Emma Atkinson

communicator, writer, editor, content marketer

Featured Work

Explore a selection of my work in the newsroom at the University of Denver below.

University of Denver Newsroom •

Fact vs. Fiction: The Lore of DU | University of Denver

Every university worth its salt has its share of  larger-than-life stories about its students, faculty, campus, and traditions—but what happens when those tales grow taller and taller over time? It’s not always easy to sort fact from fiction when it comes to university lore, so we created a DU lore cheat sheet to set the record straight. Read on for more about what’s true—and what isn’t—about dear old DU.Visitors to the building’s beautiful Renaissance Room have no doubt felt the watchful eye of...
University of Denver Newsroom •

At DU, There’s a Club for That | University of Denver

One of the best parts about being a student at the University of Denver is the experiences that happen outside of the classroom. Yes, schoolwork is important—and kind of the whole point of going to college—but there’s so much more to life at DU! With more than 100 registered student organizations, there is no shortage of opportunities for extracurricular fun. Read on for some of the coolest ways to make friends and have new experiences across campus.Getcha head in the game! From basketball to la...
University of Denver Newsroom •

From Textbooks to Tech: Augmented Reality Levels Up Language Learning | University of Denver

How do you keep high school kids engaged in the classroom? One University of Denver professor thinks he has the answer: augmented reality, or AR.In a new study, Ebrahim Bamanger, teaching assistant professor of Arabic, has found that using an AR-based curriculum can significantly increase student motivation to learn—specifically, to learn English as a second language. Motivation, Bamanger writes, is “an indicator of the success of the educational process” and an important aspect of a holistic ed...
University of Denver Newsroom •

The Best Hot Springs Near Denver | University of Denver

There’s nothing better than a long soak in a hot tub—or so you thought. Pack your swimsuit because we’re about to blow your best hot tub experience out of the water. Say hello to Colorado hot springs. Hot springs are naturally occurring geothermal water features—basically, they’re nature’s hot tubs. Colorado is home to more than 90 known hot springs, all classified as “low temperature,” meaning that their waters don’t exceed the boiling point. Soaking in hot springs isn’t just about relaxation;...
University of Denver Newsroom •

When Sleep During Pregnancy Isn’t Just Personal—It’s Research | University of Denver

In the third trimester of her pregnancy, Melissa Nevarez-Brewster wasn’t sleeping well. “I woke up every hour or hour and a half just to go to the bathroom,” the first-time mom says. “And then, in the later weeks, just moving an inch would wake me up because of how uncomfortable I was.” Nevarez-Brewster says she’s actually getting better sleep now that her baby is born, despite those infamous middle-of-the-night feedings.“Now, I can offset a little bit with my partner,” she says. “I don’t have t...
University of Denver •

Seven Grads, One Shared Goal: Make a Difference | University of Denver

From filmmakers and journalists to social workers and entrepreneurs, the University of Denver’s 2025 graduates are set to leave their mark on the world.We spoke with seven soon-to-be alumni about what they hope to contribute to their personal and professional communities after they move on from DU.

From filmmakers and journalists to social workers and entrepreneurs, the University of Denver’s 2025 graduates are set to leave their mark on the world.

We spoke with seven soon-to-be alumni about w...
University of Denver Newsroom •

From Policy to People: How DU is Training Leaders to Change the Housing Landscape | University of Denver

“Affordable housing is the number-one issue in Colorado.”It’s not a new refrain. As the state’s population growth continues, albeit more slowly than in years past, the need for affordable housing is becoming ever more important. It’s a problem that requires a diverse approach—professional communities of developers, nonprofit owners, policymakers, and community advocates all make up the fabric of the affordable housing landscape. With so many people in so many different areas working to solve the...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Best Things to Do in Denver on a Sunny Spring Day | University of Denver

