Stephen Flinn recently presented a at the Western States Communication Association conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Stephen’s paper “Media Frames and the Environmental Justice Paradigm,” was well received because he tailored his presentation to include topics important to Alaskan native populations. His research interest also landed Stephen an internship with the US Fish & Wildlife Department, helping the agency with its social media strategy.
While in Anchorage, Stephen saw the Iditarod races and attended the Fur Rendezvous, a festival in celebration of Alaska. Stephen also had a celebrity moment when, Levi Johnston, (former fiancé of Bristol Palin) and his tour partner, Kathy Griffin, were at a venue near the hotel signing books. At the same establishment, Stephen met his first Inuit drag performer.
Winding down from the excitement of the conference and the rich cultural experience of Anchorage, Stephen assumed his flight home would be like any other. He chatted with the woman next to him about how much he loved the Olympics after he noticed she was wearing a US hockey team shirt. Turns out his aisle partner was a member of the US hockey team. She pulled out her Olympic medal and placed it around Stephen’s neck. He had an inspiring conversation with the Olympian, hearing her emotional account of gender barriers in sports. She then passed her medal through the airplane so everyone could hold the medal.
“Her name is Kerry Weiland from Palmer, Alaska. She is the nicest person I met on my trip.”
Story by
Melissa Shavlik
Photo courtesy of Stephen Flinn |
