In the early 90s, I left the trenches of full-time reporting to take on a new challenge in the academic halls at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. Since coming on board, I have made some unprecedented achievements in the journalism area. The most important achievement has been motivating and empowering students to be passionate about learning and succeeding academically and professionally. Each semester, I work to establish partnerships with the students to ensure that they are engaged in the learning process. Many of the students are first generation college-attendees. Some believe initially that they cannot succeed even though they are in a college setting. I create a learning environment that empowers the students. Albeit vigorous, my teaching strategies offer students hope that they can achieve anything with hard work. I have developed interpersonal communicative strategies to help students move past epistemological limitations. As a result, many of these students have graduated and become successful professionals.

It’s gratifying to see the transformation in students as they began to realize that they have the ability to succeed in the academic setting and become productive professionals. I have used my years of experience as an educator, journalist and advocate of underserved and African-American learners to investigate how innovation, social networks and technology stimulate intellectual growth and improve academic performance. Studies show that African-American youth are big consumers of social networks and are the largest demographic on Twitter and Instagram. However, no one has explored the impact that these social networks have had on black learners’ intellectual growth or academic performance. I think these areas are fascinating and untapped. I am exploring these areas and writing about them. I have worked with the Center for Effective Pedagogy for African American Learners and will be expanding my research for urban, suburban, rural and challenged learners.

As an award-winning multimedia journalist, journalism professor who is breaking new ground in digital storytelling, where journalists use cutting-edge technology, social media, mobiles and tablets to tell in-depth news stories in multi-media platforms, I founded the nation’s first social media correspondents team on a college campus. The Social Media Correspondents (SMC) group, Social Media Correspondents, cover under told stories in underserved communities with traditional video and audio gear, mobiles and tablets.

I also created the hashtag #TwitterNewsChat as a social media news feed that focuses on posting pertinent local, national and international content. The SMCs live-tweet, live-cast and live-photo from various news events across Houston and Southeast Texas using the hashtag #TwitterNewsChat. I also created the historic website, Houston Student Movement, Houston Student movement, which chronicles Houston’s civil rights movement in the early 60s. My work on Houston civil rights led the Texas Historical Commission to designate a historic marker in honor of Houston’s first sit-in on the 50th anniversary on March 4, 2010. It was a labor of love and two year process to make this historic marker a reality. A multitude of Houstonians, current TSU students, and the original TSU students who led that first sit-in worked closely with me to ensure the designation of the marker at 4110 Almeda, the location of Houston’s first sit-in, which is now a U.S. Post Office.

I am a founding board member of the National Association of Black Journalists Digital Journalism Task Force (DJTF). I served as President of the Houston Association of Black Journalists 2006-2007, when it was named Chapter of the Year by NABJ. I’ve covered hurricanes on the Texas coast and political elections in New York City. I’ve interviewed Rudolph Giuliani, Mario Cuomo, Whoopi Goldberg, Carly Simon and the nation’s first Black network news correspondent, Joan Murray. I have had an exhilarating and exciting career; but nothing brings me greater joy than hearing from a former student who has become a successful professional. From CNN to Warner Bros. Studio Hollywood, my former students have made one of my dreams come true; ensuring diverse voices are represented in America’s newsrooms, boardrooms, courtrooms and classrooms. They made it and I always knew they could do it! You can always find me making a positive difference in everything that I do.

I am a proud graduate of Texas Southern University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where I was named the Reader’s Digest Scholar.

I am also the mother of a wonderful daughter and son and wife of an amazing husband.

Every day I feel blessed and thankful for the opportunity to have a positive spirit in everything that I do.

The newest tv news reporter in Houston is TSU alumna Katiera Winfrey. She returned home in December to work for KHOU, Houston’s CBS affiliate, after making history as the first multicultural reporter in Indianapolis, Indiana. As the trailblazing multicultural reporter, her focus on covering marginalized communities, social justice, culture, art, and community set her apart in the media landscape.

