About the Oxford Free Press

Sean Scott is an award-winning journalist and the founding editor of The Oxford Free Press. He studied journalism and urban and regional planning at Miami University, where he graduated in 2024. He previously held internships at the Journal-News and the Cincinnati Enquirer. In his four years at Miami, he held a number of positions at The Miami Student, including a term as Editor-In-Chief. He has won a national Mark of Excellence award from the Society of Professional Journalists for campus reporting, local and statewide awards for investigative reporting, and regional awards for breaking news reporting and data visualization.

Stella Powers is a sophomore at Miami University majoring in journalism. She first fell in love with journalism while writing for her high school newspaper in her hometown of Wooster, Ohio. During her first semester at Miami, she started writing for The Miami Student, where she is now an Assistant Campus & Community Editor. Stella also began writing and editing for The Miami Student Magazine last spring, and she is currently one of the managing editors. While Stella loves all types of journalism, she is especially interested in entertainment-focused stories, as well as profiles and telling the stories of people that would otherwise go overlooked and untold.

Austin Smith is a sophomore at Miami University from Amelia, Ohio, majoring in finance and minoring in journalism and Chinese. Since his freshman year, Austin has been actively involved with Miami’s college newspaper, The Miami Student, where he serves as an assistant editor for the Campus & Community section. His journalistic interests include both business and sustainability topics. Austin aspires to a career in business journalism or equity analysis. By writing for the Oxford Free Press, he hopes to enrich local journalism in Oxford and build meaningful connections within the community.

James Rubenstein is Professor Emeritus of Geography at Miami University. He is now a full-time writer and is the author of several books on human geography and the motor vehicle industry. Dr. Rubenstein is a consultant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, focusing on auto industry trends. For the past 11 years, he has also written a weekly column on local food for The Oxford Press, the Journal-News, and The Miami Student. Dr. Rubenstein also serves on the Board of Directors of MOON Co-op Market.

John Skillings has been a resident of the Oxford community since 1976. He retired from Miami University, where he was a professor of mathematics and statistics and served in several administrative roles. At the community level, he has served in leadership positions in the Oxford Community Foundation, the Oxford Kiwanis Club, the Miami University Community and Federal Credit Union, and the Oxford Observer. He also is a member of the Miami University Naming Committee. He and his wife Donna enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Richard Campbell is professor emeritus and founding chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film at Miami. He is the author of “60 Minutes and the News: A Mythology for Middle America” and co-author of four other books on news and media. He was co-creator (with John Bailer) of “Stats + Stories,” a long-running podcast sponsored by Miami and the American Statistical Association. He also served as executive producer of “Training for Freedom,” a 2019 documentary on Oxford’s role in the historic events of Freedom Summer in 1964 (now available through PBS). Campbell and his wife Dianna have lived in Oxford for 20 years, and his daughter Caitlin is the children’s librarian here in Oxford.

Stephanie Aerni is a local educator who has served the Talawanda School District since 2005. Formerly a secondary social studies teacher and building administrator, she is now the Director of Student Services for Talawanda. Stephanie lives in Oxford with her husband and is the mom to two children, Nora and Nolan, who are both active in many sports and activities. During her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling to local historic sites and sewing. She is excited to work alongside several of her former Miami University professors in this new role on the Oxford Free Press Board of Directors.

Cathryn N. Loucas is an attorney with Bolin & Troy, LLC in Oxford. Throughout her 30+ year career, Cathryn has worked on product liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice and social security disability. She also has experience working for legislative bodies, state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Currently, Cathryn serves the local community in the areas of estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and small business. Cathryn and her husband moved to Oxford in 2011. During this time, she has served on the Board of Directors for MOON Co-op and Three Valley Conservation Trust. She is currently on the Housing Advisory Commission and Civil Rights Commission for the City of Oxford. Cathryn and David enjoy spending time outdoors and spending time with their two Old English Sheepdogs, Jackie and Junior, and their two cats, Chole and Juno.

Rosemary Pennington is an associate professor of journalism in Miami University's Department of Media, Journalism & Film. She received her PhD in Mass Communication from Indiana University's School of Journalism in 2015, her MA from IU's School of Journalism in 2010, and her BS in Journalism from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in 2001. Prior to joining academia, Pennington was an award-winning public broadcasting journalist working in the WOUB and WBHM newsrooms.

Anna is a rising junior at Miami University studying Diplomacy and Global Politics and Strategic Communications with a minor in International Business. In addition to being on the board of the Oxford Free Press, Anna is the Oxford Editor for the Miami Student Newspaper and serves as a communication associate for the College of Arts and Science. Anna first gained experience in the nonprofit sphere when she co-founded an organization benefitting the homeless population of Minneapolis, where she was born and raised. 

Pate Rudolph is an Oxford resident of 32 years — raising her two children Matt and Amanda with her husband Mike. Pate graduated from Miami University and is the Office Manager for New York Life Insurance Company’s Oxford office. Her extensive experience in Oxford with Miami University, the Talawanda schools and the Oxford business community provides her with valuable insight into the Oxford community. Pate previously worked with the Miami University Performing Arts Series and the Uptown Lazarus store. Pate is excited to serve on the Board and see the Oxford Free Press become a connection resource for the Oxford Community! 

Allan M. Winkler is University Distinguished Professor of History, Emeritus, at Miami University. He has also taught at Yale University, the University of Oregon, and at universities in Finland, The Netherlands and Kenya. A prize-winning teacher, he is the author or editor of 13 books, most recently a biography of banjo player Pete Seeger, the father of American folk music. He has written widely for newspapers both in the United States and abroad, including the Cincinnati Post, the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Eugene Register-Guard, the Portland Oregonian and many others. He also did regular weekly commentaries on radio station WMUB for about 20 years.