All-AMCC performer, Pitt-Bradford Alum and Hall of Fame member, mom, award winning investigative journalist, Edward R. Murrow National Award winner, the descriptors can go on and on for 2005 Pitt-Bradford graduate Jennifer Lewke-Tortora. Lewke-Tortoro has made her mark both on the University she attended, and the field she has made her professional career in.

Lewke-Tortora was a four-year member of the Pitt-Bradford volleyball team, playing from 2001-2004. From her middle hitter position, Lewke-Tortora was a defensive force for the Panthers, finishing in the top five in the conference in blocks in her final three seasons.

In her four years in Bradford, the Panthers compiled a 29-16 record in AMCC play and reached the conference playoffs in all four seasons. She finished her career near the top of the program leaderboard in blocks, sets played, service aces and kills.

In 2017, Lewke-Tortora was inducted into the Pitt-Bradford Athletics Hall of Fame. At the time of her induction, she was second in program history in blocks, third in sets played, fifth in service aces and sixth in kills.

She graduated from Pitt-Bradford in 2005 with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. After graduation, Lewke-Tortora was hired by WSYR in Syracuse as an investigative reporter. She moved to WRGB-TV in Albany in 2011, before once again moving to WHEC-TV in Rochester, where she has spent the last six years. 

In her career, Lewke-Tortora has won three Emmy awards, four Regional Murrow awards, six Associated Press awards and nearly a dozen NYS Broadcasters Association and Syracuse Press Club Awards. In 2013, she won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for her investigation of low-cost bus carriers who continued to operate despite federal shut-down orders.

While in Albany and Syracuse, Lewke-Tortora established and produced the award-winning investigative franchise, “The Real Deal,” in which she helped to expose government corruption, taxpayer waste and consumer fraud. In addition to her investigative stories, she has also provided coverage on major national news stories including the Sandy Hook Massacre, the Boston Marathon Bombings and the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Lewke lives in the Rochester area with her family where she still loves to play and watch the sport she excelled in for the Panthers.

The Distinguished Alumni Series is part of the AMCC's 25th anniversary where the conference will be recognizing former AMCC student-athletes who have excelled in their area of study. The Distinguished Alumni Series will run every Thursday throughout the academic year.