At the Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation (GCCI), student workers are much more than support staff—they are the primary drivers of our mission.
As we enter the 2026 semester, the GCCI has expanded its team to include a talented group of students who are planning and implementing events, creating digital media, disseminating resources, and promoting connections across the campus and the community.
Working alongside mentors with unique expertise in their respective fields, students are entrusted with high-level projects that prepare them for their future careers. For students like Marketing major John Endy, the role of Digital Communications Lead offers a bridge to the professional world. “The GCCI has given me the ability to post on a professional account, making and planning different projects,” explained John. “These positions offer vital experience for students preparing to step into the workforce.”
The responsibilities offered allow students to naturally grow and expand their skills, eventually stepping into leadership positions. “When I graduate, I want the people I’m training now to be able to easily step into my shoes,” said Lead Editor Thomas Morehead. “I hope to create a culture my fellow writers will be excited to inherit.”
One of the most valuable aspects of the GCCI is the opportunity for students from different academic backgrounds to work together. This year’s team brings together perspectives from Pre-Law, Marketing, Graphic Design, Writing, Hospitality, and Mass Communication. This diversity allows for a richer creative process, as students learn to "pivot" and problem-solve as a cohesive unit. “Our student staff members are the essence of the GCCI,” said Dr. Sniad. “Watching them collaborate across different majors to innovate and problem-solve is exactly what this Center is all about.”
The emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration serves as an exciting prospect for Pre-Law student Sophia Sheesley. “The GCCI's collaborative mission highlights why I personally gravitate towards a career in law,” she shared. “The ability to communicate diverse interpretations is a central aspect of the kind of advocacy I want to represent my clients with.”
The expansion of the student staff this semester allows the GCCI to support a wide range of initiatives. Meet the 2026 student staff:
Social Media and Marketing Leads: John Endy, Marketing, and Sophia Sheesley, Pre-Law
Graphic Designers: Amy De La Cruz Guzman, Graphic Design, and Cecelia Cox, Graphic Design
Podcast Producer: Seth Laning, Mass Communication
Lead Editor & Writer: Thomas Morehead, Writing
Writer, Communication and Podcast: Caroline Pritts, Criminology & Criminal Justice
Event Coordinators: Natalie Rietema, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Avah Virus, Hospitality and Tourism Management
By supporting and challenging students to take on important work today, the GCCI is helping to build the leaders of tomorrow.
