Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications Graduates Selected for ESPN NEXT Leadership Program
|
Posted By: Kennedy Williams on July 21, 2021 Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications 2020 graduates Roderick McLean and LeVord (Lee) Burns II have been named members of the 2021 ESPN NEXT production cohort. ESPN NEXT is the 18-month leadership development program for young professionals at the worldwide leader in sports. The program is designed to develop production assistants into ESPN's next generation of leaders. “Hampton University continues to produce the best and the brightest students. We look forward to the success of Mr. McLean and Mr. Burns II as recent graduates of our ‘Home by the Sea,’” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey. “The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications continues to produce ethical and competitive leaders who are equipped to practice excellence and innovation in multimedia technology while adhering to the core principles of journalism and communications.” The program is based upon three pillars: leadership, exploration, and diversity. It provides employees a chance to network with leaders, lead in their everyday assignments, explore different areas of ESPN, and work with a diverse group of people to ensure inclusivity. “This program is the first step toward me reaching my dream job,” said McLean. “I always had this picture of what and where I wanted to be. Even though the job title may have evolved over time, the where has always been ESPN!” “Being accepted into the ESPN Next program means the world to me,” said Burns II. “Seeing Stan Verrett and Stephen A. Smith and the late great Stuart Scott on ESPN has always given me a passion to work in sports media. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to work at ESPN. Seeing all of my hard work over the years pay off early in my career is truly a blessing!” The program will expose production assistants to different areas of content through two rotations in the program’s seven pods (listed below). Each pod is home to various studio shows and live events. Production assistants will learn everything they need to know in order to grow as storytellers and leaders. In addition, they will be exposed to the larger business through workshops and a project focusing on ESPN priorities. ESPN NEXT Pods: - College Sports - Daytime Entertainment - Event - NFL - International & Deportes - SportsCenter at Night - Storytelling ESPN NEXT is located in Bristol, CT. Participants have the potential to move to other offices after completing the program. Those locations include the SEC/ACC Network in Charlotte, NC; Longhorn Network in Austin TX and ESPN LA Production Center in Los Angeles CA. Although this is a program based on content, ESPN Next has also seen its employees move into other areas of ESPN as well as join the Walt Disney Company. “The Scripps Howard family is very grateful to ESPN NEXT for availing this extraordinary production opportunity to Roderick and Lee,” said B. Da'Vida Plummer, Dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. “Roderick and Lee are top media content creators who will shine as ESPN NEXT 'fellows' generating content that will be viewed across the globe.” SOURCE: Hampton University If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Kennedy Williams
From Loganville, GA Spelman College class of 2020 Member Since July 2016 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
NCCU Awarded $4.9 Million to Accelerate Its Path to R2 Research StatusDURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has been awarded $4.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education's Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program to expand its ...more
Roger Gates • 139 Views • October 14th, 2026 |
 |
America's Next Historically Black Medical School Earns Preliminary AccreditationXavier Ochsner College of Medicine, the only HBCU college of medicine in the Gulf South, has earned preliminary accreditation from the LCME and will begin recruiting its inaugural class of 2027. ...more
Roger Gates • 166 Views • October 14th, 2026 |
 |
Register Now For MissionTech: Virtual Hiring Event For Military Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Military SpousesSharing an upcoming opportunity for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses interested in tech! Maximus is hosting MissionTech on Oct. 28, a virtual hiring event where attendees ...more
Reginald Claremont • 228 Views • October 13th, 2026 |
 |
HBCUConnect Releases Summer/Fall 2026 Alumni Magazine Celebrating HBCU Excellence, Career Opportunities, and CultureExplore the latest issue featuring the Top 50 Employers for HBCU Graduates, alumni success, HBCU research, homecoming traditions, and more. HBCUConnect is excited to announce the release of its Summer ...more
Reginald Claremont • 223 Views • October 13th, 2026 |
 |
Sucré Couture and National Alumnae Association of Spelman College Celebrate Spelman Sisterhood with Undaunted By The FightSucré Couture, in collaboration with the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NAASC), celebrates the bold spirit, resilience, authenticity, and enduring sisterhood of Spelman alumnae throu ...more
Reginald Claremont • 159 Views • October 13th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
Louisiana Upholds Life Sentence to Black Man For Stealing Hedge Trimmers in 1997While this may not be HBCU related news, as an AFrican American male, I had to share this appalling decision by the Louisiana court system to keep a man in jail with a life sentence for such a petty c ...more
Roger Gates • 406,032 Views • August 6th, 2020 |
 |
Blonde Instagram Model Goes Viral for Graduating from HBCU and Pledging Delta Sigma Theta!A blonde woman is going viral this morning, for graduating from A Historically Black College while pledging a Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
@Blonde_HBCU
The woman, an IG ...more
Roger Gates • 190,390 Views • November 30th, 2020 |
 |
Apple to Invest over $40 Million Dollars into HBCUs - Time to major in Computer Science!!!On Tuesday Johnny C. Taylor, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund stopped by “NewsOne Now” to make a major announcement that could literally change the lives of thousands of HBCU st ...more
Roger Gates • 131,127 Views • March 11th, 2015 |
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Claremont • 118,870 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
 |
Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith to Donate $50 Million to Support STEM Students at HBCUsThe Student Freedom Initiative announced today a $50 million personal gift from Robert F. Smith, philanthropist and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. This gift matches the initial fu ...more
Roger Gates • 86,746 Views • October 22nd, 2020 |
