Lily Witkowski, Lead Producer

Lily Witkowski is a senior from Chicago, Illinois, majoring in News and Information and a minor in Sports Management. She is the lead producer on KUJH for the fall semester of 2023. She has been a part of Media Crossroads for four years and has held various roles, including anchoring, reporting, and producing. Lily is currently interning for Kansas Athletics in the communications department. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for Sports Administration with ambitions to positively impact the sports environment that she is a part of. In her free time, she enjoys watching sporting events, traveling, hiking, and hanging out with friends.

Sydney Clark, Production Supervisor

Sydney Clark is a junior from Blue Springs, Missouri, majoring in Multimedia Journalism with a Sports Media concentration and Sports Management minor. A born and raised KC girl, she is passionate about the Kansas City Chiefs, which helped spark her love for sports. Sydney has worked closely with KU Media Crossroads in Playmakers, hosting Run It Back and technical directing. She is passionate about all of the ways journalism can help change the world by sharing community member’s untold stories. Outside of the newsroom, you can find her taking a walk on Jayhawk Boulevard, going to the movies, or spending time with her friends and family. 

Libby Johnson, News Anchor/MMJ

Libby Johnson is a senior from Shawnee, Kansas, majoring in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Spanish. Beyond being involved with KUJH this semester, she is interning at KSNT in Topeka and volunteering her time creating social media content for the Big Shifts Foundation. Upon graduating in December of 2023, Libby plans to live in the Kansas City area. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and watching true crime documentaries. 

Jaxson Reed, Sports Director/Anchor

Jaxson Reed is a junior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, majoring in News and Information, with minors in Sports Management and Coaching. During his time at KU, Jaxson has worked with the University Daily Kansan as a beat reporter, Media Crossroads as an on-camera talent, and most recently he serves as a member of the Communications department within Kansas Athletics. Jaxson also spent his summer covering the Lakeshore Chinooks of the Northwoods League. Away from the newsroom, Jaxson enjoys hanging out with friends and watching sports.

Claire Decatur, Anchor/MMJ

Claire Decatur is a senior from Olathe, Kansas, majoring in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Sports Management, and plans on living in the Kansas City area after graduation. Claire is currently working at WIBW in Topeka, Kansas. During her time at KU, she’s been on a sports show called Playmakers and has helped behind the scenes for multiple Media Crossroads shows. Outside the newsroom, Claire enjoys hanging with friends or reading her Bible at a local coffee shop. Claire hopes to, one day, be a morning anchor in the Kansas City area. 

Aidan Pezold, MMJ/Anchor

Aidan Pezold is a senior from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, majoring in News and Information with a minor in Sports Management. This is his first semester being involved in KUJH, but he has been involved in other sports shows through Media Crossroads including Take a Side and On the Clock. He is a fan of everything sports and hopes to use his skills to cover them full-time one day. Aidan plans to graduate this spring and pursue a career as a multimedia journalist.

Ashton Rizzo, Weather Anchor

Ashton Rizzo is a junior from Kansas City, Missouri. She is majoring in Atmospheric Science with a concentration in news forecasting. She works for News Press Now in St. Joseph, Missouri, as their weekend weather reporter. Last semester she helped with the Good Evening KU show and is now excited to be a part of KUJH this year. She has a strong passion for communicating weather to the public and enjoys growing her knowledge on weather-related topics. Ashton has always been inspired by the meteorologists from Kansas City and hopes to return after graduation. 

Abbey Lord, MMJ

Abbey Lord is a senior from Houston, Texas, majoring in News and Information with a concentration in Sports and News and a minor in Sports Management. Over the past year, she has interned with Fox 26 News in Houston, Texas, and was the Sports Editor of the University Daily Kansan. Abbey will also be working on the award-winning Good Morning Indian Country program. She was also on the award-winning show Run it Back and other shows through Media Crossroads. When she is not covering sports or news, Abbey enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and playing the guitar. One day, Abbey hopes to work for an Olympic team.

Blake Ullmann, MMJ

Blake Ullmann is a senior from Wichita, Kansas, studying Multimedia Journalism and political science at the University of Kansas. In the past, he worked at the University Daily Kansan as the News Editor. He loves working in journalism and keeping the community informed on important matters. Outside of classes and the newsroom, Blake works as a bartender in Lawrence and enjoys hanging out with his friends and frequenting local coffee shops.

Jack Denebeim, MMJ

Jack Denebeim is entering his final semester at KU as he is set to graduate in December. This is Jack’s first semester with the KUJH team and he is excited to expand his journalism skills and toolbox. Jack has been involved with the Eudora Times over the last year and is currently the sports editor. This fall, Jack is hosting the Barbwire Barbecue and Kaw Valley State Bank sports shows for the Eudora Times. In his free time, Jack loves watching his Minnesota Vikings play, watching Marvel movies, and spending time with his family.

