Our Alumni
Alumni Spotlights
The University of Delaware's Department of Communication boasts an array of distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields. They continually demonstrate their commitment to advancing communication. With diverse career paths spanning journalism, public relations, education, and marketing, these alumni serve as inspiring examples of the impact of a foundation in communication theory and practices.
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Four alumni win Pulitzers
May 31, 2024 | Written by Artika CasiniTodd Frankel, Jacqueline Jones, Paul Kane and David Hoffman receive 2024 award -
Humanities in medicine
July 11, 2023 | Written by Amy WolfThe University of Delaware offers students multiple ways to prepare to apply to medical school. -
Counting on UD Alumni
June 13, 2023 | Written by Stephanie DorobaCommunications leaders guide the next generation
Dana Arschin
Degree: 2009, B.A. in Communication
Job Title: Storyteller, media consultant and spokesperson with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County
Dana Arschin's career in journalism has been varied and extensive since her graduation from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication. After earning her master's degree in broadcast journalism from the New York Institute of Technology, she spent five-and-half-years with News 12 The Bronx and Brooklyn as a reporter, where she received a New York Emmy Award for her coverage of 2014 city snowstorm cleanup efforts in Brooklyn.
In 2016 she joined Fox 5 New York as a reporter and fill-in anchor. She received another New York Emmy for one of her three short films centering on her travels to Poland to discover more about her family members who were murdered during the Holocaust. (Arschin herself is the granddaughter of a 100-year-old Auschwitz Concentration Camp survivor). “I always felt like it was my obligation to keep these stories alive," Arschin said.
In 2022, Arschin started her own company, DJK Communication LLC, and followed her passion for amplifying the voices and stories of Holocaust survivors. Arschin serves as a storyteller, media consultant and spokesperson with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.
"I interview survivors and create video documentaries about their lives," said Arschin. "These segments are posted to HMTC’s website and social media pages, where they get hundreds of thousands of views."
Grace Leong
Degree: 1988, B.A. in Communication
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer of HUNTER
Honors: Recipient of the College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Achievement Award in 2022
Grace Leong is chief executive officer at HUNTER, a marketing communications and public relations firm that works with leading food, beverage, fashion, and home and lifestyle brands. The firm employs more than 250 people across three offices in the United States and United Kingdom and is among the top 50 communications firms in the country.
The 1988 alumna credited her own success to the mentorship of strong professors at the University of Delaware. “Following their guidance meant taking on a lot of extra work,” Leong said. “But their advice made a huge difference in how we developed into professional communicators and now leaders of our communications firm.”
Now the busy executive makes time to mentor the next generation of UD communication students. “Whenever we get the chance to help students who truly want to learn and work hard to achieve academic and professional success, we jump in and push them to raise their own bars,” said Leong, a dedicated supporter of UD.
In 2013, Leong received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the UD Alumni Association. In 2016, she earned her place on UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame. In 2022, she received the Alumni Achievement Award from UD’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Bill Wohl
Degree: 1984, B.A. in Liberal Studies
Job Title: Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications at Hotwire and Adjunct Instructor of Strategic Communication
“I was a mechanical engineer major when I entered UD and then switched gears, ultimately graduating with a B.A. in liberal studies with a heavy emphasis on communication courses, and business and economic courses, too,” said Bill Wohl, a 1984 graduate of the University of Delaware. “These days, UD’s Communication Department offers exactly what I was looking for back then.
In addition to his high-profile job as executive vice president of corporate communications at Hotwire, Wohl is an adjunct instructor of strategic communication at the University of Delaware. Wohl also ran a consulting business in crisis communications, media training, branding and related areas, with clients such as WorkHuman and Unify (Siemens). Previously, he served as chief communications officer at brands including Hewlett Packard and Commvault.
“UD staff professionals, professors and my adviser were willing to help me create a tailor-made program. When I graduated, I had a roadmap and tools to help me navigate a successful 40-year career that has taken me into C suites, advising CEOs, and all over the world. When I was presented with this opportunity to teach in the M.A. program I didn’t hesitate. It’s an opportunity to thank UD and pass my experience on to the next generation.”
