Joshua Tauriello, Class of 2026, always knew that his greatest strengths came from building authentic connections with the things that mattered most, whether it was the people in his life, his passion for Track and Field, or his goals as a digital storyteller. His past four years at Felician University delivered exactly what he was looking for: an environment where he was encouraged to follow his ambitions while being challenged to discover meaningful ways to grow and thrive.

Where It All Started

As an athlete for 15 years with extensive experience in photography, social media strategy, videography, and graphic design, Joshua pursued a degree in Communications with a focus in Digital Media and Journalism while simultaneously becoming a valued member of the men’s Track and Field team. During his time on the team, he stepped into the role of Men’s Track and Field Instagram manager, where he would go on to produce engaging game-day content, athlete features, and behind-the-scenes coverage that increased team visibility and engagement.

The Track and Field social media account was managed by the head coach when Joshua joined the team. The coach left some time later, and the team was unable to find someone to take over managing the social media content. As time went on, Joshua noticed the account becoming dormant and lacking engagement, which sparked his interest in stepping into the role himself.

That decision quickly became one of the proudest moments of his college career. He developed a sharper attention to detail, made quality his top priority, and built a strong sense of community within the team, creating content that reflected their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

Mastering the Balance

Time management is a skill that many students struggle to develop. For Joshua, whose schedule was split between being a student-athlete, working part-time, and managing a social media account, it was challenging. Still, he found his rhythm during late nights spent working independently on creative projects.

It was in those moments that he also strengthened his relationships with teammates. Joshua had an eye for capturing the team’s proudest achievements and pivotal moments, becoming the person he once wished he had during his own athletic career. Over time, he no longer needed direction. He developed an instinct for anticipating what moments the team would want to see highlighted and shared.

A Community that Shaped Him

 Joshua’s path at Felician wasn’t without its transitions. He spent portions of his college career both living on campus and commuting, but it was his junior year, living in the dorms with his teammates, that gave him the college experience he had always envisioned. That sense of belonging, of being truly embedded in the Felician community, stayed with him even after he returned to commuter status during his senior year.

Inside the classroom, Dr. Victoria Simon, Professor of Communications, was a constant presence across all four years. Her teaching style centered on discussion, presentations, and group work, which played directly to Joshua’s strengths as a communicator.

Dr. Simon provided all her students, including Joshua, a safe environment where they could reframe feedback as possibilities and tell stories in their own voice. “She always gave me the space to be me,” said Joshua. “As long as I was doing the work and telling real stories, that was good enough.”

Becoming the “Camera Guy”

Joshua took a break from Track and Field during his sophomore year to focus on academics. When he returned a year later, he didn’t come back empty-handed. He came back refreshed and with his camera in hand.

Felician University’s Athletics Department later offered Joshua an internship position with their Communications team, recognizing his passion for content creation and his attention to detail as standout qualities. Photography became his primary focus as he captured content at events for nearly 13 of Felician’s sports teams.

Despite having just met, Hakim Hamer, Director of Athletics Communications, secured Joshua a paid photo shoot with Rutgers University’s Field Hockey team, a clear demonstration of the trust placed in his work.

As his presence grew across campus, so did his reputation. Known widely as the “camera guy,” Joshua’s work made an impact far beyond the teams he covered. “People would come up to me and ask, ‘Hey, you take photos, right? You’re the camera guy?’ and it was eye-opening to see that people were actually recognizing my work,” said Joshua. “That title became an honor to hold.”

Even after graduation, Joshua remains closely connected with Hamer, who continues to support him by sharing job opportunities and connecting him with industry professionals. One of those professionals includes Rock with The King, a prominent New Jersey-based photographer who shoots for Felician’s athletic team media days.

Looking Ahead

In the meantime, Joshua coaches youth athletes at local schools while applying for media credentials at major sporting events such as the national track and field championships in New York. Joshua also allocates a significant amount of time to building his reputation as a sports photographer through his self-owned company, JD Media.

The long-term goal remains clear: to land a full-time position in sports media that allows him to combine photography, social media, and athletics into one career. His creative vision embodies the values of passion, dedication, and community that Felician University truly stands for.