Morris joined the College of Communication and Information’s faculty in August of 1988 and spent his career in the School of Communication Science and Disorders, where he worked with students pursuing careers as speech-language pathologists and audiologists. His research focused on physiology, acoustics, and perception of speech and voice.

Throughout his career, Dr. Morris’ focus was simple: helping students become strong, confident clinicians.

“I am a person who came here to help students become the best SLP/AuD clinicians possible, to learn more about the physiology, acoustics, and perception of speech and voice, and to share what I learned,” Morris said. “In my mind, I have done this to the best of my ability. As I perceive it, I had and have no legacy.”

Despite his modest reflection on his impact, Morris highlights several accomplishments that he considers defining moments in his career. One was reimagining undergraduate education in Anatomy & Physiology and Acoustics of Speech and Hearing when he introduced weekly laboratory sessions. This allowed his students to engage more directly with the course material. Another accomplishment was expanding experiential learning in the graduate Voice Disorders course, where students not only practiced treatment techniques but also participated in laryngeal endoscopic observations of one another.

He also highlighted the creation of the Communication Science and Disorders summer session in London, which he developed alongside his wife, Jamie Morris. The international learning experience provided students with a chance to expand their knowledge of the communication science and disorders discipline while abroad. Alongside these accomplishments, Morris said some of his most meaningful growth came from the challenges he faced in the classroom.

“My biggest challenge was creating student interest in the undergraduate acoustics of speech and hearing course,” Morris said. “This course required that they developed their understanding of the physics of speech and do some relevant mathematical calculations.”

This challenge ultimately reshaped his approach to teaching. Morris incorporated more interactive methods across his courses, including essay-style exams which emphasized reasoning, and small group discussions so that all students had a voice in the learning process. From the beginning of his time at FSU, he encouraged students to attend office hours, often working individually with them until they could fully understand the course material.

Dr. Carla Wood, Director of the School of Communication Science and Disorders, reflected on his legacy and impact on students, sharing:

“I am deeply grateful for Richard’s mentorship and for the example he set as a colleague and leader. He generously gave support and encouragement to faculty and students alike. His sustained contributions have made a lasting difference in our program and to countless students.”

Beyond the classroom, Morris played a significant role in faculty development within the college. His work as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Advancement in the Dean’s office focused on faculty advancement and recognition, including organizing yearly orientation sessions for new faculty, and meeting individually with senior faculty to help them pursue professional recognition in their fields. He also worked closely with Associate Dean Ulla Bunz to support academic program development across the college.

Looking back, Morris said he takes pride in the students and colleagues he worked alongside throughout his career. He co-authored numerous national presentations and journal publications with students, collaborated on research projects with colleagues, and supported generations of SCSD students as they developed into clinicians.

“I am proud to have worked with a series of outstanding students over the years with whom I had the opportunity to make national presentations and have published articles in professional journals,” he said. “Similarly, I am proud to have the opportunity to work with some of my outstanding colleagues on research projects and to help move the School of Communication Science and Disorders forward.”

As he retires, Morris leaves behind a legacy not defined by a single achievement but by incremental impact; through his coursework, clinical learning opportunities, and a dedication to student growth.

“During his time at SCSD, Dr. Morris has made a profound impact on countless students, faculty, and colleagues through his thoughtful teaching, mentorship, and commitment to student success,” said Michelle Kazmer, Dean of the College of Communication and Information. “I count myself fortunate to have been his faculty colleague and am especially grateful for his leadership as Associate Dean these last three years. Whether he was teaching students, mentoring faculty, or helping strengthen the College as a whole, his impact will continue to be felt long after his retirement.”

View pictures from Dr. Morris’ retirement celebration here: https://cci.fsu.edu/dr-richard-morris-retirement-celebration/

Lewis and Marengo will join a team of researchers in the Gulf of America to document their expedition and findings.

“An opportunity like this is a dream! Growing up in Southern California, I hold marine conservation very near and dear to my heart,” Lewis said. “I am very honored to be working on something so timely and important, which has the capacity to make real change for the health of Florida waters and its inhabitants.”

Lewis graduated from FSU in December of 2025 and has maintained her passion for journalism and filmmaking through various endeavors. She has worked as a multimedia journalist for Planet Forward, a managing editor for the Florida Student News Watch, an intern for the Smithsonian Institution, an intern for the FSU English Department, and a staff writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau.

