Three CCI alumni recognized on FSU’s Thirty Under 30 Award list

Posted by Amy Farnum Patronis on

Florida State University Alumni Association’s Thirty Under 30 Award list for 2014 included three graduates from the College of Communication & Information.

Layla Dowdy, Shayne Mifsud and Ilya Pozin were named to the 2014 list, which recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Florida State’s young alumni.  Each recipient must show exceptional achievement and significant contributions to his or her profession, community/society or university. The recipient must exemplify outstanding professional and personal development either through traditional channels or innovative approaches.

Layla Dowdy ('05, '07)
Layla Dowdy (’05, ’07)

Dowdy, a communication & public outreach specialist for NASA, is a two-time graduate of the School of Communication.  She earned a bachelor’s in public relations in 2005 and followed it up with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication in 2007.  A member of NASA’s staff since 2006, Dowdy current duties are to develop and implement communication plans and policies for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate that align with the agency’s overall communication strategy.

Shayne Misfud ('05)
Shayne Misfud (’05)

Misfud, who graduated from the School of Communication’s advertising program in 2005, recently moved into the position of Director of New Business Development at Dreamworks Animation in the Los Angeles area.  He joined Dreamworks in another role in 2012 after several years working in marketing and licensing at Universal Orlando, Universal Parks & Resorts and University Studios Singapore.

Ilya Pozin ('05)
Ilya Pozin (’05)

Pozin, who earned his bachelor’s degree from the School of Information in 2005, is an entrepreneur, writer and investor and a founder of PlutoTV based in Los Angeles. Pozin is also the founder and CEO of Open Me, a social greeting and gifting company backed by Threadless and the founder of Ciplex, a digital marketing agency.  He is also a columnist for Inc., Forbes, LinkedIn, The Next Web and other major publications. In 2012, Inc. Magazine recognized Ilya as a ’30 Under 30′ Entrepreneur.

The Thirty Under 30 honorees will be celebrated at Florida State’s Young Alumni Awards Dinner in Tallahassee on June 20.

Learn more about the Florida State Alumni Association’s Thirty Under 30 one.fsu.edu/thirtyunder30.