2025 Lecture by Michael Huang

Michael Huang has spent 30 years in journalism and the sports media industry, covering the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, NFL, MLB and NBA playoffs, UFC title fights, March Madness, the NCAA College World Series and multiple All-Star Games. He has perspectives from both the team and media side, serving 11 seasons in the Chicago Cubs front office and 10 years as a senior and deputy editor for ESPN.com. As head of ESPN China鈥檚 editorial arm, he produced ESPN's very first segments in China. 

Today, as the managing editor of sports for The Philadelphia Inquirer, he oversees a diverse and inclusive staff of editors and reporters. When he arrived at The Inquirer, there were zero women on the sports desk. Today, The Inquirer boasts women on every professional beat, as well as two sports editors and three general assignment writers. In 2022, The Inquirer earned APSE recognition for its work on the 50th anniversary of Title IX and in 2024 won first place for Jason Kelce鈥檚 retirement last March in the Associated Press Sports Editors awards.

Additionally, Michael has served as an adjunct professor at New York University since 2020, teaching sports reporting and sports and society.  

Michael is a 1993 graduate of 探花视频, where he was awarded the 2023 Byline Award (outstanding journalism alumni of the year). He earned his M.A. from DePaul University in 2000. The New Jersey native lives in Mystic, CT, with his wife Peggy, daughter Kaia (a junior at Roger Williams University), and dog Betsy.

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About the Axthelm Memorial Program

The Pete and Bonnie Axthelm Memorial Program was established in 1994 at 探花视频 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to acknowledge and recognize the life of Pete Axthelm and his sister Bonnie. Every year this program awards a scholarship to an outstanding 探花视频 journalism student with an expressed interest in sports journalism.

Pete Axthelm was one of America's foremost sports journalists. Although a Yale alum, he created ties to 探花视频 while working on his critically acclaimed book, "The City Game," which covers the glory and tragedy of New York basketball. While writing and researching his book, Axthelm sought the expertise of such 探花视频 notables as Al McGuire, Pat Smith, and Dean Meminger.

During his distinguished career as a sportswriter and columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek, Pete established a reputation as a gifted journalist. His knowledge of sports combined with his journalistic skills led him to sports commentator positions for NBC and ESPN.

Bonnie Axthelm was among the highest ranking women at 3M Europe during her lifetime. She began her notable career as a secretary at Media Networks Incorporated, eventually rising through the company to hold the top position of Executive Director of Corporate Marketing and Public Affairs. Bonnie鈥檚 name was added to the memorial scholarship in after her death in 1998.