At Moody College, our faculty are on the cutting edge of research and education. Their work not only equips students with the knowledge and skills they’ll need upon entering the workforce, but it also seeks to impact and better the greater community. This year, we sought to highlight our faculty's work in the fields of speech, language, and hearing sciences, health communication, journalism and more. We are proud to tell their stories.

Austin in the ’70s was buzzing with history in the making: Vietnam War protests, the newly minted 18-year-old vote and political upheaval. All this as a young Bill Mintz walked into Journalism 322 at The University of Texas and found himself swept up in the fast-paced, boots-on-the-ground world of The Daily Texan. The experience gave Mintz the foundation for what would become a long and successful career in journalism, writing for major outlets such as The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. But despite the bylines and accolades, one thing lingered in the back of his mind for decades: he never officially earned his degree. Fast-forward, and that unfinished chapter has a new ending. Mintz crossed the stage at the 2025 graduation ceremony — more than 50 years after first enrolling at UT — proving that some stories are worth the wait. 

His return to the Forty Acres began not as a quest for closure, but with a gift: a $250,000 donation to the Texas Student Media Excellence Fund, the largest individual alumnus contribution in the organization’s history. “We are equally blown away by Bill’s generosity and excited about the opportunities this gift creates,” said Gerald Johnson, Moody College’s executive director for innovation and partnerships. Johnson says that Mintz’s generosity will support Texas Student Media in powerful ways, from boosting student wages and funding travel, to elevating broadcast quality with cutting-edge HDR cameras, or even launching a new media entity. 

“Not finishing my degree was a regret,” he admitted. “It didn’t hold me back professionally, but it always stayed with me—it was personal.”

—Bill Mintz, School of Journalism and Media alum, whose $250,000 gift to the Texas Student Media Excellence Fund is the largest individual alumnus' contribution in the organization's history.

Learn more about Bill Mintz's story!

From the time students step into their first courses at Moody College, our faculty and staff encourage them to think ahead to where they want to be after graduation. Our goal is to ensure students are ready for what’s next.

Certainly, the multitude of immersive experiences and hands-on opportunities offered at Moody help prepare students for their careers — be that shooting a sporting event for Bevo Video Productions or interning for an ad agency in New York with UTNY — but our classes do, too. Our curriculum sits at the intersection of theory and practice, demonstrating what is known about a given topic and then asking students to put that knowledge to practical use.

In addition, we make sure career development is embedded in our curriculum from the start. Our foundational courses provide a perfect example. In Comm 301E, our introductory course for all first-year students, students begin mapping their academic paths to professional goals. By the time they reach Comm 302E, Interdisciplinary Communication Foundations, they’re mastering resumes, crafting elevator pitches, practicing networking and more. And the Moody Career Center team is with them each step of the way.

We’re intentional about ensuring students don’t leave their futures to chance. While our disciplines span journalism to radio-television-film to speech, language and hearing sciences, one priority unites them: producing exceptional communicators. No matter what the future holds, this is inarguably a timeless skill.

With employers increasingly focused on behavior-based interviews and real-world problem-solving, Moody grads stand out, not just because of what they’ve learned, but how they express themselves. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2025 survey, 80% of employers today are seeking candidates with strong teamwork skills, 70% specifically highlighted the need for those with strong written communication skills, and over two-thirds of employers sought employees with strong verbal communication skills.

That’s why we don’t ask what students can do with a communication degree: We ask, what can’t they do?

No matter their paths after Moody, our students consistently demonstrate drive, creativity and resilience — qualities that lead them to build remarkable futures across industries and around the world. From producing award-winning films and launching startups to shaping public policy and amplifying voices through journalism and advocacy, Moody graduates are making their mark. As we reflect on the past year and look ahead, we remain committed to sharing their stories of impact, innovation and leadership.