Jim Hayes Keynote
Jim Hayes Keynote
Embedded Files
Named in honor of the late Jim Hayes—a beloved professor, mentor, and lifelong advocate for journalistic integrity—this keynote is a fundamental event of the Journalism Department’s celebration. The keynote brings together students, alumni and faculty to reflect on the evolving world of media and storytelling through the lens of those shaping it.
This year’s keynote speakers, Susan Miller and David Kraft, will be discussing the future of journalism and forging new paths, offering insight, inspiration, and real-world perspective from their journeys in journalism and beyond. Susan will speak from 9-10 a.m., followed by a light reception, then David will speak from 11-12 p.m.
Join us for this thought-provoking conversation as we honor the legacy of Jim Hayes and explore the future of journalism through the voices of today’s leading media professionals.
Friday, October 24 2025
Friday, October 24 2025
Susan Miller
Susan Miller
Former US intelligence officer
Susan Miller spent 39 years at the Central Intelligence Agency as an undercover operations officer, serving nine tours abroad–two as a case officer, one as deputy chief of station and six tours as chief of station in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She was also assistant director of mission centers at the CIA Headquarters three times in her career, overseeing counterintelligence, East Asia and China . She is married to a state department Foreign Service Officer and has twin adult children. Susan retired in 2024 and is now a lecturer for CIA courses, a commentator for media outlets and a speaker in intelligence-related US and international forums. Susan joined the CIA three months after her graduation from Cal Poly in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism.
David Kraft
David Kraft
Vice president of news at ESPN
From starting his career at the local newspaper while still a Cal Poly student to running the news division of a multi-platform sports media giant, David Kraft has been part of a remarkable journalism evolution. He began at the SLO Telegram-Tribune as a sportswriter, joined Volleyball Monthly magazine as a writer/editor and has spent more than a quarter century at ESPN. He was part of a team that built ESPN’s website into one of the largest in the world and is the company’s vice president of news, responsible for news coverage on SportsCenter, ESPN's digital properties and other broadcasts. David has been part of teams earning numerous Webby and Online Journalism Association awards, as well as two Emmys.
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