When looking ahead to what she’s most excited for on the trip, Lewis pointed out the opportunity to capture the expedition and learn alongside the research team. Aside from the lead scientist, Dr. Dean Grubbs, the team is made up of students looking to gain experience in this area of filmmaking.

“I find it very special that in a lot of ways, we are a group of young people experiencing an amazing opportunity to propel our dreams forward simultaneously,” Lewis said, “and I am so excited to capture all of what that means!”

Lewis highlighted the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as one of the most catastrophic environmental disasters to date in the United States and identified the purpose this research can have.

“Research like this helps support protections for the Gulf and other waters like it because if we can still see the lasting ramifications of an event that occurred over 15 years ago, surely we should have protections in place to avoid another disaster,” Lewis said.

For Marengo, the opportunity is particularly exciting because it connects to an experience from his childhood.

“I watched a lot of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel as a kid, and now I’m actually working with marine biologists on a shark research expedition,” Marengo said. “I feel like I’m going on a quest or adventure on the high seas.”

When thinking about the biggest potential challenges, Marengo pointed out the idea that the production team is just himself and Lewis.

“We’re both capable filmmakers, but there are a lot of factors that aren’t in our control,” Marengo said. “Being in a wet, salty, unpredictable environment for a prolonged period of time means protecting our equipment is crucial.”

In this quest, Marengo understands the importance of the story itself, especially given the recent oil spills in the Gulf of America during March 2026. The spill spread more than 373 miles across the ocean and seeped into seven nature reserves.

Marengo detailed that he hopes to emphasize the relatability between the audience and scientists.

“I hope that audiences realize that scientists, despite their knowledge and expertise, are ordinary people like everyone else,” Marengo said. “Showcasing relatability is crucial. An audience is less likely to listen to someone they feel they can’t feel some sort of connection with. We hope to therefore emphasize the importance of this research through the scientists working on the project.”

 

“They have survivors, caregivers, and businesses come from the Tallahassee community, but then there’s also a ton of other organizations and even other colleges”, said Bella Bozied, team captain for CCI’s Relay for Life team.   

Raising over $200,000 this year, FSU’s Relay for Life united teams from across campus in support of cancer research. Among them, the CCI team—one of just two colleges involved—stood out by raising over $2,300 through tabling and sales of their choosing. 

“We were selling ‘Nothing Bundt Cakes’, we were selling them for $4. Around 5:00pm, we ran out, and they had to go pick up more, but there were multiple people at the table too. So, if we wanted to walk around or go buy other things, we could”, said Ava Paglia, a CCI team participant.  

Throughout the event, participants supported other teams in their efforts to fundraise for the fight against cancer. Most teams are made up of FSU organizations and clubs, or of Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters. Through CCI’s participation in Relay for Life, the college is opening a door for other colleges to form their own teams and join the cause.  

“It’s been very sweet […] for two years in a row now to see CCI come together,” said Bozied. “I feel like we’re leading the way for other colleges to feel like they can come. I’m sure other colleges have had teams before, but I think it’s hard to maintain that.” 

Beyond fundraising, Relay for Life helps create a community of people who can come together and lean on one another through difficult times. The event creates a space for individuals to share their experiences, connect with others, and recognize the wide-reaching impact of cancer – not only on patients, but also on their families and friends.

“Relay for Life supports the American Cancer Society, so it doesn’t just support people who have cancer, but also their families. It shows that people have to live through cancer”, said Bozied, “People can come and table with us where they fundraise, they can do fun team activities, like tug of war, and then also hear from survivors and caregivers and even share their own stories if they want to.” 

CCI’s continued involvement in the event reflects a greater sense of community, Bozied said. “It’s just a true testament to how CCI is so interdisciplinary and truly cares about its community,” she said. “I think it really speaks for our students, our faculty and staff, and even our alumni as well.” 

“Exceptional teaching is at the heart of everything we do,” said Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication & Information. “These awards reflect our faculty’s deep commitment to student-centered learning, innovation inside and outside the classroom, and mentorship that extends well beyond graduation. We are incredibly proud of this year’s honorees and the lasting difference they make in our students’ lives and in the world.”

This year’s awards recognize faculty from across CCI’s schools and programs.

