Our Leadership

Founding Executive Director

Matthew Nyquist is the Founding Executive Director of the WIFI Film Festival as well as a writer and director from Lindsborg, Kansas. He has been obsessed with making movies since he began directing using the family camcorder in kindergarten. 

Nyquist has extensive experience in many aspects of filmmaking from his time in Hollywood ranging from indie to studio productions. He was mentored in producing work with Fred Roos (The Godfather Part II, Star Wars) and in sound by Dane Davis (The Matrix, Suicide Squad) after getting his MFA in film and TV production from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. 

Recently, Nyquist has been working on projects such as Dare to be Different which was shown at TriBeCa. Matthew is also a tenured associate professor of film in the Department of Mass Media at Washburn University.

Managing Director

Maria Stover is currently the chair and a professor in the Department of Mass Media at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she has taught since 2003.

Stover's scholarly work focuses on women in politics in Eastern European countries and she is most known for her book, an edited collection called Media and Women in Politics: Perspectives from nations in Transitions .

Stover is an active leader at Washburn and has spearheaded several departmental initiatives focused on alumni, educating future students, and fundraising for the department through grant-writing and scholarship donor recognition and outreach.

Stover holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media Arts from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, an M.A. in Mass Communication and Media Arts, and a B.S. in journalism with a double minor in political science and history from the same institution.

Public Relations Director

Kristen Grimmer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she has taught since 2016. She teaches public relations and media writing classes in the Department of Mass Media. Grimmer's scholarly research is focused on what the media teaches young adults, particularly in areas of gender and sexuality. 

Grimmer has developed several departmental initiatives with chair Maria Stover that focus on alumni relations. These include the alumni email newsletter, scholarship donor recognition and outreach and the department's annual keynote speaker and alumni networking event that takes place every spring. She also has written several grants with Maria Stover to secure funding for the department to improve students’ access to technology in the classrooms.

Grimmer holds a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, an MSJ from the same institution, and a Bachelor of Arts in mass media from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

Print Director

Regina Cassell is a senior lecturer in the Department of Mass Media and is also the Director of Student Media at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she has taught since 2003.

Cassell's work at the university has included the Kaw Yearbook, the Mass Media Messenger – an alumni magazine, and the Washburn Review, the school newspaper that is published weekly. She has been a strong advocate for Washburn’s student publications that she believes teach valuable skills through hands-on experience. All three publications have won awards at the national and state level. You can email massmedia@washburn.edu to be added to the newsletter mailing list.

Cassell is also known for her work with alumni and her focus on continuing relationships between mass media graduates and the department. Cassell holds an MSJ from the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Northwest Missouri State University.

Content Director

Sam Finch is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Media at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where he teaches film and video classes.

Previously, Finch lived in South Korea where he taught English as a second language for several years. Finch's experience living abroad lends him a unique perspective which he uses in his scholarly research on minority stereotypes in the media and he recently published a thesis titled, How Evaluations of Contact Affect Stereotypical Perceptions of Asian American Men.

Having worked as a videographer and post-production video editor, Finch brings his real-world skills and passion for filmmaking to the classroom every day where he teaches aspiring filmmakers video production, screenwriting, and video editing.

Finch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Film Theory and Criticism from Central Michigan University.

Office Coordinator

Tracy Horacek is the office coordinator for the Department of Mass Media at Washburn University.

Horacek has several years of experience in running an office and her expertise in administration now keeps the department running smoothly. In addition, she brings a global perspective to her job, having lived in the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany for many years before moving to Topeka, Kansas. 

Festival Photographer

Christina Noland graduated Washburn University Institute of Technology in 2017 with a certificate in graphic design and graduated from Washburn University with a BA in Mass Media in 2023 with an emphasis in advertising and public relations.

During her time at Washburn University, Christina carried multiple roles across campus as a marketing intern, graphic design assistant, managing editor and creative director. Her last year as an undergrad was spent as Editor-in-Chief of Washburn Student Media’s Indigo Magazine and Kaw Yearbook, a duo-responsibility position that expanded her skillsets in problem-solving, leadership and project management.

Christina has lived in Topeka all her life and is dedicated to using her talents in strategy and visual storytelling to bring positive change to the community she calls home. An award-winning designer, journalist, and photographer, she currently works at Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners as one of their Creative Strategists.

Content and Event Director

Charlize Easter is the Event Lead Manager for the festival where she focuses on assisting with press releases, promotional designs, content, and managing the judging and film schedule for the WIFI Film Festival.

Easter also works for Advisors Excel as an account management intern and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi.

Easter will graduate in May 2025 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media, with a concentration in advertising and public relations, along with a double minor in Spanish and communication. She plans to pursue a career in book publication advertising and receive her SIELE certification.

Website Advisor

Miles Moore is the Website Advisor for the festival, where he focuses on designing and maintaining the event's website, ensuring seamless user experience, optimizing site performance, and collaborating with the marketing team to integrate promotional content and design elements.

Moore will graduate in May 2025 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media, with a concentration in advertising and public relations, along with a minor in music. He plans to pursue a career in digital marketing and project management.

Creative Manager

Kayla Locke is the lead designer for the festival where she leads the creative rebrand and oversees the creation of promotional materials, including signage, the festival program, social media graphics, and videos. Locke blends her passion for design and strategic communication to craft compelling content that elevates the festival’s presence.

Locke is set to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media, with a concentration in advertising and public relations and a minor in communication.

Publicist and Public Relations Strategist
Ashley Heavner is the Publicist and Public Relations Strategist for the festival where she focuses on assisting with press releases, arranging visits with local radio and TV shows, facilitating interviews with journalists, and helping create promotional designs and content ideas. Heavner also works at the Washburn Student Recreation and Wellness Center as a marketing assistant and is a student-athlete for the Washburn women's track team.

Heavner will graduate in May 2026 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media with a concentration in advertising and public relations, along with her minor in leadership studies and general business.

Creative Social Media Manager

Eli McDaniel is the Creative Social Media Director for the 2025 WIFI Film Festival. His work includes brainstorming creative content and running social media platforms for the WIFI Film Festival. Eli will graduate in the Spring of 2026 with a Mass Media, Advertisement, and P.R. Bachelors degree. As well as minors in both History and Psychology.

Eli also does freelance in photography & videography. His work in these fields gave him a keen eye and mind for creativity. He just recently started working with the Washburn University Football team, making engaging and creative content for its social media platforms.

Video Production Lead and Streaming Manager

Skyler Smith is the Video Production Lead and Streaming Manager for the festival where he creates promotional videos and the highly anticipated Award Show. Smith is also the current president of the Washburn Filmmakers Association and works for Peraton as a technical videographer and editor intern.

Smith will graduate in May 2025 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media, with a concentration in film and video, along with a minor in game design. He plans to pursue a career in film and television.

Blake Hopper

Darria Dennison

Ethan Jackson

Leah Jamison

Francesca Kelley