Pulitzer winner Robert Samuels to address Medill convocation

Samuels is a Medill alumnus; two Medill students also to speak

EVANSTON, ILL. -- Reporter and author Robert Samuels (BSJ06) will address 2024 graduates and their families as the convocation speaker for the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.

“We are honored to have Robert share his advice and insights with the Class of 2024,” said Dean Charles Whitaker (BSJ80, MSJ81). “His outstanding accomplishments will provide inspiration to the graduates as they take the next step in their lives and careers.”

In 2023, Samuels won the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction with his colleague Toluse Olorunnipa for their book "His Name is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice.”

Samuels also reported on George Floyd’s life and death as part of a team that won the 2020 George Polk Award in Justice Reporting and the 2020 Peabody Award.

Samuels was a national political enterprise reporter with The Washington Post for 11 years, where he focused on politics, policy and the changing American identity. He recently rejoined The Post after working at The New Yorker as a staff writer.

For nearly five years before his time at The Post, Samuels worked for the Miami Herald where he reported on poverty and crime.

During his time at Medill, Samuels was the editor in chief of the student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern.

Convocation will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10 at the Ryan Fieldhouse.

Student Speakers

Jimmy He (BSJ24)

Jimmy He is a journalism/economics double major with a certificate in integrated marketing communications. He was print managing editor of North by Northwestern magazine and president of Northwestern Swim Club. He also served on the Asian American Student Journalists' executive board, as a peer adviser and as a Medill Ambassador.

Aparna Goyal (MSJ24)

Aparna Goyal is a journalism graduate student specializing in Media Innovation and Content Strategy. Goyal was a student ambassador for the MSJ program and has proactively worked on building and fostering community both outside and within Medill.