Hailing from suburban Chicago, Joe Dennis — a Filipino journalist-turned professor — has a passion for sharing and discovering stories. The Windy City native has worked in the world of journalism for many years, meeting an innumerable amount of people — such as John Mayer and Isiah Thomas — and sharing his enthusiasm with them. Despite being able to meet major personalities and celebrities, Dennis claims he finds the most inspiration from ordinary people.

“What was really impactful for me, was when I was reporting on a judge who needed a liver transplant and was on the waitlist for organ donation,” said Dennis, as he recollected on a past assignment. “I really got to know the family. I would come in and have dinner with them. And every month, I would write an update on how his health was doing.”

Dennis didn’t just write stories, he connected with the people he worked with. After months of engaging with the family and providing monthly updates, the judge passed away while being 12th on the waiting list. “That really was powerful to me,” Dennis reflected. “That day, I went to the driver’s license facility and became an organ donor, because I saw the impact that organ donation can really have on people.”

Dennis takes pride in making connections and taking time to know his subjects. “When you’re working as a journalist, one of the most important things you can do is continue to be very friendly,” Dennis advised. “Take an active interest in other people, not just what you need for journalism. Take an interest in who they are and their families.”

Dennis’ commitment to connection proved to pay off, as he received additional opportunities. One day while out shopping, he received a phone call from a connection at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on chance to work a substantial story on a drug bust. “The GBI was doing an undercover drug bust that they really wanted the promotion about,” Dennis said. “I’m working at this community newspaper, and they called me as opposed to calling Fox 5 in Atlanta or NBC 11. That’s because I had developed that rapport with them from a previous story.”

Coincidentally, the call from the GBI was also the moment that Dennis realized a change in profession would be in order. “I knew I wanted to go a different path and go into teaching when we were shopping for baby strollers,” said Dennis when describing getting the call. “I’m having some family time now and this is my job and I need to do this. I really wanted to do something that was on more of a regular schedule. That’s what lead me into teaching.”

Following his profession change to a college professor, Dennis found pride in teaching successful students. “It is so cool to see where some of my former alumni end up,” said Dennis. “One of my former students is now working with the NBA as a social media coordinator. I have another student who works as the announcer for the Texas Tailgaters.”

Throughout the duration of his career, Dennis has had an immense impact on those he interacts with. He serves as an inspiration to aspiring journalists through his dedication to connection.

Dennis currently serves as the Associate Professor of Mass Communications at Piedmont University in Athens, Georgia.

• Some quotes were edited for clarity and brevity.

Hello, my name is Grady Leatherwood, and I am a rising senior at Calhoun High School in Calhoun, Georgia. I have an immense passion for sports and writing, and I aspire to become a sports journalist in the future. Despite the many programs and opportunities my school offers, they do not offer a school newspaper or journalism class. As a result, I took matters into my own hands by starting a social media account to document Calhoun’s football team. During the games, I post live score updates keeping the community informed. Additionally, I create social media graphics for the account. I have run the account for two years now and have gained a decent following. As for official school activities, I have participated in my school’s marching band for four years as a trumpet player. This upcoming school year, I am ending my tenure with the band to pursue other opportunities, such as a potential internship with Calhoun’s local newspaper or starting a school newspaper. I am also a member of numerous clubs at my school including Future Farmers of America (FFA), Beta Club and National Honor Society. For the past two summers, I have worked for my school’s summer feeding program, making and providing meals to children in need in the community.

I have always loved reading and writing, but I didn’t realize my passion for journalism until around the seventh grade. I’ve always wanted to have a job working in sports and when I realized that I could make a career out of watching and writing about sports, I have made that my goal ever since. I love the prospect of telling the stories that makeup the framework of sports. Every team, athlete, coach and fanbase have a unique story to tell, and I want to uncover their narratives and share it. I want to be able to capture of all the emotions that sports elicit and encapsulate them into writing. While I have no “real” experience with journalism, I sometimes write in my free time for fun about the sports games I watch. My academic goal is to attend the University of Georgia and ultimately the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

My favorite thing to do is watch sports, especially with my father. Sports are such a key element of my life, as they have provided some of my best and worst memories and have strengthened the bond between my dad and me. My favorite teams are the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Baltimore Ravens. Some of my earliest recollections are watching the Bulldogs play football on Saturdays and attending Braves games at Turner Field with my dad. My favorite sport to watch fluctuates and depends on the season. I enjoy traveling, especially to different sports venues. I have visited 13 states and Washington, D.C.. Every place I go, I like to take pictures to document my journeys. Additionally, I enjoy watching all different kinds of movies and television series, especially ones inspired by comic books. My favorite movie is “The Wolf of Wall Street” and my favorite television series is “Ted Lasso”. I like to go to the theater and watch new movies with friends and then write reviews on Letterboxd after. I spend the rest of my free time listening to music, reading, and hanging out with family.