From Intern to Director

With his frozen finger on the shutter, Brandon Randall captured Jordan Noyes line-up for the kick, where seconds later he would be lifted off the field after securing Colorado State’s first-ever win over Boise State.

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Originally from Yorkville, Illinois, Brandon Randall, like most college freshmen, had no idea what he wanted to do in college. He came to Colorado State University with an undeclared major, searching for what he could do for the next four years, and potentially for the rest of his career. 

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Before college, Randall started by dabbling in video. He would make Vine videos, create time-lapses with his GoPro, and make music video edits. Randall eventually grew out of his Vine-making shoes and stepped into the role of leading CSU’s digital media team. 

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“I really enjoyed capturing that stuff, you know? My mom was just like ‘Hey, you know you can like do that as a career, right?’. Then I was like, ‘Oh, okay!’,”  said Randall. 

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What really drew him to the camera was his love for sports and the aspect of building community. Once he declared his major in journalism and media communications, his creativity began to roam. 

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An organization that had a big influence on Randall and his interest in the media world was Ohio State Athletics. He was drawn by the energy and hype that came from the content they produced. 

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“Me, as a fan, going into that game (digital media) as a young Brandon, I was very excited to know that I could do that as a career,” said Randall. 

 

Randall not only spent his time working for CSU Athletics, but also worked with the Colorado Eagles hockey team. Working these two jobs at the same time, all while also being a student, he needed to learn how to manage his time. Little did he know that skill would become almost as important as his photography when he stepped into his new position. 

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Before Randall accepted the position post graduation, he had been looking at different jobs at different schools all over the country. The job hunt was difficult due to the rise of the coronavirus, so when his boss and mentor, Rachel Caldwell, decided to return to work for her alma mater,  he decided to fill her shoes. 

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Since then, Randall has helped build the digital media team into what it is today. After working solo for four years, he decided to recruit a former intern post graduation, who had also been the coordinator during her internship, similar to Randall. The digital media team is now run by two CSU alums, Randall and Jennifer Johnson.

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“Working alongside Brandon this past year has been a great experience. Transitioning from an intern and coordinator to assistant director, he made it very easy and was very welcoming,” said Jennifer Johnson, assistant director of digital media.

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The two now lead a team of 13, ranging from individuals who have never used a camera before to those who run their own businesses. Randall is adamant about the fact that he wants the digital media team to be a space for learning, and that it’s not just for those with experience to shine. 

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“Brandon has been a great boss. He has been so helpful in my development in photography. I am really gonna miss having him as a boss,” said senior Grace Goolsby, a third-year intern for digital media. 

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Given how long Randall has been part of digital media, it goes without saying that he has taken thousands of pictures. But one he is most proud of, a moment where CSU had won its first-ever game against Boise State. 

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“I’m really proud of this photo because of the emotion that it captures, and the kind of historic significance it holds for him (Jordan Noyes)... they’re memories that are going to last for a lifetime, whether or not it’s for the student athlete or Colorado State history,” said Randall. 

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