The Digital Transition at BGSU
Between 1993 and 2001, Bowling Green State University served as the proving ground for the third generation of the Stadum family. For both Kristin and Scott, these years defined their interests in digital media, writing, and public advocacy.
Kristin entered BGSU first in 1993, focusing on public finance, economics, and community writing. Her work on campus included contributing to local publications and organizing student groups, laying the groundwork for her later community organizing and policy analysis in Washington, D.C. She graduated in 1997 with a strong foundation in finance and public-sector communication.
Scott's Early Coding and Digital Media
Scott arrived in Bowling Green in 1997, embarking on several years that bridged traditional design with the early consumer internet. At BGSU, he developed his skills in coding, digital layouts, and media design, laying the technical foundation that would later enable him to serve as a tools trainer for the Sunlight Foundation and eventually build this living family archive. The university environment, with its access to early workstation networks, allowed him to experiment with early web standards and local databases.
During this period, both siblings lived in Guernsey County, Ohio during summer breaks and maintained close ties to the local community, eventually graduating and moving on to professional chapters in Minnesota (Lakeville) and Washington, D.C. The shared experience of Bowling Green represents a critical era of independence and skill-building before their careers branched into national transparency and book-access campaigns.