Message from the Chair
Welcome to the FREE VOICE Online, a project of the Journalism program within the Department of Communications. Our department is a vital and energetic part of the University of the District of Columbia, offering seven degrees, including Art and Graphic Design, Theater, Journalism, TV Production, Music and Graphic Communications. The presence of the department is all around the university with jazz concerts, plays, art exhibits, newspapers, video productions and graphic design displays printed through our graphic communications efforts. It is an exciting, creative and serious environment with a lively enthusiastic student population and a talented professional faculty. We invite all our university friends to share with us as we continue to grow and develop.
Professor Olive Vassell
Oversees the production of the FREEVOICE online and the FREEVOICE print edition. Originally from London, she is founder and managing editor of Euromight.com, an Afro-European news site.
Jordaania Andima
Jordaania Andima is a writer, photographer, and teachers assistant in the communications department. She is a 2012 graduate of the journalism program with a career focus in photojournalism. What makes a good story: A good story expresses itself in a way that an audience can relate to and captures a specific moment in their everyday life.
Ava West
Ava West is a transfer student and journalism major who is determined, goal-oriented, full of life, and plans to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She has a passion for fashion and creative writing and is currently working on a novel along with a poetry book.
Aiyda Celestin
Aiyda Celestin is a journalism major. Over the last 10 years she has dedicated herself to creative writing which she is pursuing currently as an artist. She is also an active member of the University of the District of Columbia journalism Club serving as co-president.
Sean Hoggard
A transfer student from Delaware State, Sean is a junior majoring in Mass Media/Journalism. With passions in music and sports, he is determined to have a career as a sports analyst or writer for ESPN or a music artist.
Kaydian Jones
Kaydian Jones is an international transfer student that is majoring in journalism. She considers herself a born leader that strives to excel in all of her endeavors. She intends to learn everything she can about broadcast journalism and her dream is to be an international affairs correspondent.
Kier Gaines
Kier Gaines is an avid reader and prides himself on writing stories that he would actually find interesting. As a journalism major, his duty is to offer readers the not boring facts. As a creative thinker, he offers you the sarcastic truth. Gain's goal is to reinvent the social wheel one word at a time.
Tina Hamilton
Tina Hamilton is a senior majoring in journalism with a professional focus of entering the field of public relations. She is inspired by innovation and creativity. What makes a good story: A good story is one that conveys the truth in an entertaining and progressive fashion.
Shenell Moorer
Shenell Moorer is a senior majoring in journalism with a focus on entertainment. She aspires to be prominent writer for a popular magazine company. Her long-term goal is to one day become a top selling novelist. Her love for music and art has inspired her to pursue a career as a playwright.
Francies Stephenson
Francies Stephenson is a freshman journalism major. She has always had a great appreciation for the arts, namely writing. In her spare time she enjoys scrap booking and journal writing. As a, 16 year old, senior in high school, she made a mature decision to pursue journalism. Having made that decision, it led her to the esteemed University of the District of Columbia. Her favorite motto is "Everyone has a told. Every story deserves to be told."
