Meteorologist Follows Forecast to Fort Wayne

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Posted on August 9, 2021

Thomas Becnel

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#MyFirstJob is a series focused on University of South Alabama graduates who are beginning their careers.

DeVonte鈥� Dixon, a South meteorology graduate beginning a broadcasting career, says there鈥檚 no secret to working with green screen technology.

Computer software such as Chroma Key allow on-air meteorologists to point, wave and talk about the detailed weather maps projected behind them.

It鈥檚 harder than it looks. The idea is to make it look easy.

鈥淎t first, it is kind of tricky 鈥� you have to adjust yourself to pointing at something that鈥檚 not there,鈥� Dixon said. 鈥淏ut there are side monitors where you can see yourself. It鈥檚 like riding a bike. You practice, practice, practice and get the hang of it.鈥�

At the University of South Alabama, Dixon got the hang of it. He did daily broadcasts for the 91短视频 AtmosCenter, a student-run system that provides weather updates to students, faculty and staff.

A sample of his broadcasting work impressed the staff at WFFT Fox 55 News in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a city slightly bigger than Mobile. They hired him as a multimedia journalist and weekend meteorologist.

Meteorology and Marching Band

Dixon is from Pensacola, Florida.

鈥淕rowing up, I wanted to be an art teacher, but I鈥檇 see the weather and how it would change, going from a beautiful day to rain and storms, and I was fascinated by that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 started to see meteorologists on TV and thought, 鈥楬mm, that鈥檚 something I鈥檇 want to do.鈥欌��

On April 27, 2011 鈥� Dixon remembers the date 鈥� he watched news reports of the deadly tornados that swept across the South, including an EF4 that killed 65 people as it tore through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.

鈥淭hat really drew my attention, especially about being a broadcast meteorologist,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 all for the people, making sure people are weather-aware, prepared for their day. Ever since then, I鈥檝e moved forward with my goals.鈥�

Dixon is the first college graduate from his family. Earning a Bachelor of Science was one of his goals. He鈥檚 proud of that.

At Pensacola High School, Dixon played trombone in the marching band. It was the meteorology program at South, plus the Jaguar Marching Band, that helped him decide to attend college in Mobile.

鈥淏eing away from home, but not too far away, I thought it was the right choice,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd a family friend attended South a few years back. She thought it was a great idea.鈥�

On campus, Dixon lived in the Delta residence halls. He worked at a coffee-and-donut shop near campus. He joined the Collegiate 100, an affiliate of the 100 Black Men of America organization, and became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Inc.

He arranged his busy schedule around band practices and performances.

鈥淚t was an amazing experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had a great time. That鈥檚 where I met most of my friends, by being in the band.鈥�

In 2020, the opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium was a thrill. Restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic, though, included limits on live musical performances at football games.

鈥淯nfortunately, we were unable to perform on the field,鈥� Dixon said, 鈥渂ut we had a video performance taken on the field that was shown on the big screen.鈥�

At South, the science curriculum for meteorology included classes in physics, calculus and differential equations. Other courses covered everything from convective storms to weather forecasting and hurricanes.  

Dixon鈥檚 professors included Alan Sealls, chief meteorologist at NBC-15, WPMI, in Mobile. The 10-time Emmy Award-winner drew national attention for his weather forecasting during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

鈥淓veryone knows how amazing and awesome Alan is,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e was a mentor and someone I looked up to.鈥�

The 2021 graduating class at South included a half-dozen meteorology students with a concentration in broadcasting. All six have found jobs at television stations.

鈥淲e鈥檝e spread out across the United States,鈥� Dixon said. 鈥淔rom Indiana to Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming and Oregon.鈥�

He just moved to Indiana. He鈥檚 still training for his new job at Fox 55 News. Meteorologists at the station have been encouraging.

鈥淭hey tell me that they鈥檝e all been in my position,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to have questions. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions.鈥�

During the week, Dixon will be working on social media features, along with broadcast packages. He鈥檒l be the on-air meteorologist Friday through Sunday.

Dixon plans to learn and grow as a broadcaster and meteorologist. In just a few months, the weather will be different.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to winter,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he only snow I鈥檝e experienced was the snow event we had in December of 2017.鈥�

His mother wasn鈥檛 so enthusiastic about him leaving the Gulf Coast. Fort Wayne is a long way from Pensacola. But she鈥檚 coming around.

鈥淓very mom is sad to see their child leave, but she鈥檚 very happy for me,鈥� Dixon said. 鈥淚 think she鈥檚 more excited than I am.鈥�

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