Story: Emily Nelson
Photography: Justin Torner
Published: May 7, 2025
Max Willis is a storyteller.
Throughout his time at the University of Iowa, he’s told stories through writing, photography, video, social media, podcasts, and various other forms and channels.
“I’ve gained a lot of skills — I can write, I can work in front of and behind the camera, I can do graphic design, I can do video editing or photo editing, I can fly a drone — whatever it is, I feel really well prepared,” says Willis, who will graduate with a BA in journalism and mass communication, BA in African American studies, and minor in sport and recreation management.
Willis chose to major in journalism partly as a way to stay involved in sports.
“I knew I wasn’t going to play collegiately or professionally, so I was looking for a way to stay connected to sports,” Willis says. “I thought, what about sports writing?”
Willis also uses his storytelling to bring underrepresented voices to the forefront.
"While I hope to work in the sports field, my second major in African American studies will be helpful no matter what job I get,” Willis says. “Being able to use that background of understanding African American history and culture and being able to say, 'OK, if we’re going to develop an ad or a story, what does that look like? How does representation come in?' Understanding how to be sensitive toward certain things that we’re putting out there, understanding the media that we’re interpreting, all that is important in today’s world."
Along with serving for the past two years as a social media/marketing intern for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Willis has held internships with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, The Morning Blend talk show in Milwaukee, and SHARP Literacy Inc.
Why did you choose to come to Iowa?
I was looking at a lot of schools and journalism programs. I wanted to write, and Iowa had one of the best programs when I was doing research during my senior year of high school. I did a tour, and then they gave me a really good scholarship. Knowing everything I could do here and all they offered and that it was going to be affordable, it just all came together.
What was your most memorable experience or your best memory at Iowa?
I took a social media marketing class my junior year with Adam Kempenaar. We got to shadow the athletics marketing team for gameday operations of a women’s basketball game while Caitlin Clark was still playing for Iowa. It was really cool to get to be behind the scenes, but also to get to sit courtside and experience all the fans yelling and almost feeling like you're a player on the floor.
Max Willis
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Degree: BA in journalism and mass communication, BA in African American studies, minor in sport and recreation management
What’s next: “I hope to move out West and to work in marketing, communications, or even a video-related field. I think those are my strong suits and the areas that I’m most interested in. I also want to work with and serve underrepresented voices and minorities. I think it's really important to make sure those voices are included and heard.”
It was great seeing all the stadium operations that the marketing team is part of. They control some of the things with the lighting and the music, or at least they’re connecting with people who are working on those things. People don't understand that marketing can be a very broad role, and you can wear all these different types of hats. Seeing that live helped us understand there's so much that goes into it, not just in preparation but also during the game.
What surprised you the most about the University of Iowa?
I got to take a drone class last spring, and that was really an awesome thing to be a part of. The school paid for my license, and now I can say I can fly a commercial drone if a job needs that. I can go into that field after graduation if I want to.
What’s the best way to describe what it’s like to be a Hawkeye, to be part of the Hawkeye community?
I think being a Hawkeye means to take pride in who you are, whether that's as a Hawkeye or as your individual self. You have to be prideful and know what you’re capable of. And then also understanding that you're a Hawkeye, and whether you are here or you’re across the world, there are always going to be Hawkeyes. There's a great pride in being a part of the University of Iowa.
What provided you with the greatest sense of belonging while at the University of Iowa?
The Hubbard Scholars, which is a group of Black men on campus, whether students, graduate students, faculty, and we all come together at the Afro House or other spots on campus. Other people of other races and ethnicities are welcome to come and join us as well. I think there’s only 400 or so Black men, compared to the thousands of other students, on campus, so it’s been really helpful to have that space for us all to come together.
What did you get out of your Iowa experience that you don’t feel you would have gotten elsewhere?
I don’t think I would have gotten all the connections to alumni and use of multimedia resources somewhere else. We have a lot of options here at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication regarding what you want to do and where you want to put your focus. And then we have great resources, whether it's cameras or other equipment that we get to use, to make the types of content that we want to make.
But on top of that, we have a great alumni network and alumni who want to come back and work with students. That’s been really helpful this past year. I’ve gotten to connect with so many alumni in settings where I can have one-on-one conversations with them.
What is one of the most valuable things you learned?
To not doubt myself. As a Hawkeye, you learn so much and you get to apply everything that you learn in the classroom setting. I know I am prepared for anything that comes after graduation.
What advice would you give to future Hawks?
Say yes to as much as you can. I think it's important to get yourself out there and show that you’re willing to try. Once you establish yourself and build yourself up, you can start saying no, but just start out by being open to things, wanting to be a part of groups, and taking on tasks that people ask of you. I think it's a great way to show you’re a go-getter but also that you’re insightful and curious.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Thank you to my parents for providing me the support and the resources to be here on this campus today and to keep pushing to graduate. I also want to thank all the teachers that I’ve had, especially in the School of Journalism and African American studies. They show that they really care about their students and that they want me to succeed. I want to thank Dr. Venise Berry, Glenn Waters, and Anthony Haughton for all being great Black scholars and great Black individuals on campus who continue to help me strive toward the things I want to. I also want to thank Jake Mayer for being my boss and also being a great friend along the way. And I want to thank everyone who I’ve met while I’ve been here on this campus who kept pushing me to be greater and encouraging me to keep doing the things that I want to do.
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