Currently overseeing the organization’s activities and executing its strategic mission, Brophy has spent her entire career in Washington, DC, working on issues related to housing, transportation, and the economy. As the director of transportation and infrastructure at the Federal City Council, Brophy led the redevelopment of Union Station, and as an asset manager for Community Preservation and Development Corporation (now Enterprise Community Partners), she oversaw a portfolio of more than 2,000 multifamily residential units financed with a range of complex structures, including LIHTC, Section 8, Section 236, Community Development Block Grants and more.

With an ongoing commitment and passion for the Washington, DC community, Brophy has extended her work through many boards and councils, including membership with Destination DC, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, Women’s Transportation Seminar, Young Professionals in Transportation and the Urban Land Institute. In addition, Brophy has chaired the DC Bid Council since 2024, and the DC Sustainable Transportation Board since 2022.

Brophy graduated from �鶹��Ƶ with a degree in business administration, later earning a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Georgetown University. In 2016, Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies recognized Brophy as a member of the Hoya Professional 30 – demonstrating her leadership, potential, and excellence.

As digital editor at WUSA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., Rosenthal handles a wide range of responsibilities, from writing for the station’s website and producing social media content to gathering sources and reporting in the field. The journalism major said she fell in love with news reporting when she was in high school, which led her to apply to �鶹��Ƶ.

“I joined my high school newspaper club in ninth grade, and it was the 2016 election season,” Rosenthal recalled. “There was a ton of news, and I got the ‘news bug,’ and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

At �鶹��Ƶ, Rosenthal found opportunities through student media to develop her reporting skills outside the classroom.

“I feel like the hands-on experience that I got working with my peers and friends, and actually going out and doing reporting, and putting together a paper every week showed me more of the skills that I use on a day-to-day,” Rosenthal said.

She also credits The Pendulum’s critique sessions with teaching her how to receive feedback and use it to improve her work.

“You don’t need to qualify a mistake or qualify a reason why you did this or that,” Rosenthal said. “What I learned so much from critique was how to take feedback and move forward and use that in the next piece. Now I’m somebody who asks for feedback all the time because, I think, in part, because of those critiques.”

Those lessons have followed Rosenthal into her professional career. Earlier this year, she spent three weeks covering a murder trial in Fairfax, Virginia, an assignment she described as a significant learning experience.

“My station sent me to a murder trial in January, and I spent three weeks covering a very high-profile case every day in court, and that has been a huge learning and teaching moment for me,” Rosenthal said. “I feel like I learned so much from covering this trial, especially as somebody who has covered many court hearings and smaller things.”

For current �鶹��Ƶ students interested in journalism, Rosenthal recommends getting involved in student media early and pursuing the subjects that interest them.

“My biggest advice is to be involved in student journalism,” she said. “Just start doing stories and meeting people and doing things that are out of your comfort zone. When I was at �鶹��Ƶ, I was interested in courts. I would go to the courthouse in Graham to pick up court documents for stories, and go to the police station, and pick up crime numbers, and things like that. If there’s something that you’re interested in, just start doing it.”

Like Rosenthal, Phengsitthy discovered her love of writing through her high school newspaper, where she served as editor-in-chief. She brought that interest to �鶹��Ƶ, double majoring in Communication Design (now Visual Communication) and Media Analytics while becoming heavily involved with �鶹��Ƶ News Network.

“I’ve always been a writer,” Phengsitthy said. “I know that people don’t really like talking about high school when they talk about their experience, but high school is when I really started.”

Phengsitthy served as design chief of The Pendulum during her sophomore year and managing editor as a junior. She credits those experiences with providing the foundation for her professional journalism career.

Everything I did in �鶹��Ƶ News Network is what set me up for my journalism experience today. I joke with my friends that ENN was like my third degree in college because I got so much done and learned so much there. From just writing every single day, that’s what helped me get better.