When the snow melts and warmer temperatures pop up on your phone’s weather app, you know spring is just around the corner—and spring is Denver’s best season, in this writer’s opinion. With dozens of outdoor activities and events to choose from, don’t let spring slip away from you—take advantage of the warm air and sunny skies by taking a weekend to explore the best of Denver’s plein air adventures!Here’s a roundup of the best things to do this spring in Denver:With the Colorado Rockies’ home ope...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Previewing the 2025-26 Newman Center Presents Season | University of Denver

“I’ve never seen anybody move like that.”That’s what Aisha Ahmad-Post, executive director of the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, thought when she first saw the principal dancer of the Taiwanese troupe Hung Dance perform.“She uses so much of her facial expressions, and her fingers and her toes,” Ahmad-Post reflects. “Everything is so wrapped up in the emotion.”Hung Dance is just one of the 17 acts that will come to Denver as part of the 2025-2026 Newman Center Presents seas...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Thinking About Law School? Here’s What DU Wants You to Know | University of Denver

If you’re thinking about going to law school, you’re not alone. The number of people applying to law schools across the country has increased more than 20% since 2024. The same is true at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, where applications are up 18%.Iain Davis, assistant dean of admissions and student financial management at Sturm, says law schools typically see a bump in applications after an election year. “When election results come out in the beginning of November, people wh...
University of Denver Newsroom •

DU Professor Explores the Bookish Brilliance Behind Taylor Swift’s Eras | University of Denver

Taylor Swift is known for making literary and theatre references in her songs—from the classic Romeo and Juliet tale in “Love Story” to her nod to Aristotle in “That’s So High School.” DU professor of English Rachel Feder is an expert on all things literary arts. She teaches courses on 18th- and 19th-century British literature with emphases on Romanticism, literary experiment, intellectual history, women writers, and the Gothic. She is the author of six books, including “Daisy,” a narrative-poet...
University of Denver Newsroom •

50 Countries, Countless Stories: DU Students Go Abroad | University of Denver

At the University of Denver, the world is your campus.It’s one of the many great things about DU. Students can go abroad and earn credits for a summer, a quarter, or even longer through the University’s abundant study abroad opportunities. In fact, more than 70 percent of undergrads go abroad at some point during their time at DU. Pursuing education abroad is not only the opportunity of a lifetime, but it’s also been made increasingly accessible to all students thanks to the support of the Cherr...
University of Denver •

The Inside Scoop on DU’s Most Popular Major | University of Denver

“Choose your own adventure” is how Kateri McRae, psychology department chair, describes getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Denver.The most popular undergrad degree at DU, the psychology program is perfect for students with wide interests, offering them flexibility to pursue a double or even triple major in other disciplines. With one of the lowest numbers of required classes of all undergraduate programs at DU, the psychology major makes it easy for students to tack o...
University of Denver •

The Right to Personhood: One Professor’s Fight for Animals | University of Denver

What if dogs were more than just “man’s best friend?”That’s an over-simplified version of the question being asked by animal rights lawyers like Justin Marceau, the Brooks Institute Faculty Research Scholar of Animal Law and Policy at the Sturm College of Law.Essentially, some activists and legal scholars are arguing that some animals—like dogs and elephants—should be granted “legal personhood.” A legal person is defined as “a human or a nonhuman legal entity that is treated as a person for lega...
University of Denver Newsroom •

‘The Dragon Roars Back’: How China’s Foreign Policy Is Reshaping Global Power | University of Denver

With the makings of a tariff war and heightened tensions between the United States and China, it’s uncertain what will happen in the coming months when it comes to the two world powers.Amid these geopolitical tensions, we look to experts in foreign policy to help us make sense of what’s going on—and what could be next.One of those experts is the University of Denver’s Suisheng Zhao, a professor in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and the executive director of Korbel’s Center for...
University of Denver Newsroom •

