by Rachel Ward
She took her first steps inside a major league stadium as a five-year-old holding on to her dad’s hand. Now, 20 years later, Cassandra Pietruszka has taken her first steps onto an NFL field — this time with a microphone and camera in hand.
Pietruszka graduated Cedarville Universityin 2025 with a degree in broadcasting, digital media and journalism and a sport business managementminor. Less than a year later, she joined the Cleveland Browns as their social content intern.
This year, Cedarville launched a new opportunity for students like Pietruszka. Cedarville’s new media production degree has concentrations in audio, film and video, motion design and sports media, allowing for more specialized coursework. With this opportunity, students can specialize in sports journalism without adding a separate minor.
From the outset of her college education, Pietruszka set out for a career in sports journalism. With the support of Jeff Gilbert, assistant professor of journalism, and Dr. Alan Geist, associate professor of sport business management, she excelled in the classroom, and her aspirations solidified. 
“Professor Gilbert would help me cater a story for an assignment so I could get experience with sports journalism and social media,” Pietruszka said. “Dr. Geist was a mentor. Any time I got a new position, he was one of the people I had to tell.”
Outside the classroom, she searched for hands-on opportunities. She sought out Cedarville coaches and began working for the basketball team as a sports information intern and sports photographer. She gained experience in both designing marketing content and interviewing players.
“When I think of the maturity and the comfort you need in this field, Cedarville completely transformed me in that way,” said Pietruszka. “Cedarville brought me out of my shell.”
Last Spring, Pietruszka interned with the Savannah Bananas, a Georgia-based team that plays an upbeat, interactive variation of baseball called “Banana Ball.” In August, she joined the University of Georgia athletics department for a one-year social media internship.
Now, as the social content intern for the Cleveland Browns, she records players’ training camp sessions, creates social media content and helps with press conferences. Pietruszka especially enjoys athlete interviews, or “mini-mics.”
“I get to be on the field seeing the players’ personalities and the way they interact,” said Pietruszka. “It's something I love. As a fan, I wanted to see who these guys were beyond just players on a screen, and now the mini-mics are my favorite videos to make.”
Her schedule varies heavily, and with games starting, she often arrives at the field early and is one of the last to depart. But even with an inconsistent schedule and some grueling days, she knows she’s where she wants to be.
“I’ll have long days, but I never dread it. I'm passionate about it,” Pietruszka said. “I still get chills every time I’m on the field.”
