Emma Atkinson

journalist, editor, social media manager, marketer

Featured Work

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

University of Denver •

What Does It Mean to Be a Woman in STEM?

What good is life if we can’t laugh at the situations we find ourselves in—even if they’re not actually funny?

That’s the concept behind “Womanhood: The Series,” a film series produced by female writers and filmmakers across the United States, that examines what it is, exactly, to be a woman, through storytelling with a humorous twist.

The second season is all about the experiences of women who work in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and will feature six short f
University of Denver Newsroom •

Speaking Up in a Safe Space

Speaking up in class is hard, whether you’re a nervous fifth grader or a mature college student. It’s even harder when the subject is controversial or contentious—students might be afraid of seeming uninformed or contradicting their professors in front of their peers.

And now, in the face of rising global issues like climate change and human rights, civil discourse on tricky topics is more important than ever.

At the University of Denver, students have a unique opportunity to engage in tough d
University of Denver Newsroom •

‘A Continuum of Love’: Telling the Story of WWII Japanese-American Internment Camps

University of Denver professor of anthropology Esteban Gomez and recent alumna Whitney Peterson’s new film, “Snapshots of Confinement,” premieres this month on PBS.

If you search online for the history of World War II Japanese American internment camps in the United States, you’ll find a wealth of photos, some taken by famed photographers like Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams. But a new documentary film, produced by a University of Denver professor and his former student, digs deeper.

“Snapshots
University of Denver Newsroom •

5 Questions With DU’s 4D Experience Experts

Erin Willer, Laura Perille and Kateri McRae share their thoughts on all things 4D ahead of 2024 Symposium.

Since the University of Denver’s 4D Experience was introduced, a dedicated group of faculty and staff have been working tirelessly to tailor the program to the needs of the DU community.

Why do these University employees choose to live and breathe 4D? Let’s find out.

Ahead of the 2024 4D Symposium on May 9 and 10, the DU Newsroom talked to the 4D leadership team about what makes the 4D E
University of Denver Newsroom •

Making Carbon Neutrality a Reality at DU

The University of Denver partners with a solar energy company to offset 100% of its electricity use over the next three years.

The University of Denver is taking a bold step toward reaching its goal of carbon neutrality by the year 2030.

Today, the University announced a new partnership with solar power company Pivot Energy to build six off-site solar installations around Colorado. Through net metering, the sites will offset 100% of DU’s electricity use. Pivot will also assist in the installat
University of Denver Newsroom •

Puzzling the Pieces Together: A Law Student Works Toward an Equitable Future

Caley Carlson will leave the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law knowing she’s made a difference.

Sturm College of Law student Caley Carlson always knew she was interested in becoming a lawyer.

“I grew up as that really annoying kid that always asked a thousand questions,” she recalls. “Most of them were something along the lines of, ‘Why or how does that work?’”

Carlson, originally from Portland, Oregon, says she has fond memories of sitting down to complete thousand-piece jigsaw puz
University of Denver Newsroom •

Up, Up and Away

A DU senior reflects on her journey across the world.

That was the first word uttered by a young Korie Torres.

“I’ve been traveling since the womb, essentially,” says the international human rights graduate student, who completed her undergraduate degrees in political science, Spanish and international relations at Simpson College in Iowa.

The story of Torres’ time at DU can’t be told without an understanding of her deep love of travel, language and culture.

Torres grew up in Houston, Texas,
University of Denver Newsroom •

Inside the 4D House

University of Denver students live the 4D Experience by balancing academics and well-being.

Right in the middle of the University of Denver campus sits a large house. It’s perfectly situated adjacent to the green space right outside the Community Commons, with easy access to the law building, the career center, DU’s athletics complex and more.

Inside, comfy couches line a large great room, while tables covered in art supplies and puzzles in progress take up the majority of a sunny side room. I
University of Denver •

DU Welcomes Joshua Furman, First Jeanne Abrams Endowed Director of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society

Joshua Furman’s journey to historic Jewish conservation began with a lecture on, of all things, potatoes.

In a European history class at Northwestern University, Furman was struck by his professor’s story of the impact of the lowly root vegetable.

“He gave a lecture about the potato, and how the potato changed the course of human civilization, because it allowed humans to be able to settle down and cultivate crops and not have to be constantly ‘hunter-gathering,’ and I went, ‘Whoa, that's what
University of Denver •

DU Professor Shares Pros and Cons of ‘Unplugging’ from Social Media

We’ve all been there: You look up from your phone screen and realize that your eyes are red, puffy and dry; your hand is cramping; your brain is fried from endless scrolling. You’re not sure how much time has passed, but you know one thing: You’ve just spent way too much time on social media.

If this sounds familiar, you may want to mark your calendar for National Day of Unplugging on March 1. Ahead of this event, the DU Newsroom caught up with assistant professor of strategic communication Dav
University of Denver •

5 Questions with ‘Future Perfect 50’ Inductee Justin Marceau

Justin Marceau’s work is both boundary-breaking and interdisciplinary. As the Brooks Institute Faculty Research Scholar of Animal Law and Policy at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, Marceau mainly studies the intersection of criminal law and animal law — but his research doesn’t stop there. He’s also an expert in Constitutional law and environmental and natural resources law. And Marceau is a busy guy; he also serves as faculty director of the Animal Law Program, the faculty direc
University of Denver •

5 Questions With DU’s New Associate Director of Prevention and Masculinities Engagement

Justin Stoeckle came to the University of Denver last October as the first associate director of prevention and masculinities engagement, which falls under the Health Promotion team within the Health and Counseling Center (HCC). The University of Denver Magazine caught up with him to find out more about his role.

