Guided by story, powered by mentors

When Kelsey Myers ’01 met with his academic advisor, Professor Alisa Slaughter, one spring semester, the conversation began with disappointment—a failing grade in a required course. Next to that discouraging mark sat a stack of his published articles for “The Redlands Bulldog,” “Redlands Daily Facts,” and the “Los Angeles Times.” Despite his early success in writing, Myers felt uncertain about his academic direction.

Then came the question that changed everything.

“She asked if I’d be interested in exploring a journalism degree,” Myers said. “I told her that the university didn’t have one. She said, ‘What if it did?’”

That question set Myers on a new course. Originally arriving on campus  to pursue environmental studies and play baseball, Myers reimagined his education through the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. There, he designed his own major in media studies — long before such a program formally existed at the University.

Two decades later, Myers’ path has led him from an Emmy award-winning career in the newsroom to a meaningful career that connects storytelling, environmental awareness, and technology. After nearly 20 years producing for CNN’s “Larry King Live,” ABC’s “20/20,” and CBS News, he now serves on Esri’s media relations team — an intersection of his passions for journalism, the environment, and the University that shaped him.

He credits his success to mentorship and hands-on learning. “Professor Slaughter and Johnston gave me a permission structure to build something new,” he said. “That freedom — and the trust behind it — became the foundation of everything I’ve done since.”

Beyond the classroom, Bulldog Athletics offered Myers another kind of education. On the baseball field, he learned to recover from mistakes, stay grounded, and lead with resilience — skills he still carries today.

"When you work in news, you see people on the worst days of their lives," he said. "My practice hat became a kind of hard hat—a physical way to separate myself from trauma. At the end of the day, I’d take it off as a signal that I was done."

That contrast between his worn practice hat and pristine game hat mirrors his personal and professional growth—each symbolizing the balance between grit and grace, perseverance and purpose.

"Being a Bulldog means being equipped with the knowledge of what’s come before you, the mindset to hold multiple perspectives, and the courage to create new paths," he said. A reminder to all students that no matter how far they’ve come, it's the tools you pick up along the way that shape how far you can go.”

Learn how Redlands prepares students with real-world education—discover the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies.