Rhoden's Fellows
The Rhoden Fellowship is a training program for the next generation of sports journalists from historically Black colleges and universities, headed by Andscape editor-at-large and former New York Times award-winning columnist William C. Rhoden. The fellowship – established as part of Andscape’s mission to develop new voices and serve as an incubator for future multicultural journalists – is open to outstanding undergraduate students at HBCUs.
Rhoden's Fellows: Class of 2025
Assata Allah-Shabazz
Assata Allah-Shabazz is a strategic communications major from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Allah-Shabazz coordinates interviews and game coverage as an assistant manager for BEAR-TV, the school’s internal network. She is the great-great-niece of the first HBCU player drafted to the NFL, Robert “Stonewall” Jackson.
Nilea Cosley
Nilea Cosley, a senior pursuing a degree in mass media arts with a minor in journalism, is a native of Philadelphia. Cosley is a managing editor of the CAU Panther newspaper.
Sydney Cuillier
Sydney Cuillier is a senior mass communications and broadcast journalism major from Houston. Cuillier reports and writes about developing sports stories for the Office of Student Media. In 2023, she created “Sydney’s on the Clock,” a sports talk show centered around teams in Louisiana.
Madison Firle
Madison Firle, an expectant Bachelor of Arts graduate in broadcast journalism, hails from San Francisco. As a bilingual student, Firle has also studied in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the Council on International Educational Exchange. Firle serves as a sports reporter during the Bison basketball and football seasons.
Gabrielle Heyward Firle
A resident of the Carolinas via Rock Hill, South Carolina, Gabrielle Heyward is a journalism and mass communication major. Heyward has participated on several school leadership boards, including serving as yard editor for the A&T Register. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and trying new restaurants.
Aniyah Robinson
Aniyah Robinson, originally from Wichita, Kansas, is a broadcast journalism major. Robinson provides social media coverage for the Lions’ athletic department, in addition to her dual role as associate editor and reporter for the school’s newspaper. In April 2023, Robinson became president of the Langston University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Meet the Fellows
Aniyah Robinson’s Autobiography
Gabrielle Heyward’s Autobiography
Madison Firle’s Autobiography
Sydney Cuillier’s Autobiography
Nilea Cosley’s Autobiography
Assata Allah-Shabazz’s Autobiography
@andscape Introducing the 2024-25 Class of Rhoden Fellows! 🎉 The Rhoden Fellowship is a one-year sports, journalism internship focused on training aspiring journalists from HBCUs. The fellowship is named after Andscape’s award-winning sports columnist William C. Rhoden. Welcome to the fam, fellows! 👏🏿
♬ original sound - Andscape