About Us
A. Bookhammer: General Manager / Photography Editor
Anthony Bookhammer, 24, is a senior in the college of communications at Penn State Altoona. An experimental artist, photographer, and filmmaker, Anthony uses photography and videography to enhance and record the process in which he creates artworks in other mediums. Outside of school Anthony has been working as a free lance photographer and multimedia artist for several years, focusing on documentary and surrealist film making, conventional landscape, portrait, and nature photography, as well as web, print, and multimedia design.While retaining his position as Photography Editor, Anthony was granted the position of General Manager and intends to use his accumulated knowledge of Communications to help bring LiveWire into the new age. In his spare time Anthony is involved in several multimedia production groups, consisting of artists from all across Pennsylvania, representing all fields of multimedia art. Anthony's post graduation plans include spending time with the Peace Corps, working in the photojournalism field. After the Peace Corps Anthony hopes to start a multimedia company which will represent, advertise, promote, and generally support all forms and genres of media art from artists in the state of Pennsylvania.
Nate Cobler: Managing Editor
Nate Cobler is a senior in the Communications program and has been at Penn State Altoona for 3 years. Aside from LiveWire, Nate is also involved in S.O.B.S (Society of Business Students). Nate has played numerous intramural sports, including flag football, indoor/outdoor soccer, and basketball, and is currently a sports journalist for the Altoona Mirror with several stories printed, and plans for more to come. A dedicated sports nut, Nate is the guy to talk to when it comes to athletics. Beyond the field or court, Nate has been announcing youth tackle football for in Hollidaysburg PA for 10 years running, and hopes to one day work for ESPN, either in broadcasting or working on Sportscenter. Nate is also in the process of shooting a music video of a local band.
Brian Seymour: Assistant Managing Editor
Brian Seymour, a senior in the Communications program at Penn State Altoona developed an interest in broadcasting when he was about six year old. At sixteen Brian was hired at WPRR/WVAM as a board operator which got his foot in the door of the radio business. By eighteen the two stations had been bought by Forever Broadcasting and Brian was left without a job. A few phone calls got him back into board operating which turned into on-air DJ-ing and hosting a sports talk show. After six years at Forever Brian became a casualty of budget cuts, which lead him to become more interested in campus media, and producing his own podcast. Brian is in the process of finishing school while mass producing audio of any kind, with more podcasts on the way, as well as spots for several local businesses. Brian has experience with Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, Avid, Maestro, and many other audio and video editing programs as well as years of real on air experience. Now he's here to help revolutionize Livewire! 
Matt Morrissey: News/Articles Editor
Matt Morrissey is a 22 year old Communications major at Penn State Altoona, and plans to graduate in May of 2010. Matt enjoys the editing and creative aspects of video production, finding satisfaction in taking raw pieces of video and editing them into an entertaining piece. He is not certain of what he is going to do after graduation but he hopes to put himself in a position where he is able to entertain people in some way, shape or form.
Jennifer Palmer: Art/Poetry Editor
Jennifer Palmer, 23, is a senior in the college of communications and plans on graduating this fall at Penn State Altoona. One of Jennifer’s main accomplishments was during this past summer as she interned at Penn State University, writing articles for the Communicator magazine and the communications website. Jennifer also has experience in online publications, broadcasting, photography and video production. After graduation, she has hopes to work in the field as a news anchor.
Cecilia Houser: Audio Editor
Cecilia Houser is a Communications Major at Penn State Altoona. On top of her academic schedule, Cecelia is currently busy running her own campaign for Mayor of Ebensburg. In her spare time Cecilia enjoys writing, reading, singing, and acting. After graduation she hopes to get a job in the Entertainment Industry or become a program host for QVC.
Nick Cushion: Animation Editor
Nick Cushion is a Communications Major at Penn State Altoona, with an interest in Sports Advertisement, Broadcasting and Marketing. Hailing from Tyrone PA, Nick is looking to move anywhere the field may take him, although he has hopes of ending up in Pittsburgh working with a professional team. Nick is very interested in starting his own Highlight Reel business in the future, but as of right now, finishing school is his number one goal.
Bob Trumpbour: Co-Adviser
Bob Trumpbour is assistant professor of communications at Penn State Altoona. He is the author of "The New Cathedrals: Politics and Media in the History of Stadium Construction" (Syracuse University Press),  and has written a variety of articles that focus on media, sport, and society. As his book was awaiting release, he was invited to speak at Harvard Law School on the politics of ballpark construction. He periodically serves as a guest columnist for the Altoona Mirror  and is invited to provide interviews for a range of media sources.

Trumpbour  teaches both theory and production classes at Penn State Altoona. He does occasional freelance work within the industry, including field work on NFL broadcasts from time to time. He is active in several scholarly and sport-related organizations, including AEJMC, MAPACA, NASSH, and SABR. He previously worked at CBS in New York. Before joining the faculty in Altoona, Trumpbour taught at Western Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, and Saint Francis College. He earned a Ph.D. from Penn State University's College of Communications.
Mary Lou Nemanic: Co-Adviser
Mary Lou Nemanic is an Associate Professor of Communications at Penn State - Altoona, where she has designed and from 2001-2007 was coordinator for the college's new major in Convergent Media. She teaches video production, web design, American Studies and popular culture at Penn State Altoona. She is also the adviser for LiveWire, Altoona's online multimedia magazine.

Mary Lou received a master's degree in Mass Communication and a Ph.D. in American Studies from University of Minnesota. She also has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota. She has worked in media for more than 20 years and her work has been published in newspapers and magazines and has been broadcast on television. Her research work is in cultural history and media studies, and her book on the history of Independence Day and its relationship to mass culture entitled "One Day for Democracy" was published by Ohio University Press in 2007.

 Mary Lou and her husband Doug, an award-winning documentary producer, recently finished a feature-length documentary on cowboy culture entitled: "Cattlemen's Days: The Grandaddy of Colorado Rodeos". She and Doug have worked as a documentary team since the late 1970s.
Monica McCready: Webmaster
 Monica McCready has been the president of Applied Science and Technology, a full service website management company in downtown Altoona, since 1997.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in the Classics from Penn State University. Her company is very much involved in the development and marketing of various e-commerce websites.

Monica worked as a computer training specialist holding workshops for a variety of corporate clients including Penn State faculty and staff at University Park and for the Continuing Ed. Department at the Altoona campus.