University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Alumni News

Nikki Schiefelbein Joins the CAPS Board and Brings Her Writing Flare and Mentorship to Communication Arts Students

The Communication Arts Partners (CAPS) board was honored to welcome Nikki Schiefelbein this fall. CAPS members are essential assets to Communication Arts as they volunteer their time and contribute  knowledge to department initiatives, teaching, and research. With a seasoned career in writing and producing in Hollywood, Schiefelbein will be a valuable mentor to Communication Arts …

A Successful Film Festival Run for “The Forest of Dreams”

Since the premiere of Kristyn Dallmann’s 2024 narrative short, “The Forest of Dreams,” at the Communication Arts showcase, she has taken her work to several film festivals and has even secured some awards. Not every budding filmmaker gets the chance to experience this part of the creative process, and Dallmann is honored to have had …

Communication Arts Welcomes Josh Bycel to the CAPS Board

The Communication Arts Partners (CAPS) board was thrilled to have Josh Bycel join its ranks this spring as it gears up for another academic year of supporting the department’s research, outreach activities, and teaching. Bycel has enjoyed a successful writing career in Los Angeles for over 25 years, and he is eager to use his …

Saving Stories and Film for the Digital Age

Tucked away in a dark hallway between Studio D and E in Vilas Hall, sits a room that brings stories back to life. In that room is Sophie Mayer, a Spring 2024 Communication Arts graduate, who currently works as a Media Preservationist for the department. Using the Lasergraphics ScanStation film scanner, gifted to the department …

Honoring the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Winners in Communication Arts

Many UW–Madison graduates who earn a degree in Communication Arts go on to accomplish incredible things. 2025 marks the second time our department will honor some of our most outstanding alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards. These awards recognize the accomplishments of alumni who have made major contributions to the public good, developed successful careers soon …

Welcoming Dru Korab to the CAPS Board

The Communication Arts Partners (CAPS) board was delighted to welcome Dru Korab (BA’06) to the committee this past fall. CAPS members volunteer their time and knowledge to support the Department’s teaching, research, and outreach activities. With a seasoned career in video production, Korab has a wide range of ideas and experience that are sure to …

Alumni Spotlight: Stacy Keppler Calabrese (BA’03)

Largely inspired by her love of stories, Stacy Keppler Calabrese has had a successful career in Hollywood since graduating from the Communication Arts department in 2003. With credits across various successful films such as Drive, Hell or High Water, My Spy, Ender’s Game, and Harry Potter 6-8, Calabrese has expanded on her roots in Comm …