Introducing the 2024 Graduate Student Cohort

The Department of Communication is thrilled to announce seven new students joining our program to pursue their Masters Degree or PhD. Please extend them a warm welcome!

Casey Zukosky - MA Student

Hello everyone! My name is Casey Zukosky (he/him) I am thrilled to return to the U as a graduate student. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, I spent most of my formative years outside Denver, CO, before moving out to Utah in 2018. Just about a year ago, I completed my undergraduate studies in communication here at the University of Utah. It is through my undergraduate studies that I was drawn to this department for its wealth of knowledge among faculty and students alike. Salt Lake City originally drew me with its proximity to outdoor adventures. Biking, skiing, and rafting are among my passions outside of academia, though I'm always eager to explore new and fun activities! Feel free to reach out via email at: u1147451@utah.edu.

 

 

 

Christian Curtiss - MA Student

Hi all, my name is Christian (he/they), I grew up in Idaho and attended the College of Idaho for a bachelor’s degree in political economy. While at the College, I participated in competitive forensics for all four years, and helped coach the forensics team for the year after I graduated. Through debate, I became interested in exploring the intersections in the humanities disciplines, and the University of Utah’s critical/cultural studies emphasis seemed to be a perfect fit for the interdisciplinary work I wanted to engage in. Also, the University has a beautiful view of the mountains, which are very close to Salt Lake City - that location is something I’m very excited about living in SLC. Outside of academia, I like to read fiction, take walks and hikes, and catch up on my never-ending list of media that someone has told me to watch. You can reach me at my email: u1523741@utah.edu

 

 

Jasim Uddin - PhD Student

I am Mohammad Jasim Uddin (he/him) and my research interests include health, science, and environmental communication, risk and crisis communication within public health, mental health, and environmental issues, and media use and its effects. I earned my second master’s in communication from Missouri State University in 2023. I also received my Bachelor of Social Science and Master of Social Science degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I was a professional news reporter in Bangladesh for more than a decade. I can be reached at jasim.mcj@outlook.com

 

 

 

Ashton Poindexter - PhD Student

My name is Ashton Poindexter (he/him). I've lived in Utah my entire life and am fortunate to have gotten my Bachelor and Master's degree from the University of Utah. I chose to pursue my doctoral education at the U's communication department because of its commitment to compassionate and rigorous research. Outside of my academic work I enjoy spending time with my dog, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. The best place to reach me is through my Umail:ashton.poindexter@utah.edu

 

 

 

Caitlin Walrath - PhD Student

My name is Caitlin Walrath (she/they) and I am from Salt Lake City, UT. I have a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a M.A. In Communication from Wake Forest. I have been a Debate coach at various high schools and universities (including University of Kentucky and Wake Forest) since 2015. I chose the Department of Communication at Utah because of its prestigious rhetoric faculty and its support of graduate students. I love snow sports (like skiing and snowboarding) so I'm excited to get back to the mountains. I like being outdoors, playing video games, and hanging out with my cat, Muffin. You can reach me at u0996543@umail.utah.edu

 

 

 

Collin Bright - PhD Student 

My name is Collin Bright (he/him) and I am from Williamsburg, Virginia. I hold a M.A. in Communication & Advocacy from James Madison University and my research interests center around Black aesthetics, media studies, and music. I chose the Department of Communication at the UofU because of its rich history in the discipline and to learn from and work with some of the brightest scholars in the world. Since moving to SLC, I’ve been most interested in the pizza shops, vintage/antique stores, and the vast amount of public parks. My non-academic interests include: listening to music, thrifting, working out, hanging with my dog, watching movies and playing Mario Kart. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime by email at u1524464@utah.edu

 

 

Emma Murdock - PhD Student 

My name is Emma Murdock (she/they) and I am from northern BC, Canada. I received my undergraduate degree from Northern State University and my master's degree from the University of Montana. My area of study is women's health, specifically on menstrual (including menopausal) rhetoric. Please reach me at u1521572@utah.edu