Among this year’s honorees, April Powell earned the University Teaching Award for Excellence in Online Teaching. A teaching faculty member in the School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD), Powell taught an online course, Anatomy and Physiology: Speech, Language, and Hearing. The class was recently certified as high-quality through FSU’s Online Quality Initiative.

Drs. Elizabeth B. Madden and Mia Lustria were both recognized with the University Teaching Award for Student-Centered Teaching and Mentoring. Madden, an assistant professor in SCSD, focuses on aphasia and neurogenic communication disorders, having previously received both university-level and departmental teaching awards. Lustria, part of the School of Information (iSchool), specializes in health informatics and health communication while also holding a leadership role in the Ph.D. in Information program.

CCI Associate Dean of Finance and Administration Ebrahim Randeree, who teaches in the iSchool, received the University Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Major. Randeree’s teaching interests include emerging technology and social media, strategic management and leadership, and health informatics.

Dr. Sana Tibi was honored with the University Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Major. Since joining SCSD in 2016, her teaching interests have centered around literacy development and disorders, dyslexia, reading assessment, language development, and introduction to communication disorders.

Two faculty members received the University Teaching Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching: Drs. Elizabeth Ray and Jaejin Lee. Ray is an assistant professor with a background in integrated marketing communication. She brings industry experience as a former television news reporter and communications director. Lee, who joined FSU as a faculty member in 2012 and became a full professor in 2025, teaches courses focused on media consumer behavior, creative strategy, and the foundation of integrated marketing communication.

Additionally, Dr. Zhe He received the Graduate Faculty Mentor Award from the iSchool. A professor and director of the Institute for Successful Longevity, He’s teaching and research focus includes health informatics, data mining, machine learning, and database management systems.

At the April 11-12 competition, the team received the highest-scoring Plans Book in the district, recognizing excellence in data and strategic development for their campaign themed, “Embrace the Play.” Leadership played a major role in maintaining consistency within their research. Hirten and the strategy team ensured every creative decision was grounded in research.

“Our team captain, Tanner, did a fantastic job at keeping our strategy and campaign decisions rooted in research. We had data to back all our choices, and I think that attention to detail set us apart in the competition,” Maggie Metz said.

The team’s success came from uncovering a gap between the NFL’s community efforts and public awareness of those initiatives. “Our insights were led by a deep look at the NFL’s current social work landscape and how audiences view it,” Tanner Hirten said. “We found that there was a dissonance between the work that was being done and the awareness people had of that work. So, we used that insight to fuel the development of a campaign centered around building awareness of the NFL’s social impact.”

The Arrowhead team dedicated the fall semester to research before moving into the creative side of the project. “We built a full one-year advertising campaign from the bottom to the top with a real client. Through this, I was exposed to every step of creating something and executing the media planning,” Metz said.

The team used a structured research model with groups focused on surveys, interviews, secondary research, and non-traditional field research. Qualtrics surveys using Boolean logic helped tailor questions to specific audience groups. “We wanted to understand all the audiences separately before we evaluated how to create the campaign to target them all at the same time,” Garcia said.

Hirten also credited coursework within the College of Communication and Information for helping prepare the team. “Last fall, I took a class titled Communication Research Methods taught by Dr. Yin Yang. This helped me understand what types of research are possible and crucially what one can learn from all of them.” Hirten said previous experiences with Arrowhead helped shape his leadership decisions. “This is my third year with Arrowhead, so I was intimately familiar with the structure and timeline for the team,” Hirten said. “This helped me make decisions that set teams up for success and remain goal-oriented.”

He added that early secondary research was important because, “The NFL was vague about who we were meant to target,” which allowed the team to identify the audience best served by the campaign before launching surveys and interviews.

Arrowhead faculty advisor, Dr. Kelly Kelly said, “I’m incredibly proud of this team’s collective effort and the lead-by-example approach of its leaders. This includes the creative team who produced every original campaign asset from initial design to production in the spring.” Winning “Best Research” shows the months of hard work and the value of a strong strategic foundation. The achievement highlights how CCI students are turning what they learn in the classroom into real world success, the strength of their skills, and the impact of their work beyond campus.

