about leadership, committed to the mission of the college and passionate about equity and inclusion,” Lietz says. “All of these things would be expected of future fellows. I am excited to work in collaboration with him this year as we develop the program together.”

Lietz says that while Molina serves in the fellowship, she will learn ways to best structure the pilot program in the future, when other mid-career faculty from across the college will have the opportunity to apply for the fellowship.

Molina said administration in higher education is something he has always wanted to learn more about.

“It’s always fascinated me, not from a research perspective, but from a practical perspective,” he says. “I’ve always thought about how I might want to contribute in that way.”

Molina said while at ASU he has had several opportunities to interact with the college leadership, primarily in service opportunities in areas such as inclusion.

To transition from faculty to administrator is a foundation-building experience, Molina says.

“Ideally it’s a chance to develop a soft foundation, so that when the opportunity comes up in my career to enter administration, I’ll be better positioned to hit the ground running,” he says. “I’ll have more perspective. To me, that’s the beauty of the opportunity.”

Molina said that for him, being a leader means having the chance to more deeply fulfill his mission of public service.

“If I’m ever given the opportunity to take on a leadership position, it will be for me to have some sort of positive impact on our college, ASU and the broader community the university serves,” he says.

Mark J. Scarp

Media Relations Officer, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

602-496-0001