— Nyah Phengsitthy ’23

While at �鶹��Ƶ, Phengsitthy interned with Bloomberg Law on its environment desk. Following graduation, she returned to the organization through a rotational program and now works as a health reporter. In that role, she has covered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug pricing and other complex issues affecting the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

Her work at Bloomberg Law requires reporting on complex subjects, but Phengsitthy said young journalists shouldn’t feel pressure to become experts on every topic they cover. Instead, they should focus on developing the skills necessary to find knowledgeable sources, understand complicated information and explain it clearly to readers.

“Be an expert in being a reporter and writing and learning how to break down information for your readers,” Phengsitthy said.

Phengsitthy also encourages �鶹��Ƶ students to complement their campus journalism experience with internships that allow them to apply their skills in professional settings.

“You can have all the skills, and you can have all the clips that you have from ENN, but it’s more powerful if you go and get to apply them somewhere else,” she said, noting the value of internships. “The more experience you have, the better.

“The job market is really hard right now, but I feel like if you’re able to show that you can get your foot in the door somewhere, that’s good.”

Alumni, parents and friends of �鶹��Ƶ are invited to come together for an Evening for �鶹��Ƶ in Washington, DC. Connect with fellow members of the �鶹��Ƶ community and hear a few highlights from campus.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the National Portrait Gallery. Join us at 7 p.m. for a reception featuring a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres before gathering for a special program at 8 p.m. with remarks from President Connie Ledoux Book. Following the remarks, current alumni donors are invited to the Cheers to �鶹��Ƶ celebration, featuring additional food and drinks, lively music and the opportunity to connect with fellow members of the �鶹��Ƶ community.  to the designation of your choice to join the fun.

Evening for �鶹��Ƶ in Washington, DC with President Connie L. Book 
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
7 p.m. Hosted reception with hors d’oeuvres
8 p.m. Program with remarks by President Book
8:30 -10 p.m. Cheers to �鶹��Ƶ celebration for alumni donors

National Portrait Gallery
8th and G Streets NW
Washington, DC 20001

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres

Register at  or contact advancement@elon.edu.

�鶹��Ƶ alumna Natalie Allison ’13, a White House reporter with The Washington Post, returned to campus Nov. 10 to reflect on her journey from The Pendulum newsroom to the national political stage. In an evening conversation in Turner Theatre with Professor Anthony Hatcher, chair of the Department of Journalism, Allison discussed the challenges and responsibilities of covering the presidency amid an increasingly polarized political landscape.

The evening event offered more than 75 students and community members an inside look at political reporting, accountability journalism, and the evolving media industry. Photos from Allison’s campus visit are .

Hatcher, who taught Allison as an undergraduate, praised her reporting and professional example. “Natalie is humble about her work, but she’s reporting on the U.S. president at a time of economic turmoil and political divisiveness in the country,” Hatcher said. “She is a fearless, ethical and talented reporter. As one of my current students told me, hearing from an �鶹��Ƶ grad who is now a Washington Post journalist lets her know that she could do that, too. You couldn’t find a better role model for a young journalist.”

Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, added, “During her visit to campus, Natalie shared with us that the primary reason she wakes up each day is to hold our leaders accountable to the people. We need more journalists like Natalie to help us determine the truth and, in the process, restore our faith in government and the media.”

Throughout the day, Allison met with students from �鶹��Ƶ News Network, visited Instructor of Journalism Elma Sabo’s News Reporting and Writing class, and joined Assistant Professor of Political Science & Public Policy Brian Brew’s Campaign and Elections course to discuss the intersection of journalism and politics. She also shared lunch with a group of students, including Communications Fellows and student journalists, before sitting down for an interview with ENN.

Allison joined The Washington Post’s White House reporting team in January 2025. She began her journalism career at �鶹��Ƶ’s student newspaper, The Pendulum, before reporting for the Burlington Times-News, The Tennessean and Politico. Her reporting has earned multiple honors, including the grand prize at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards.

Allison’s visit was sponsored by the School of Communications, Council on Civic Engagement, Department of Political Science & Public Policy, Political Engagement Work Group, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and the Student Media Board.

�鶹��Ƶ journalism students spent an evening surrounded by professional inspiration – and familiar faces – during an alumni networking event held Oct. 16 in the nation’s capital. Hosted by the School of Communications, National Campus Programs, and �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Advancement, the gathering brought together current students and accomplished alumni now working across top media and corporate organizations, including NBC News, National Geographic, Bloomberg Law, Capital One and The Washington Post.