Emeline Hutton, Digital Content Director

Emeline Hutton is a senior hailing from Colby, Kansas, majoring in News and Information with a minor in Political Science. While new to KUJH this semester, she also serves as the News Copy Chief for the University Daily Kansan and works as a freelance reporter at The Pitch KC – covering concerts and politics among other KC-metro happenings. In her free time, she bartends for farm-to-table destination venue Saltwell Farm Kitchen, gets into wild misadventures with friends, and cuddles an extremely spoiled cat named Finn. After graduation, Emeline plans to move to Chicago, Illinois, and continue working in the journalism industry.

Chad Cushing, Graphic Artist

Chad Cushing is a junior from San Diego, California, majoring in News and Information. Chad has spent the last two summers photographing professional athletes in MLB, NBA, EuroLeague, and more in Southern California. Back in Lawrence, Chad has been a part of Kansas Athletics’ photography team as well as the University Daily Kansan, where he is now the Co-Photo Editor. Also in the J-School, Chad is a producer for Playmakers after being on-air talent his first two years on campus. Chad has a deep passion for art and music history that oftentimes influences his photography and graphic design work.

Brock Niemeier, MMJ

Brock Niemeier is a senior majoring in News and Information with a minor in Sports Management. This is his first semester being involved with KUJH, but he has been involved with other productions through KU Media Crossroads including Run It Back. Brock broadcasts baseball and softball for KU Athletics. He broadcasts football and both men’s and women’s basketball for KJHK, the student-run radio station, on 90.7 FM. Growing up on the Missouri side of Kansas City, he is a passionate Chiefs and Royals fan. When he is not covering sports, he enjoys playing golf, going to the lake, and spending time with his friends. Brock hopes to work in the field of sports media after graduation. 

Carson Shea, MMJ

Carson Shea is a junior from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, majoring in News and Information with a minor in Business. He has been on-air talent for Good Morning KU, Take a Side, is now starting his third year on Playmakers, and has a strong passion for sports coverage. Outside the studio, Carson takes pride in his love for the boy band Big Time Rush and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Carson’s dream is to one day be a national sportscaster.

Ellie Mueller, MMJ

Ellie Mueller is a third-year journalism student on the News and Information track, with a focus on broadcast television. Her involvement includes the University broadcast programs Good Morning KU and LFK Unscripted, where she experienced reporting, anchoring, hosting, and editing.  Ellie is looking to learn and grow as a professional through internships and post-graduation opportunities.

Grace Gaume, MMJ

Grace Gaume is a senior from Mission Hills, Kansas, majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Digital Marketing Communications, Advertising, and Public Relations and minoring in Film and Media Studies. Throughout her time at KU, she has been involved in multiple different areas of Media Crossroads. She spent her summer interning at Fox4 Kansas City. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys watching movies, going to museums, and pop culture.

Grace Hills, MMJ

Grace Hills is a junior from Overland Park, Kansas, majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Political Science. This summer she interned for Kansas City PBS, working as a reporter. This year she will continue to write for Kansas City PBS, write opinions for the University Daily Kansan, and work as a reporter for KUJH-TV. She aims to answer all of your questions with her reporting and to capture strong emotions. After graduation, she plans to work as an investigative reporter.  

Shamaria Massenburg, MMJ

Shamaria Massenburg is a senior from Raleigh, North Carolina, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Most recently Shamaria completed an internship with Apple as a Sports Programmer. She can be found doing interviews for Good Morning KU, her own show in the J-School; Outside The Locker Room, or working for KU Athletics. In her spare time, she loves to take yoga and boxing classes at the rec center or travel overseas.

Stella Uriarte, MMJ

Stella Uriarte is a junior from Shawnee, Kansas, majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Management. Stella has had the opportunity to be involved in shows through Media Crossroads, including Good Morning KU. Additionally, she has worked with both Fox Sports and CBS Sports for basketball and football at the collegiate level. She is excited to be a part of the KUJH team and hopes to gain even more knowledge and experience as an anchor, reporter, and much more. In her free time, Stella enjoys finding new music to obsess over, spending time with her friends, and trying out all the delicious food on Massachusetts Street. 

Ari Totta, MMJ

Ari Totta is a committed student at the University of Kansas and is an active member of the journalism school. Ari has been a member of Good Morning KU, Good Evening KU, The Daily Kansan, and KUJH-TV. Aside from her on-air presentation, Ari enjoys writing, public speaking, and researching. Prior to Ari’s admission into the journalism program at the University of Kansas in August 2021, she attended Mill Valley High School located in Shawnee, Kansas. Ari is currently a junior with the goal of pursuing a degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Communications. Ari is set to graduate from the University of Kansas in May 2025 and hopes to land a multimedia journalist position.