Seven Iowa State students have been selected to participate in the Dotdash Meredith Apprentice Program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Now in its 21st year, the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication’s partnership with Dotdash Meredith places Iowa State students in year-long apprenticeships at the nation’s largest digital and print publisher.
This year’s assignments include editorial and graphic design apprenticeships with media brands, including Allrecipes, Better Homes & Gardens, EatingWell, REAL SIMPLE, Southern Living, Successful Farming and Dotdash Meredith’s Premium Publishing group.
Students will work in person out of the company’s Des Moines office and remotely with teams based in New York, Birmingham and Vermont.
“These students have grown their editorial and design skills through student media, classroom and internship experiences with a goal of connecting all the dots as apprentices who get to work with national media brands,” said Maria Charbonneaux, assistant professor of practice and Dotdash Meredith Professional in Residence. “I’m grateful to Dotdash Meredith for supporting our students and providing these invaluable opportunities that prepare them for their professional careers.”
The part-time, paid apprenticeships offer students real-world work experience alongside seasoned professionals who serve audiences through both digital and print platforms. More than 100 Iowa State students have worked as apprentices since the program was established at Iowa State in 2004. Apprenticeships also can be used for Greenlee students’ JL MC 499A required internship.
“This cohort of Dotdash Meredith Apprentices is well prepared to enter the industry and continue developing their skills as they work with Dotdash Meredith professionals over the next year,” said Michael Dahlstrom, director of the Greenlee School and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Professor. “I am looking forward to seeing all that they accomplish, and I thank Dotdash Meredith for our successful partnership.”
Meet the 2024-2025 Dotdash Meredith apprentices from Iowa State:
Emily Carreon — Premium Publishing (editorial)
Emily Carreon is a rising senior from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, with majors in journalism and mass communication and English. Emily has worked more than a year as a communications intern with Iowa State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In her role, she has tailored her writing for various audiences through feature stories that have appeared in print magazines and on digital platforms. She has covered academic news as a reporter for the student-led Iowa State Daily for three years and is an active member of her sorority. She’s also worked as a student proctor in Iowa State’s testing center. When she’s not writing or working, you can find her reading a good novel or listening to live music.
Benjamin DeMarais — REALSIMPLE.com (editorial)
Benjamin DeMarais is a rising senior majoring in journalism and mass communication with minors in apparel, merchandising and design and fashion, culture, history and social justice. The Rogers, Minnesota, native has made his mark at Iowa State as an editorial director of student-led fashion publication TREND magazine and the Iowa State Daily student life editor. Ben is also a three-year digital media committee member with The Fashion Show, which has afforded him the opportunity to produce intro videos about show sponsors Steve Madden in 2023 and Nordstrom in 2024. His wide-ranging interests include fashion, wellness, entertainment and design. Before he got his start in journalism, he worked several years as a Trader Joe’s associate.
Gabrielle Dobereiner — EatingWell (graphic design)
Gabrielle Dobereiner is a rising senior from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, majoring in graphic design with a minor in advertising. She’s completed graphic design internships with Gemplers, a Wisconsin-based outdoor-supply company, and Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa, and she has also studied abroad in Rome. Gabi received Best of Category in Book Design at the 2024 Art Directors Association of Iowa Exhibition, and her work was featured in the 2023 ADAI Showcase. She also earned second-place honors in the publication category of FORM Auburn AIGA. This summer, she will work a graphic design intern with Hy-Vee. She’s passionate about film photography and baking, has restaurant industry experience and is currently enjoying a course that explores the intersection of food and design.
Elizabeth Fogarty — Allrecipes (editorial)
A rising senior from Victoria, Minnesota, Elizabeth Fogarty is majoring in journalism and mass communication with a minor in business. In her three years with the student-led Iowa State Daily, she has worked her way up the ranks from reporter to news editor to managing editor. As a communications intern with Iowa Medical Society, she has managed the organization’s social media and helped edit its quarterly print publication. She also assists in crafting news releases, developing podcast topics, writing speeches and preparing leaders for interviews. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys cooking, studying nutrition and exploring new recipes, among other interests, and she’s fluent in all things coffee after five years as a barista and trainer.
Katelyn Squiers — BHG.com (editorial)
Katelyn Squiers is a rising senior from Papillion, Nebraska, who is majoring in journalism and mass communication and Spanish. As a student life news reporter and editor for the Iowa State Daily, she was named the publication’s editor of the semester in fall 2022 and reporter of the year in 2022 and earned best crisis coverage honors at the 2023 College Media Convention. She works as a technical writer with Iowa State University’s IT department, where she has created internal communications about a major system upgrade on campus. She also spent a summer as a general assignment reporter with Enterprise Media Group. She is a service trips planner for Pay It Forward, an ISU student organization, and has written editorial features for TREND magazine. She is studying abroad this summer in Valencia, Spain.
Macie Stump — Southern Living (editorial)
A rising senior from Mission Hills, Kansas, Macie Stump is majoring in journalism and mass communication with a minor in general business. She’s had internships in recruitment marketing with Walsworth Publishing and in communications with Iowa State’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. This summer, she’ll serve as a corporate communications intern with American Century Investments. She’s held several leadership roles in her sorority and has served as a copy editor with the Iowa State Daily. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and pickleball, watching movies, gardening and browsing Pinterest for home ideas.
Sophia Winkelpleck — Successful Farming (editorial)
Sophia Winkelpleck is a rising senior majoring in journalism and mass communication with a minor in communication studies. Sophie grew up on a farm outside of Dysart, Iowa, and is passionate about telling stories about agriculture. In her role as the marketing director with Ames-based Schonert’s Corporate Catering, she has managed and created social media content and other materials throughout the company’s rebranding effort. She also serves as an arts and culture reporter for the Iowa State Daily student news organization. This semester, she presented about her experience participating in the award-winning EverGreenlee News, a TV news magazine show produced by Iowa State students, at the 2024 College Media Association convention. When she’s not sharing stories, she loves thrifting for unique home decor and traveling.