Winfrey began her journey with internships at Fox26 and ABC13, where she honed her skills in Community Affairs and the Newsroom. The cultural understanding between her and TSU professors fostered a trust that laid the foundation for her success. She credits TSU for empowering her to exist authentically.

With gratitude for the trust and support she received at Texas Southern, Winfrey has become a force to be reckoned with in journalism. The road home to KHOU has included stops at news stations in Midland-Odessa, Tyler, Tulsa, and Allentown, PA. Her role as a Multicultural Reporter highlights her commitment to amplifying voices that often go unheard. Beyond her impressive career, Winfrey’s return to Houston after 11 years is a homecoming filled with triumph, as she fulfills her dreams and inspires those who never had the chance to leave their hometown.

Texas Southern University proudly celebrates Katiera Winfrey as an embodiment of the university’s commitment to empowering its students and fostering success in the ever-evolving world of communications.

Travis Sattiewhite, Jr., is a well-experienced and Emmy-winning journalist with over two decades of local and network newsroom exposure across the country, including CNN.  

Travis’ journalism career started in 2002 as an Assignment Editor at the CW station in Houston.  Travis’ career has taken him to newsrooms in Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Memphis, Kansas City and Connecticut before joining KVUE in June of 2023.  

During Travis’ time at CNN, he produced content for the network and its sister network, HLN.  Travis was part of CNN’s editorial team during the 2016 Presidential election. He worked as a field producer during the 2016 Republican National Convention and several Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates.  

Travis is a native Texan, born and raised in Houston.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Texas Southern University in 2002.  In 2022, he completed his M.B.A. from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.  

Travis is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Paige M. Hubbard is a born and bred Houstonian and a proud graduate of Texas Southern University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. Standing only 4’11, she is the definition of big things coming in a small package.

From extreme weather events to high profile court cases and the tragic Texas Shooting Ramage, Paige has covered it all. During college, Paige worked on campus at the TSU Herald Newspaper. At that time, she launched a digital show called “News in a Flash.” 

Paige also interned at FOX26 KRIV and KPRC Channel 2 where she was allowed to go on air as an intern. Just five months after graduation, Paige got a unique opportunity to work at NTV Houston, a south Asian digital station as multi-skilled journalist.

There, she got her first big start as journalist and became known for her reporting on the Maleah Daivs story. After NTV Houston, Paige spent some time on the assignments desk at KHOU 11 news. Missing being out in the field, Paige decided to leave Houston and accepted a position at KFDM 6 news in Beaumont as an MMJ.

She then journeyed to Austin and became a reporter for CBS Austin News. Being away for four years Paige has returned home to Houston to work in her dream market. She is currently a producer and reporter for CW39 Houston.

Paige is thrilled to be back home utilizing her strong passion for community based storytelling and holding the powerful accountable. When she’s not in front or behind the camera, you can find Paige spending time with her family and her pet rabbit Porter. Paige also enjoys giving back to her community and mentoring young men and women.

Nate Griffin, a familiar name in Houston sports, currently serves as general assignments reporter and sports analyst for KRIV-TV, assigned to FOX 26 Morning News. Before landing his current position, Nate covered professional, college and high school sports in Houston and the surrounding areas for more than 25 years in radio, television and on digital platforms. His career began in Houston radio in 1989 as producer, weekday reporter, and anchor at KTRH 740AM. Nate wore many other hats during that time such as college basketball public address announcer and radio & TV color analyst for high school and college football and basketball broadcasts. That experience eventually led to a weekday reporter/weekend anchor position at KBMT-TV, ABC, in Beaumont, Texas. Along with his other responsibilities as college football and basketball color analyst with regional and national TV networks, he worked as a web reporter for the Houston Texans. The former Southern Mississippi wide receiver is currently in his 12th season as the color analyst for Rice Owls radio football broadcasts. Nate is married and has one daughter.

Butch Alsandor is an award winning Sportscaster who has more than 35 years of experience covering major sporting events. Currently he is the play by play voice for Texas Southern University’s football and basketball TV games on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. He also does play by play work for SWAC Football on the ESPN family of Networks and is a Fill-in Host for the Rockets and Astros Pre/Post Game Shows on AT&T SportsNet Sw.
Butch also does media consulting, motivational speaking and is an emcee for events in and around the Houston area. One thing he really enjoys is mentoring aspiring television journalist.
Alsandor has worked in a top ten market for 28 years, reporting from Super Bowls, the NBA Finals, the World Series and numerous NBA and MLB All-Star games. From 2009 to 2013, he was the Weekday Sports Anchor at KHOU (CBS) in Houston.  His career gave him the opportunity to meet three U.S. Presidents, along with being the only Houston Sportscaster to secure a one on one interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.
During his career he was a recipient of the Best Sports Feature Award from the Houston Press Club and the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association. Also, the Associated Press awarded him the Best Sportscaster and Best Sports Feature awards when he worked in Louisiana.
Always a firm believer in community service, Alsandor has served on several Boards in Houston. He is a former Board Member and Executive Committee member at the Lighthouse of Houston.  He also volunteers with the Wade Smith Foundation, stressing the importance of reading to young kids in and around the greater Houston area. 
Alsandor grew up in Opelousas, La. and attended Opelousas Catholic School where he was an All-State football player both his junior and senior years, earning a scholarship to McNeese State.  After lettering three years on the Cowboys football team, he graduated with a degree in Radio and TV Broadcasting.

Kim Gagné is a veteran news, talk, reality, and court TV show producer who earned two Daytime Emmy Awards for NBC and ENDEMOL’S hit daytime talk show Steve Harvey in the category of “Outstanding Talk Show: Informative.” In addition, she is also a double Telly Award and Lone Star Emmy Award Winner.

​Kim is an accomplished development consultant/producer on television talk show pilots, startups, and reality series. She has created, developed, and pitched series ideas to network executives for primetime television, and has been one of the driving forces behind some of Houston’s hottest shows and other well-known syndicated shows, including City Under Siege (FOX-TV), Great Day Houston (CBS-KHOU), Texas Justice (Twentieth Television/FOX-TV), The Steve Harvey Project (BET/CENTRIC), and The Steve Harvey Show (NBC/ENDEMOL). She has also produced short documentaries and acted as 1st and 2nd AD on national commercials for Toyota, Miller Beer, AARP, Invisalign, Neom, and more.

In addition to producing television, Kim was the Executive Producer for Harvey’s State Farm Neighborhood Awards for six years where she honed her craft as a live event showrunner. Her outstanding leadership and communication skills, as well as her successful track record, have kept her on the shortlist when companies need a powerful, get-the-job-done production manager for concerts, award shows, non-profit events, or festivals.

Kim also created a boutique production and public relations firm, Maxthatcommunications, LLC where she managed campaigns for clients and brands such as Beyonce’s BeyGOOD Charity, Steve Harvey, tennis legend Zina Garrison, actress Lynn Whitfield, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Jack Yates/George Floyd Family, Amazing 102.5 FM, Yolanda Adams, Winston Contemporary Art, Celebrity Chefs, Michael Gabriel, Jake Smollett, and multiple non-profit organizations.

Kim was named one of Houston’s Top 30 Influential Women and has been featured in many articles and news stories on female producers and entrepreneurs. She has been awarded Congressional honors and given her own proclamation declaring, May 16th “Kim Gagné Day” in the City of Houston. In addition to her media endeavors, Kim also published her first book, How To Win: My Life In Television.

Moriah Ballard joined the KPRC 2 digital team in the fall of 2021. Prior to becoming a digital content producer in Southeast Texas and a Houstonian, Moriah was an award-winning radio host in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, and previously worked as a producer/content creator in Cleveland. Her faith, family, and community are her top passions.