Arrowhead Team Members: Scout Belanger, Cali Berenis, Spencer Brenner, Julia Clifford, Cameron Colabella, Elizabeth D’Amico, Morgan Donnellan, Tatiana Garcia, Emma Green, Tanner Hirten, Jade Lichtenstein, Mokena Lipinski, Christopher Lopez, Maggie Metz, Natalie Mieses, Lexi Naperala, Megan Olivero, Sophia Parish, Harmony Pham, Marissa Rouse, Colton Schneider, Micaela Socha, Alexandria Truex, Katherine Waryold.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kelly Kelly

Motivated by personal reasons, Brennan’s research titled “Aspects of Life Impacted by SCSDs in Early Elementary Students” focused on how speech-sound disorders impact every area of childhood, specializing in morphological awareness processing, and social-emotional wellbeing and development. 

“I wanted to help students and children feel more confident in themselves. Growing up, my family members had some speech sound disorders, and I saw how that impacted their confidence,” Brennan said. “It impacted the efficacy of the treatment that they were receiving, and I realized that this was more of my passion. I think that research is the first block of social change.” 

Her research examined children’s phonological awareness, using the Clinical Evaluation of Learning Fundamentals children’s phonological processing skills, using the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP), and how their speech affects their emotions, using Speech Participation and Activity Assessment of Children (SPAA-C). It looked at how these skills and feelings change as children progress through early grade levels. 

Her results found that children showed slight improvement in morphological and phonological skills from kindergarten levels to first grade, with a narrowing gap between those with differing speech-sound capabilities weaker and stronger speech-sound awareness. However, this progress levels off or slightly declines by second grade compared to peers without speech-sound disorders. At the same time, as children get older, they report more negative feelings about their speech, suggesting increasing emotional awareness or social impact.  

Beyond developmental science, Da’Mya Bray’s research was rooted in history and community collaboration. Her project, “Sounding Out Sistrunk: A Historical Listening & Archival Collaboration with OTOWN Preserving Community Memory as a Legacy of Place”, explored findings about Sistrunk, an African-American community based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

Bray highlights, “Being able to engage with my community and talk to different community leaders and residents was such a rewarding experience because I was able to get their firsthand accounts and learn about what it was like living in Sistrunk during the 40s, 50s, or the 60s, learn about their experience and how it all came to be.” 

By choosing a history-based topic, Bray was led by what stories, traditions, and lived experience defined the identity of the Sistrunk community to produce her findings: Sistrunk’s identity is deeply rooted in family, community collaboration, and shared history, with many individuals contributing to its development. Additionally, her project found that preserving and sharing these stories strengthens community pride and awareness, especially for future generations. 

Bray added, “Professor Christell Roach and community leader Dr. Mistoria Brown were two individuals who played a huge role in guiding me throughout my research. Both made a huge impact throughout the process.”

Bray’s research mentor, Professor Christell Roach, explains her approach to guiding student researchers, saying, “I think my role is just to be there with the finished project. I go by the idea that anything’s possible, so trial and error. I encourage the discomfort, because that’s where you start to find things. I’m going to be like the bumpers in the bowling alley along the way, and that’s kind of innate to the research process.” 

Whether through examining early language development or exploring community histories, these students’ work highlights the College of Communication and Information’s belief that research should extend beyond the classroom.

School of Information (iSchool) students gained firsthand exposure to emerging cybersecurity challenges and industry trends during the CyberBay 2026 Conference in Tampa.

The conference brought together industry leaders from government, academia, and the private sector to explore the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, with artificial intelligence taking center stage. For these iSchool students, they gained a deeper understanding of current industry threats and what skills are needed to address them.

Information Technology (IT) student Sierra Blythe emphasized how necessary cybersecurity is in an increasingly digital world.

“Attending CyberBay 2026 reinforced just how critical cybersecurity has become in today’s environment,” Blythe said. “Protecting our data is more important than ever, especially as AI continues to be leveraged in increasingly sophisticated scams,” Blythe also emphasized the human element of cybersecurity. “Ultimately, one of the biggest takeaways is that people remain the greatest vulnerability, and improving user awareness is just as important as advancing technology.”

Throughout the conference, students attended sessions on artificial intelligence, risk management, and cybercrime, including panels on AI-driven threats, ethical AI, and hands-on labs where they practiced penetration testing and incident response techniques. Keynote speakers included Jen Easterly, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Rachel Wilson, former National Security Agency (NSA) executive and Head of Wealth Management Data Security and Infrastructure Risk at Morgan Stanley.