The event coincided with the students’ travel to , the national college media convention sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Led by Professor Anthony Hatcher, the seven students from �鶹��Ƶ News Network took the opportunity to connect with alumni whose work they’ve long admired.

Among them was Gary Grumbach ’16, legal affairs reporter for NBC News, who fielded question after question from students eager to hear about his path to Washington and his coverage of high-profile political and legal stories.

Other alumni in attendance included Cameron Wolfslayer ’21, video producer at National Geographic, and Kristen Burke ’18, president of the D.C. Alumni Chapter and associate director of development at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Burke, alongside Ashley Pinney, director of national campus programs, emphasized �鶹��Ƶ’s strong alumni network and the support available to graduates as they transition to professional life.

For students like Fiona McAllister ’26, the night underscored just how far an �鶹��Ƶ education can take you.

“Being able to meet �鶹��Ƶ alumni I’ve only ever heard of was inspirational,” the journalism major said. “Watching alumni connect with us – and with each other – was heartwarming. From swapping stories to exchanging business cards, it’s always great to get in touch with �鶹��Ƶ alumni.”

Fellow journalism major Lilly Molina ’27 added, “Some of the people, I’ve seen their pictures around the School of Communications, so it was cool to finally meet them in person. It was refreshing to get advice from people within the industry who also know what it’s like to attend �鶹��Ƶ.”

The evening doubled as a celebration for Hatcher, who will retire in May after two-plus decades of service to �鶹��Ƶ. “This will be the last conference I will ever attend with my students,” he reflected. “And I couldn’t have imagined a better experience to end on.”

Organized in collaboration with the Office of Advancement, the D.C. event serves as a blueprint for future alumni-student meetups, emphasizing meaningful conversation, mentorship and the powerful professional ties that continue to shape the �鶹��Ƶ community nationwide.

Maggie Mullikin, manager of experiential programs, contributed to this article.

continued its streak of national success this fall, with students earning top honors at last week’s in Washington, D.C. The annual gathering of student and professional journalists – hosted Oct. 15–18 by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), College Media Association (CMA), and Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – spotlighted excellence in storytelling, leadership and innovation across college media.

�鶹��Ƶ’s student journalists once again stood out among the country’s best. The Pendulum earned an ACP Newspaper Pacemaker for its standout print editions from the 2024–25 academic year, and �鶹��Ƶ News Network received a Multiplatform Pacemaker – one of just 11 awarded nationwide.

“Hats off to the students of �鶹��Ƶ News Network, The Pendulum and “ENN Tonight,” who came home with multiple Pacemaker Awards,” said Anthony Hatcher, professor and chair of the Department of Journalism. “We’re proud of our students, graduates and faculty advisers whose dedication continues to distinguish �鶹��Ƶ journalism on the national stage.”

Beyond the awards, Anjolina Fantaroni ’26, a journalism major, served on the SPJ News Team, joining 10 student journalists and recent graduates selected nationwide to deliver real-time coverage of the convention. She was joined at the conference by fellow �鶹��Ƶ students Benjamin Berfield ’27, Miles Hayford ’27, Katrina Holtz ’28, Fiona McAllister ’26, Lilly Molina ’27 and Charlotte Pfabe ’27. Hatcher accompanied the students to the nation’s capital.

The week also included a networking reception for students and alumni in Washington, D.C. Coordinated by Maggie Mullikin, manager of experiential programs, the gathering fostered connections among �鶹��Ƶ’s growing community of communications professionals.

“We sincerely appreciate the School of Communications’ support of academic trips like this in challenging times,” Hatcher said.

