ASU grad finds purpose through story
Dylan Wickman (pictured on the Downtown Phoenix campus) is graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from ASU's Cronkite School. Photo by Sammy Nute
Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
Dylan Wickman was courtside of a Phoenix Suns practice and pointing his lens at Kevin Durant, and it occurred to him: He’d come a long way from Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The lifelong Arizona native might not have known initially where his path would lead when he first arrived at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, but with every word written and photo taken, he grew more confident in his voice as a storyteller — and the voices of others he would help amplify.
This May, the Barrett, The Honors College student graduates with his Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication.
Like many college first-year students, Wickman entered ASU unsure of his major. He picked journalism because writing was something he had always been good at, and the Cronkite School was among the top journalism schools in the country. The decision wasn’t made out of conviction; rather, it was rooted in a hope that he could figure things out along the way.
Which he did. Slowly, but surely.
At first, Wickman said, he had difficulty finding his footing — battling feelings of impostor syndrome, and being among a sea of peers who seemed to already know exactly who they wanted to be.
“Some had internships in their first year,” Wickman recalled. “It kind of makes you feel like you’re behind, and that you need to work harder.”
Wickman stuck with it, and his perseverance paid off: He landed an internship at The Arizona Republic as a breaking-news reporter his junior year.
One standout assignment Wickman covered involved a woman who had survived domestic abuse and went on to help pass local legislation and raise money for crisis centers for other victims, filling a gap that had long existed.
“Being able to tell her story was fulfilling,” Wickman said. “To be able to put a spotlight on someone doing something like that — it mattered.”
Another story that stuck with him was a south Phoenix man with cerebral palsy who built a basketball community from scratch. Though he had never been able to play himself, the man coached dozens of kids, turning a local park into a thriving hub of support and growth.
“He raised this community from the ground up,” Wickman said. “Being able to tell that story — how he overcame the odds — meant a lot. He even sent me the sweetest message afterward. That’s the stuff that makes it matter.”
These stories are only two of the nearly 50 and counting he has written for The Republic dating back to 2023. Through this internship, everything began to shift for him. The stories he told were able to challenge him emotionally, but in turn, broaden his sense of purpose.
And his storytelling isn’t limited to just the written word. Over time, Wickman has built a growing portfolio in photography, videography and even graphic design.
“Writing is still my forte,” he said, “but I think it’s important to learn other skills. Just to give yourself the best opportunity.”
That mindset has led to a diverse resume — marketing internships, a content producer role in Dublin and a photographer role for Cronkite News.
“At first I was awful,” he said with a laugh. “But by the end of the photography class (for Cronkite), I looked at my first photos and thought, ‘Wow, I’ve really gotten somewhere.’”
Whether it was pursuing the role at The Republic, taking a leap of faith on a study abroad internship in Ireland or stepping into a new role as marketing and communications coordinator for ASU Student Life this past year, Wickman has consistently embraced opportunities to take on new challenges.
At ASU Student Life, he wrote numerous articles, managed the ASU Housing social media pages and contributed his photography to various Educational Outreach and Students Services webpages.
Even outside traditional journalism and his work, he has found meaningful experiences, including hosting a student sports radio show, 4 on 4, a sports podcast where Wickman and his roommates discuss the news and current events in four major American sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) weekly for almost two years on Blaze Radio.
“We thought, why not just take the conversations we already had on the couch and turn it into something?” he said.
The show took the quartet to premiere sports events like the WM Phoenix Open. Beyond being able to cover one of pro golf’s biggest events, they broadcast live and immersed themselves in the chaotic, high-energy atmosphere.
“It was super cool to have that experience (for two years),” he said.
Despite the long hours and management of different roles, Wickman’s work ethic has kept him grounded.
Post-graduation, Wickman has landed a role with Times Media Group as a photojournalist, thanks in part to Cronkite Professor of Practice Paola Boivin, who connected him to freelance opportunities. He also credited his other mentors, like Kaitlyn Beickel, his supervisor during his recent job with ASU Student Life, for her professional guidance, understanding and support — especially during periods of academic stress.
To other students finding their way through college and imposter syndrome, Wickman offers this: “You might feel like you don’t belong, but if you just keep working on it, and keep trying, maybe you’ll learn something. Maybe you’ll find that you do belong.”
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