Together with alumni, students joined faculty, staff, President Marie Hardin and School of Communications Dean Nadine Barnett to celebrate the school’s newest Hall of Fame members.

“They’ve told stories that matter, opened doors for others, and shown what it means to use communication to make a difference. They honor this school and they set a standard for every student who follows them,” said Barnett Cosby.

Barnett Cosby welcomed the close-knit School of Communications family to the special event in school’s Open-Air Studio.

“It’s an intimate gathering, and I think the strength is that we’re an intimate community. In this room we have alumni, faculty, staff and students -- every chapter of our school story, together in one place,” Barnett Cosby said.

She thanked alumni for serving as vital role models and encouraged students to make the most of networking opportunities, forging valuable connections with those who once learned in their same classrooms and walked their same paths.

“Introduce yourselves, ask questions and make connections,” Barnett Cosby advised.

“Some of the most important relationships of your career may begin in a room like this one and whenever you have the opportunity to speak to our alumni.”

Student ambassador president Trenton Hill ’29, a Film, TV & Media Arts and Sports Communications double major, said the event was a great opportunity to honor two of Quinnipiac’s most outstanding communications professionals and to welcome all of the school’s esteemed alumni home.

“From a student perspective, it is encouraging and inspiring to see what you have done and accomplished; and not only that, but the love that you have expressed back to the Quinnipiac community. It speaks volumes,” Hill said. “As students, it can be hard to know where we are going, but our alumni stand as proof that we will get to excel and be great as members of our community. Events like this give us the drive to grow and learn as up-and-coming professionals.”

As Senior Vice President of Production for ESPN, Gifford Lockwood oversees ESPN’s college football coverage of more than a thousand regular season and bowl games. The coverage also includes expanded college football playoff programming as well as surrounding studio programming across ESPN platforms such as ABC, ESPN’s college networks and more. She also oversees College GameDay Built by The Home Depot and ESPN’s presentations of premiere college football award shows.

Additionally, Gifford Lockwood leads events and studio productions for several NCAA sports. Her purview also extends to leading ESPN’s coverage along with the UFL, PLL, The Masters and PGA Championship. Prior to obtaining her current role in 2025, Gifford Lockwood was also part of the ESPN Sports Center executive leadership team. Since January 2019, she has overseen ESPN’s talent production group, adding ESPN’s universal coverage group to her areas of responsibility in the fall of 2022.  

Gifford Lockwood joined ESPN in 2004, starting as a radio intern before rising to lead the ESPN Radio Network and Talent Office. She earned her master’s in journalism at Quinnipiac School of Communications.

Quinnipiac was ahead of its time when she enrolled in 2006, Gifford Lockwood said. The School of Communications offered one of the only graduate programs incorporating flexible online coursework, allowing her to maintain her full-time position at ESPN Radio while furthering her academic pursuits.

“I had a great experience both with the online classes and the in-person classes here over my two years of completing the program. The memories are fond, and the courses and instructors I was able to interact with over the years were excellent,” said Gifford Lockwood.

Today, Gifford Lockwood said the school’s well-equipped infrastructure and innovative programming is evident everywhere you look.

“When you walk around and you see everything the school has to offer -- the facilities, the faculty, just the community -- it’s very apparent it’s an amazing place,” she said. “I’m really appreciative and thankful to have the school reach out and bestow this honor on me. Really, the honor is mine.”

Gifford Lockwood said she looks forward to staying connected with Quinnipiac.

“I have a few really good colleagues from ESPN who teach classes here, and I’ve said to them, and I will say to anybody in this room, I am happy to help in any way that I can. I want to be connected. Reach out to me,” Gifford Lockwood said. “I’ve been very fortunate, and I want to maintain the relationship and connectivity with this school, because it’s very evident that you have an awesome thing going and the sky’s the limit.”

With over 19 years in Public Relations (PR), LeWinter has built award-winning campaigns for brands including Under Armour, Microsoft, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Celsius Energy Drinks, Hugo Boss, Yahoo Sports, Timex and many others. His work with the American Cornhole League earned the 2025 and 2023 Cynopsis Sports Media Award and made him a five-time Platinum PR Award finalist. LeWinter has also worked directly with tennis icon Venus Williams, helping to support her business interests off the tennis court. He specializes in building brand awareness, consumer marketing, partnerships and developing promotions that generate press and produce bottom-line results for his clients.

A proud School of Communications graduate, LeWinter now mentors current students as a member of the school’s Advisory Board, Barnett Cosby noted.

“Marlon is known for his ability to power through, to get it done; and his no-nonsense attitude and networking ability brings smiles to his clients’ faces. Having worked both at an agency and in-house, Marlin brings a breadth of national consumer and media relations experience with unmatched placement ability,” she said.

LeWinter shared that he was beyond honored to be inducted into the School of Communications Hall of Fame.

“Quinnipiac has always held a special place in my heart. I loved my time here, and even after graduating I’ve always felt a special connection to the school. Quinnipiac isn’t simply where I went to college. It is my home. Quinnipiac is a place that helped shaped who I am, both personally and professionally,” LeWinter said.

Arriving on move-in day with 1,700 “Marlin for President” student government posters, LeWinter spent his first week of college campaigning door to door across the Mount Carmel Campus. At the School of Communications, he became part of the first live broadcast of Q30 News.

Thinking back to his years here, LeWinter said his professors challenged him to stand out, be creative, work hard and make a name for himself. It was advice that he took to heart, spending countless hours learning, experimenting, making mistakes, finding his confidence, and starting to figure out his path in life.

“I especially want to say how much I love the School of Communications – the amazing facilities, the technology, the opportunities available to students today. It’s incredible to see how far it’s come, but when I walk through the halls, I still feel that same excitement I had as a student,” LeWinter said.

“Those moments matter. Every broadcast, every class, every professor who challenged me; every late night and every opportunity to try something new. The School of Communications gave me a place to turn my passion into my career.

LeWinter urged today’s students with big dreams to follow those dreams and to “put yourself in the room” when the right timing presents itself, by taking a chance with making a call, sending an email, making an introduction, or asking a question.

“Most importantly, never give up. I have been rejected many times -- I actually have 28 rejection letters from sports teams. I still keep those letters, and they still drive me today. They remind me that rejection doesn’t mean your dream is over. It just means that you haven’t found the right opportunity yet,” LeWinter said.

While today’s storytelling is vastly different from the communications landscape of 2003, LeWinter said much of what he learned at Quinnipiac has remained constant: the importance of hard work, curiosity, relationships, integrity, creativity and being willing to react.

“I’ve been fortunate to build a career doing something I love, but no career is built alone. I want to thank the professors and mentors at Quinnipiac who believed in me and gave me a foundation to succeed, and my colleagues, my friends, people I’ve worked with in my industry, along with Amanda, who was one of the first people that I pitched,” LeWinter said. “We bonded over Quinnipiac, and to be able to share the stage with her is very special.”