Awards

In addition to the Pacemaker honors, �鶹��Ƶ students were recognized across multiple categories:

Winner – Newspaper Pacemaker
The Pendulum
Sept. 18, 2024, Oct. 9, 2024 and Oct. 30, 2024 editions

Winner – Multiplatform Pacemaker
�鶹��Ƶ News Network

Honorable Mention – Broadcast Feature Story
Anjolina Fantaroni

Honorable Mention – Broadcast Sports Story
Abigail Hines

Honorable Mention – Sports Game/Action Photo
Katherine Martin

3rd Place – Blog
Staff

3rd Place – Multimedia Feature Story
Betsy Schlehuber

2nd Place – Multimedia Sports Story
Cap Henneman

3rd Place – Multimedia Sports Story
Erin Martin

3rd Place – Reporter of the Year
Avery Sloan

4th Place – In-Depth News Story
Ryan Kupperman

Finalist – Feature Story
Alex Nettles

Honorable Mention – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting
Avery Sloan

4th Place – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting
Lilly Molina

Honorable Mention – Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile
Avery Sloan

Adam Rozan ‘01 received a 2025 Smithsonian Education Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual employee’s “consistent and outstanding performance in education.”

Rozan, a staff member for the , was nominated for the annual honor based in part on the overwhelming success of the Smithsonian’s Staff Learning Series he developed and continues to lead.

The online lecture and discussion series invites experts from a range of industries and locations to provide professional development opportunities for all Smithsonian employees.

Recent speakers have been experts from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Meta’s Facebook, the U.S. Census Bureau – even graphic designers and museum curators from Philadelphia and Virginia working on programs tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary – all of whom discussed trends and audience engagement strategies.

The goal of the series: “To better support staff so they can better serve the public.”

“That’s what I love about this,” Rozan said. “It informs those who are already doing good work. It’s humbling for me to be recognized for trying to make an even better community of peers. That’s what my project is all about.”

Since 2022, Rozan has organized over 50 presentations, attracting more than 100 staff members per session and reaching 1,700 attendees in 2024 alone. The Smithsonian Institution comprises 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo.

“Adam’s ability to connect with noteworthy speakers and identify resonant topics has enriched our community with new ideas and diverse perspectives,” Monique M. Chism, the Smithsonian’s Under Secretary for Education, wrote when announcing the annual awards.

Rozan graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2001 with a degree in studio art. He launched his career with Boston’s Museum of Science and has since served institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum, Oakland Museum of California, Harvard Art Museums and the Boston Children’s Museum.

Rozan was named to the 2023 BlooLoop Power 10 Museum Influencers list, a top honor for those in the field.

is motivated by a desire to uncover the truth.

Since 2022, the �鶹��Ƶ alumna has served as an immigration reporter and fact-checker for , an online fact-checking platform operated by the . The journalism and strategic communications double major explained that she finds great satisfaction in thoroughly researching topics, noting that – unlike many other journalism roles – fact-checkers can explore subjects in great detail.

“I really enjoy how deeply I can research a topic,” said Ramirez Uribe, a few hours before headlining the university’s about the upcoming presidential election. “I feel privileged to be able to spend the time to talk to the experts, to really dive in and understand an issue, and to truly look into the data. It is something that most journalists don’t have the time and the capacity to do – to fully investigate a topic and learn about it.

“So, I feel an immense level of responsibility, but also a lot of privilege to get to do it.”

With Election Day just two weeks way, Ramirez Uribe’s campus visit corresponded with a crucial time in American politics. While her focus is immigration, her responsibilities stretch across the landscape of political misinformation, whether debunking viral social media claims or fact-checking statements from high-profile politicians. Working in both English and Spanish, she has also joined PolitiFact’s TikTok team, using creative content to explain complex political subjects to younger audiences.

In recent weeks, Ramirez Uribe has investigated claims that former President Donald Trump paid for Nelson Mandela’s travel to the U.S. in 1990, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ statements that the Biden-Harris administration cut the amount of fentanyl flowing into the country in half. Both claims were rated “False” on PolitiFact’s popular Truth-O-Meter scale.

Ramirez Uribe’s work involves more than just verifying facts. She dives into the data, consults experts, and transforms legal jargon into stories that resonate with readers. Her days are varied. She has interviewed public health experts about communicable diseases in Springfield, Ohio, and spoken with economists and subject matter experts on Medicare and Social Security. The topic of immigration intersects with many other subjects in the national conversation.

