BGSU Years

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.

Newsroom Collaborations and Writing Roots

During their college years at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, student journalism became a shared sibling space for Kristin and Scott Stadum. The newsroom of the daily student newspaper, *The BG News*, served as a critical platform for their writing, editing, and early publishing efforts.

Kristin worked extensively at *The BG News* from 1993 through 1997, graduating that year, contributing articles, opinions, and editing copy. Her work covered local campus events, student politics, and editorial stances. Kristin left the BG News in 1997 after four years as a writer and editor. This intensive newsroom experience laid the groundwork for her lifelong passion for books, public life, and publishing.

Her brother Scott Stadum also joined the newspaper staff during his time at BGSU. Though his tenure was brief—lasting only five months—it marked a unique newsroom overlap where the two siblings worked in the same student press environment, mirroring their grandfather Palmer's focus on collaborative community efforts, albeit in a media and writing format.