DU Journalism Professor Reflects on Emmy Win | University of Denver

Kareem El Damanhoury wears multiple hats—all of them, though, perch on one goal: living and teaching trustworthy news reporting. As a journalist and producer with CNN, El Damanhoury recently earned a News Emmy award for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage of the Israel-Gaza War. In addition to his work in the fast-paced world of journalism, El Damanhoury also serves as a multimedia journalism and digital storytelling professor at DU. He’s been at DU since 2019 and is the founder and director of D...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Your Guide to Entertainment on Campus | University of Denver

Imagine this: You’re hanging out in your dorm, perhaps on a snowy day, with your homework finished. Maybe your roommate is out of town. You don’t have any club events or classes scheduled, and you’re sitting on your bed staring at your phone. You are bored with a capital B.You might not know it, but there are dozens of ways to entertain yourself right on campus. From galleries to performances and athletics events, there’s no shortage of exhibits and events to make you laugh, make you think or ma...
University of Denver Newsroom •

A Fulbright Recipient Finds Her Voice—And Her Way | University of Denver

It all began with a little voice.In the beginning, it wasn’t encouraging. It told her that her dream—earning one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world—might be too big, too out of reach.But, after Sophie Bergan got a taste of international travel as an undergrad, the little voice changed its tune.“That little voice in the back of my head that always thought about Fulbright was like, ‘Well, you could just try and throw together an application,’” she says.Bergan did much more than “thr...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Lamont at 100: A Century of Sound | University of Denver

The University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music is known as one of the top music schools in the world, producing award-winning musicians, composers and researchers.  Lamont was founded in 1924 as a private academy by Florence Lamont Hinman, a renowned voice teacher from Michigan. Under her direction, the school flourished, earning state accreditation in 1925 to grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in music. Originally located at 1170 Sherman St., it merged with the University of De...
University of Denver Newsroom •

DU Expands Research Impact With New Centers and Institutes | University of Denver

The University of Denver has announced the designation of six existing DU research entities as official DU research centers, along with two existing entities that are now official DU research institutes.“It’s exciting to see these institutes and centers becoming living, breathing things,” says Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate education. “A lot of these centers want to grow, and they will serve as the birthplace for our future institutes. These new centers and inst...
University of Denver •

Age-Gap Relationships Are Having a Moment: DU Professor Weighs In | University of Denver

This summer, Leonardo DiCaprio made celebrity news when his current girlfriend, an Italian model, turned 26 years old—marking the first time the 49-year-old actor, who is known for dating younger women, has been in a relationship with someone older than 25.Leo’s dating history is nothing new in Hollywood: For decades, movies have featured young actresses and older actors playing people who are or become romantically involved. These age gaps can range from several years to several decades. It’s a...
University of Denver Newsroom •

From Denver to Taipei: The Boren Scholarship in Action | University of Denver

In her nearly four years at the University of Denver, Sofia Pineda Velez has spent almost as much time on the other side of the world as she has on campus. An international studies and Mandarin student, Pineda Velez is currently on her third stint in Taiwan on a Boren Scholarship. The Boren program sends U.S. students to study languages and immerse themselves in cultures all over the world with the goal of strengthening the United States’ representation in international public service.Prior to t...
University of Denver Newsroom •

5 Free Things to Do in Denver | University of Denver

Exploring a new city can be interesting and cool—and expensive. Luckily, Denver offers plenty of no-cost activities for you and your friends and family to enjoy. Denver Walking Tours has been offering free tours of the city for nearly 10 years. On an adults-only Twisted History tour, you’ll learn about the shocking and salacious stories of Denver. From chilling murders to notorious gangs, the tour “promises a day of darker revelations and laughter, offering a unique perspective on the city's pas...
University of Denver Newsroom •

Pushing Boundaries With Martha Redbone | University of Denver

“These are the stories that a lot of people would not like to be told—to sweep things under the rug and put a pretty little bow on top of it.”That’s how musical artist Martha Redbone describes the stories and family lore at the heart of her newest work, “Bone Hill,” a musical theater performance that tackles themes like racism, erasure and colonization.Growing up as a Black and Native woman, Redbone says, she viewed the American ideal through a “white” lens—one that gave little weight to the ver...
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