Plus, there is an additional wrinkle to fact-checking. Ramirez Uribe explained that fact-checking politicians can be quite different from general journalism because it requires taking a stronger stance.

“One of the biggest shifts for me was it’s a different type of writing, and it’s a different type of thinking about and presenting information,” she said. “It’s not general storytelling. It’s not writing the way that journalists write or that we’re taught to write. You have to be a lot more authoritative because you’re telling somebody they’re wrong.”

She also highlighted the difficulty of fact-checking misinformation when there’s limited or no available data, citing her experience investigating claims about fentanyl seizures in the U.S.

“It’s hard to fact-check something we don’t know, and when there’s no data about it,” she said.

Ramirez Uribe expressed great appreciation for the journalists she cites in her work, often referencing stories several decades old. Without their journalistic efforts, she wouldn’t be able to do her current job.

This underscores the enduring value of journalism.

“As I begin researching, inevitably more questions begin to pop up and I try to answer them as well,” she said. “So, I’m reliant on what was reported previously and the work of previous reporters … and it just proves the importance of journalism as a historic record.”

Assistant Professor Israel Balderas, who teaches Media Law and Ethics and participated in the Alumni Voices discussion with Ramirez Uribe, noted that the impact of her work at PolitiFact extends far beyond just correcting a false statement. No, there is more – significantly more – at stake, he explained.

“Maria represents the next generation of journalists who understand that fact-checking isn’t just about correcting the record – it’s about protecting democracy itself,” he said. “Her work, particularly her coverage of immigration issues, demonstrates how firsthand experience, combined with rigorous fact-checking, helps combat the spread of harmful misinformation that affects real communities and influences electoral outcomes.”

Ironically, Ramirez Uribe shared that she was not initially drawn to journalism. In fact, she resisted the idea when she enrolled at �鶹��Ƶ. At that time, she was more interested in strategic communications. But her first-year Communications in a Global Age class, taught by Rich Landesberg, adjunct associate professor emeritx of journalism, changed her path.

“I did not want to be a journalist. I pushed back a lot. But Rich is the reason I’m in journalism,” she said.

The journalism professor immediately recognized Ramirez Uribe ‘s intelligence, focus and commitment to improving the world. As a result, he guided her toward the newsroom where she could use her many strengths.

“What a joy it was to have Maria in my classes,” Landesberg said. “She was challenging in the way we hope all of our students will be. Most importantly, she has a strong desire to make the world a better place by seeking and reporting the truth. One of her strongest skills is the one thing you can’t teach: passion for journalism.”

For Ramirez Uribe, the topic of immigration is deeply personal. She was born in Venezuela and relocated with her family to the Washington, D.C., area at the age of 12. That personal experience fuels her. Likewise, she credited her academic background and the community she built at �鶹��Ƶ, especially her time at El Centro, for shaping her as a person and as a journalist.

“�鶹��Ƶ is, without a doubt, the reason I am where I am today,” she said.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, alumni, parents and friends gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate their connections to �鶹��Ƶ.

Following the reception, a short introductory video showcased the many updates to �鶹��Ƶ’s campus allowing attendees to visualize the new spaces. These included projects such as the Francis Center, East Neighborhood Commons, an indoor batting facility for the baseball team, the Loy Farm Living-Learning Community and the relocation of the Acorn Coffee shop to Belk Library. The video also revealed a new rendering of the Health EU building that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026.

Following the video, Kristen Burke ’18, the DC alumni chapter president, and �鶹��Ƶ Trustee, Shelly Hazel ’78 LP’09, took the stage. Burke discussed her pride in serving the alumni in the area and the excitement for their upcoming chapter events, including a first-time homebuying seminar and their first Women of �鶹��Ƶ event being held this December.

Hazel introduced President Connie Ledoux Book, touching on how the president was changing �鶹��Ƶ for the better before even stepping into her current role.

“Our President redesigned Career Services at �鶹��Ƶ from the ground up, giving it a new mission, new leadership, and new facilities in Moseley, the Koury Business Center and the School of Communications,” said Hazel.

President Book took the stage to explain the latest news and accomplishments for the University.