Other sessions highlighted emerging technologies and practical skills, such as post-quantum cryptography, AI-powered botnet detection, next-generation security platforms, featuring experts like David Kim, Kurt Friday, and Ryan Seymour.

“The main theme was AI and your data,” M.S. IT student Owen Van Lenten said. “Some of my favorite workshops were David Kim’s talk on risk assessments of AI ecosystems and how to maximize your security through proper workflows to minimize data leakage and still leveraging AI effectively. There was a lot of conversation around the topic of AI governance and data ownership too.”

Beyond gaining technical knowledge, the conference also emphasized critical thinking in this rapidly evolving field. College of Communication and Information Associate Dean Ebrahim Randeree highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping both risks and opportunities in cybersecurity.

“The conference provided affirmation that AI is shaping every industry; students must understand how to use it (and its limitations). Cyber and AI bring strength to the protectors and the hackers—graduates must develop skills to think critically, problem solve, communicate, work in teams, and more. We should not be preparing students for the jobs that exist today, but for the threats that don’t yet have names.”

IT student Tanya Raphael echoed the same sentiment.

“When it came to cybersecurity, I always thought offensive and defensive tactics were one and the same, but this conference helped me understand that the real difference is timing,” Raphael said. “We are always looking to defend our systems before threats even happen, but it’s time to play offense—producing and maintaining quality software to achieve maximum protection.”

For these iSchool students, CyberBay 2026 was more than a networking opportunity; it was a glimpse into the future of cybersecurity. As cybersecurity continues to evolve alongside artificial intelligence, experiences like CyberBay are helping prepare the next generation of professionals to meet challenges that are still emerging.

Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program

This initiative by FSU’s School of Communication Science and Disorders supports an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) for stroke survivors and their families. Aphasia, a communication disorder caused by brain injury or stroke, affects a person’s ability to speak, read, and write. The FSU ICAP will offer a 4–6-week program providing education, therapy, and interdisciplinary support from students and faculty across various rehabilitation fields. Donations will support the launch of this program, helping to provide holistic care for stroke and brain injury survivors, and empowering them to regain vital communication skills.

Support Students in the School of Information

Your involvement can make a direct and lasting impact by supporting initiatives such as: career and professional development workshops that prepare students for life after graduation; guest speaking opportunities that bring real-world experience into the classroom; mentoring programs that guide and inspire students as they navigate their academic and career paths; celebrating and promoting student achievements, and helping them build confidence and visibility for future opportunities. By participating in this campaign, you are doing more than giving financially; you are opening doors, shaping futures, and empowering students to reach their full potential. Thank you for believing in our students and contributing to their success. Together, we can make a difference that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Support Students in the School of Communication

Your support will enable the development of activities to recognize student accomplishments throughout the year, including graduation events that invite students, their families, and friends.

Spotlight on Student Success at The Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication

The Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication at Florida State University, the first of its kind in the U.S., conducts groundbreaking research, serves as an industry resource, and equips students with cutting-edge knowledge to meet the growing demand for professionals in the U.S. Hispanic market. It educates students to serve Hispanic and multicultural markets, provides insights for marketing and media industries, and integrates current trends and technologies. One gift to our PhD scholarship—no matter the size—tips the first domino, sparking a chain reaction that reaches every student supported, every research project they pursue, every mentee they inspire, every campaign they shape, and every community those campaigns touch.

STARS – Student Leadership Corps

STARS (Students & Technology in Academia, Research, & Service) is a student-led alliance at FSU dedicated to increasing participation in information technology (IT)/computing fields among K-12 students and on campus. The FSU STARS Alliance works to expand the pipeline of students pursuing IT careers, raise awareness about IT education, and prepare FSU students to become leaders in IT and communication. The group has earned awards for its outreach, including school visits across Florida, judging competitions, leading workshops, and engaging with tech employers. Donations support STARS’ mentorships, workshops, conferences, and efforts to develop an employer pipeline for students, helping them build critical leadership and communication skills for success in IT and communication careers. STARS supports 12 student-led Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) within CCI.

