About
About Us:
The Observer, formerly The Journal, is the editorially independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Our mission is to publish news and feature stories, editorial and opinions relevant to the campus community while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards as outlined in The Observer Code of Conduct and Editorial Board By-laws and Procedures.
Staff :
Priyanka Deo
Priyanka Deo is the Director of Student Media at UIS, overseeing ‘The Observer,’ the campus’s independent digital news outlet. She also teaches within the School of Communication and Media. Before this, she was Assistant Director of Media Strategy in the Office of the Chancellor. Priyanka joined UIS from The Times of India Group in New Delhi, where she hosted her own digital show. She also worked as a national anchor and deputy editor at Associated Broadcasting and contributed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2019 election campaign.
Ruthvik Boggavarapu
Ruthvik Boggavarapu is a Computer Science MA student at UIS. He is the multimedia editor and Student Technical in-charge for the UIS observer. Ruthvik has a keen interest in detail and a passion for storytelling. He has an interest in photography and traveling, which contributes to his ability to blend technology and creative expression to create seamless multimedia integration across digital platforms.
Lilian Georgiou
Lilian Georgiou is the Graduate Assistant Editor-in-Chief of ‘The Observer’ and is pursuing an MA in Public History. She aims to connect students with each other and the wider Springfield community through local issues and student voices.
Brandon Damm
Brandon Damm is a senior communication major at UIS, working as a Public Information Officer for the State of Illinois. An advocate for mental health, he also directs a non-profit event called Rock and Run for Mental Health.
Emerson Krasnican
Emerson Krasnican (they/he) is a second-year graduate student in Communication and serves as the Graduate Assistant for Gender & Sexuality Student Services. Emerson hopes to work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) after graduation.
Beanta Brown
Beanta Brown is a senior communication major, balancing her studies as a full-time online student and mother. She works in risk management and enjoys journaling and writing personal pieces.
Elena Dimaggio
Elena Dimaggio is a second-year master’s student in Communication and a member of the UIS women’s soccer team. From Italy, Elena is passionate about visual storytelling, photography, and videography.
Brandyn Johnson-Foster
Brandyn Johnson-Foster is a senior at UIS majoring in Communication with a minor in Computer Science. He has interests in photography, advertising, and video editing.
Letters to the Editor:
Letters may be sent by e-mail to [email protected], postal mailed to The Observer, RHB 140, Public Affairs Center, One University Plaza Springfield, IL 62703-5407. Letters should be no more than 2 double-spaced pages. Deadline for submitting letters is noon on the Thursday prior to the publishing date. The Observer reserves the right to reject or edit any submitted letter-to-the-editor. If any revisions take place, the author will be notified.
Editorial/Guest Commentary:
Observer editorials are the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Guest columns should be no more than 4 double-spaced pages. The Observer does not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in any column. The Observer recognizes the importance of providing a forum for our readers to express personal views. Questions may be directed to The Observer at 217-206-NEWS (6397).
Disclaimer:
The Observer reserves the right to select and edit all letter, columns and articles. The content herein should not be construed as official university sentiment.
The views and opinions expressed within podcasts, videos and other media shared via uisobserver.com are those of the participants and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the administration or employees of University of Illinois Springfield or The UIS Observer.