Can you describe your role at DU?

I support our office's efforts in raising awareness and educating students about interpersonal violence and prevention. I also create programs and ot
University of Denver •

DU Students Experience Iowa Caucuses First Hand

Former President Donald Trump decidedly won the Iowa caucuses last week—and some University of Denver students were there to witness it.

Seth Masket, DU professor and director of the Center on American Politics (CAP), took a group of 13 students to the Hawkeye State as part of his American Presidential Nominations class. The trip was made possible thanks to a partnership between the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and CAP, which lives in the Josef Korbel School of Intern
University of Denver •

Previewing DU’s Slate of Winter, Spring Arts & Culture Events

For members of the University of Denver and wider Denver community, opportunities abound this winter and spring to see performances and exhibits ranging from song and dance to tactile arts and photography on the DU campus.

Arts and culture aficionados will have a variety of events to choose from, thanks to offerings from the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, the Lamont School of Music and other DU departments.

Part of the 2023-24 Newman Center Presents Dance Series, Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI
University of Denver •

DU Grad Awarded Prestigious Marshall Scholarship

University of Denver alumna Rosie Contino is headed across the pond. The 2022 grad with a double major in international studies and economics will spend the next two years at the University of Warwick and University College London, both located in England. Her upcoming academic journey to the United Kingdom was made possible by the Marshall Scholarship, a prestigious award that allows American students to pursue degrees at UK universities. Contino will pursue two degrees—one in behavioral econom
RadioEd •

We Need to Talk About Invisible Labor

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

I want you to think about who did most of the work in your household growing up. Was it your mom, your grandma? Chances are, it was likely someone who identified as a woman doing the dishes, cooking the food and folding the laundry.

Now, this obviously isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. Th
University of Denver •

Faculty Profile: Elysia Davis

Elysia Davis has always been drawn to working with children, but not in the way you might think. Rather than teaching or being a child therapist, the University of Denver psychology professor wanted to study kids in the very beginning stages of childhood--as early as in utero.

Davis, who won DU’s 2023 Distinguished University Professor Award and is co-director of DU’s Stress Early Experience and Development Research Institute (SEED), says studying the effects of different prenatal factors on pr
University of Denver •

DU to Host 3rd Annual Denver Democracy Summit

The University of Denver is a private university dedicated to the public good. That dedication is showcased in DU’s commitment to fostering civil discourse centered around the state of democracy in the United States and across the world.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the University’s Denver Democracy Summit series, which brings together top international thought leaders for discussions about democratic backsliding, misinformation, polarization, and technology and democracy, amid other to
University of Denver •

Q&A: Examining The Israel-Hamas Conflict

On Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas—which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union—fired rockets into Israeli towns and invaded Israeli territory, killing more than 1,400 people and taking nearly 200 hostages. The attack, which CNN called “unprecedented,” was the deadliest attack on Israel in decades.

In response, the Israeli government declared war on Hamas and proceeded to drop 6,000 bombs on Palestinian territory between Oct. 7
University of Denver •

DU’s Internationalization Initiatives Provide Global Opportunities for Faculty, Staff

At the University of Denver, studying abroad isn’t just for students.

The University offers a litany of international programs and leverages its partnerships with organizations and educational institutions across the globe to provide faculty and staff the chance to further their careers abroad.

Uttiyo Raychaudhuri, vice provost for internationalization, says the internationalization programming is about creating comprehensive global engagement among the DU community. For faculty members, this
University of Denver •

DU Introduces Groundbreaking Classes to Combat Eco-Distress, Climate Anxiety

More and more, college students are worrying about the future of the planet and it’s having serious effects on their mental health.

That’s according to University of Denver professors Julia Senecal and Kristen Greenwald, who have been involved in the creation of two new courses that aim to help students understand and cope with the realities of changing environment and climate.

“We do know that in our classes, students continue to come up to professors after lectures where they've been inundat
University of Denver •

4D Peer Mentors Provide Guidance, Leadership to New Students

Some schools have orientation leaders. The University of Denver has 4D Peer Mentors, the 100-plus students who take on the challenge of welcoming more than 1,400 first-year students (plus transfers) to the DU campus every year.

So, what makes a 4D Peer Mentor different from your run-of-the-mill orientation leader?

For starters, it’s their intimate knowledge of the 4D Experience, DU’s holistic approach to education.

“The 4D Peer Mentors all took a one-credit course in the spring in order to be
University of Denver •

Jeanne Abrams Inducted Into Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame

When Jeanne Abrams retires from her position at the University of Denver, she will have been with the University for longer than most DU students have been alive.

With nearly 42 years of service to DU, Abrams’ breadth of work spans her time as a history professor, director of the Beck Archives and director of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society (RMJHS), housed within the University’s Center for Judaic Studies.

This month, Abrams was honored for more than just her work as an academic—s
University of Denver •

Learn, Grow and Transform: Making a Case for Studying Abroad at DU

Leaving home to go to college is one thing. Boarding a flight to another country and another life is a whole other beast. But often, taking an international leap of faith can be truly life changing.

For many university students, studying abroad is an integral part of their college experience. It’s a time of exploration and discovery, a time where students can learn more about who they are—or completely reinvent themselves—while continuing to pursue their studies.

The prospect of traveling so f
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