When she graduated in June from UW Bothell with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication Studies, Nikki Susanto — like many students — still wasn’t sure where her career might take her first. But in July, she found herself in a cohort of a dozen UW students and recent grads from all three campuses working in a volunteer fellowship at the World Cup’s International Media Center in Seattle, checking in credentialed journalists and helping things run smoothly on game days.
Nikki Susanto (front right) helped check journalists into the International Media Center.
The UW is an official Host City Supporter of the World Cup. The media hub in Seattle was run by UW Bothell alum Hana Tadesse, ’18, who serves as a communications strategist and official spokesperson for the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee.
“The energy, kindness and persistence from volunteers, workers and journalists were like no other. It was so inspiring,” Susanto says, adding that Tadesse did a great job of hyping up the students. She also says the highlight of her experience was experiencing the roar of the crowd during each game’s kickoff countdown from the center’s 14th story balcony. Another aspect of the media center experience was the opportunity for students to research, investigate and write a piece on the World Cup’s Seattle Legacy project, as well as to support and interact with international media at the matches.
Susanto found out about the opportunity through UW Bothell professor Ron Krabill, who has been involved in the World Cup’s local presence (and politics) in myriad ways. Her connection to Krabill underscores one of Susanto’s main reasons for transferring to UW Bothell.
“The warmness of the Bothell campus drew me in — and the kindness, close relationships students had with their teachers, numerous clubs and events to meet people,” she says. The commuter distance from her family home in Lynnwood helped, too. Under the guidance of her adviser and a few friends who were already students there, Susanto says the transfer was “the best choice I could have ever made for myself. I got closer with my professors and formed long-lasting friendships from my media classes.”
The energy, kindness and persistence from volunteers, workers and journalists were like no other. It was so inspiring.
In school, Susanto enjoyed learning about media production, “the behind-the-scenes operations that build successful events, whether organizing the event or producing media for the event.” The media center fellowship helped solidify what she’s looking for next: “I want to move toward an organizational role where I can assist in community-engaged events like the World Cup and continue that energy, however that looks. I’m not sure what’s next for me. But I plan to reach out to some of the people I got to meet during my fellowship and go from there.”
Story by Chelsea Lin // Photos courtesy of Nikki Susanto and the UW
Originally published July 2026