Support Students in Communication & Information (Dean’s Excellence Fund)

Your gift will provide opportunities for students to excel beyond the classroom, supporting the success of the College’s students and faculty through activities, employer engagement, milestone celebrations, community outreach, and professional development. Please make a philanthropic investment for the College of Communication and Information to support its various co-curricular activities; engage with employers; honor important milestones for our students, alumni, faculty, and staff; reach out to our community; and support professional development for our students! 

WVFS Tallahassee 89.7FM

WVFS Tallahassee 89.7FM, the Voice of Florida State (V89), thanks you for your support! Staffed by 200 volunteers, V89 offers diverse programming and provides students with hands-on experience in all areas of radio. For over 38 years, V89 has been a vital educational resource and independent station. Your donation helps maintain broadcasts, support student development, and upgrade equipment.

Now in its sixth year, the two-week workshop that was hosted in June by We2gether, a non-profit in Drew, Mississippi, inspires and teaches students the various elements of documentary filmmaking. Being highlighted in the news is not only a milestone for the program, but as Houck emphasizes, this publicity will help inspire the next generation of filmmakers. 

The idea for the program was sparked back in 2017, when Houck and a group of colleagues were awarded a Kellogg Foundation Grant, to help develop a school curriculum for teachers and to introduce high school students to the basics of filmmaking and editing.  

“The most rewarding moments are when students take what they’ve been taught and begin experimenting, gaining confidence as they shoot, edit, and reshoot,” says Houck. He goes on to add how the purpose of the program is to learn the fundamentals of the art, so there is a lot of trial and error that goes into the process. With hands-on experience and the right resources, Houck and his team believe this generation will build on their foundation for years to come. Houck adds, “We hope it inspires the next generation, and also gets students interested in a history they largely don’t know.” 

Looking ahead, Houck hopes to help the students succeed as individuals, and also to transform the film industry for future generations. Reflecting on what they’ve accomplished so far with the program, Houck shared, “We had our first group of returning students work with a local non-profit to produce a video back in 2024, so one aim is making money with these new, highly valued skills.”  

This goal of future success is shared by contributors Dr. Pablo Correa and Joy Davenport —both School of Communication alumni. Together, they’ve helped bring the University’s reach to one of the country’s most disadvantaged communities. 

“Beyond this, though, the community nourishes us with its incredibly rich civil rights history and the many legacies of that history. Every year we get to meet remarkably brave men and women who led local movements. And they allow us to film those stories with the students often doing the interviewing.” says Houck. 

The MS Delta Film Academy is helping amplify the voices of young filmmakers and transforming the future of film, one frame at a time

“When I hurt my knee in high school it made me want to help people who had knee issues and sports injuries,” said Massoudi. But after taking his first biology class and having a conversation with a close friend, he quickly pivoted, realizing that this career path didn’t align with him.

Massoudi’s friend, a college football player, reinforced the notion that Massoudi was heavily knowledgeable in sport even joking that he knew more about football. With this insight, Massoudi went into Digital Media Production and Sport Management at FSU. Here he gained the tactical skills to be able to truly delve into his passion for storytelling and eventually guided him to his current career as a broadcaster for ESPN and ACC Network.

“I understand where they come from…I understand what these players are being asked to do and what it takes to dig deep and find yourself as an athlete and help your team win,” said Massoudi, who spends hours preparing for each game that he covers. “You need to understand the overall landscape of the sport you’re covering being able to go into each game and know what you’re looking for, what the storylines are and how each of these players and teams have got to this point, and where they want to go from there.”

Even as a reporter, Massoudi still experiences pre show nerves. However, the surge of energy he gets before speaking on camera has transitioned into “good nerves,” and he utilizes this energy to focus on his speaking, giving him his spark on camera.

“If you don’t get nervous it means you don’t care so nerves are a good sign, but they subside when you master what you’re doing,” Massoudi said.

At FSU, Massoudi was heavily involved in a multitude of organizations that allowed him to acquire this skill set. Specifically, being a part of both FSView and Seminole Productions, which gave him the opportunity to practice and gain confidence in his craft. Massoudi still keeps this connection to FSU through his involvement in the Seminole Sports Radio Network doing pre- and post-game for FSU Football.

While these professional experiences shaped his current career, Massoudi addressed the importance of relationships. “Everybody [at FSU] really cares about your career and wants to see you succeed. To me, the people at Florida State standout and the opportunities help make a difference to get you where you want to go.”