“�鶹��Ƶ remains the number one university in the nation for study abroad, and during Winter Term, students will also complete internships and engage in service projects in the Alamance County community,” Book said.

President Book continued her remarks with updates on �鶹��Ƶ’s innovation in artificial intelligence, including Mustafa Akbens’ efforts to ensure responsible and ethical usages across campus as �鶹��Ƶ’s first director of AI integration.

“Drs. Akben, (Haya) Ajjan, and (Paula) Rosinski are just a few of the many faculty on campus using AI to enhance student learning and engagement. Each represents the highest levels of teaching, scholarship and service at �鶹��Ƶ,” Book explains.

One notable initiative that the president focused on is the new AI-driven platform , which connects students and alumni.

“This tool allows anyone in the �鶹��Ƶ community to ask a question, and AI technology finds alumni with the relevant expertise to answer,” said Book. “Whether it’s career advice or academic insights, �鶹��Ƶ Q&A makes meaningful connections possible.”

The President’s remarks also focused on the Health EU initiative, �鶹��Ƶ’s largest capital fundraising initiative to date. She shared renderings and plans for the building, giving guests a look at the many features the state-of-the-art facility will entail. Her speech concluded with a call to action for attendees to be partners, advocates, mentors and investors of the university to empower students and inspire bold futures: “Together, we are building a future that reflects our shared values and ambitions,” she said.

Following President Book, Jim Piatt, senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs, concluded the event with inspiring thoughts on unity. He honed in on what it truly means to be a partner, advocate and investor in the university and the campus community, sharing specific ways that attendees can get involved, such as recruiting at �鶹��Ƶ, referring prospective students to �鶹��Ƶ and hiring students from �鶹��Ƶ. He also encouraged those in attendance to stay connected to the DC chapter and with the campus community through attending events like Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.

The evening concluded with a Cheers to �鶹��Ƶ celebration honoring current alumni donors and the university’s most active alumni volunteers.

The next Evening for �鶹��Ƶ event will take place in Tampa, Florida at Armature Works on Thursday, Nov. 14. Register at .

She wasted no time getting involved in the community she sought out.

“While at �鶹��Ƶ, I was a student ambassador, copy editor for The Pendulum newspaper, an executive board member of the Black Cultural Society (now the Black Student Union), a DJ for WSOE and a member of the �鶹��Ƶ Gospel Choir. I can’t sing, but they took me anyway,” Newton said. “I also pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. my senior year.” She loved campus traditions like the Black Excellence Awards dinner, which always brought her family to campus.

Newton was also a broadcast communications major, practically living in the McEwen Communications Building and editing labs.

“One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, classes at �鶹��Ƶ was a communications writing course,” she said. “Every day, we were assigned a different newspaper to read, and then we were quizzed on any content from our reading. Little did I know, staying on top of news and current events would become a necessity for my professional career.”

Even with all this experience, Newton’s post-grad transition was not ideal. Since she graduated during the financial crisis, jobs were hard to come by, and uncertainty was high. However, her unexpected time living at home and working a seasonal job at Kings Dominion did not last long.

“Within three months, I moved to Washington, D.C., started a job at WTOP News, and enrolled in graduate school at Trinity Washington University,” she said. “Looking back on it, I’m so glad I went home for those three months. That’s time I’ll never get back with my family, and I’m thankful for it now.”

After receiving her master’s in communications and working in local news for eight years, Newton was ready to venture into national news. She joined C-SPAN in 2015 as a media relations specialist, where she’s responsible for getting the word out to journalists, Capitol Hill press secretaries and the public about all matters C-SPAN. This position has proved fruitful for Newton.

“The most rewarding parts of my career are the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet and the places I’ve had the opportunity to go,” she said. “With C-SPAN, I’ve been in rooms I’ve dreamt of and traveled to many cities and towns around the country, some for the first time.”

Those travels included the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention this summer. There, Newton was responsible for recording video testimonials from attendees for C-SPAN’s Voices 2024 campaign.

“C-SPAN’s skybox was full each night with special guests from cable affiliates and reporters to former C-SPAN employees and interns,” she said. “I enjoyed meeting so many new people and reconnecting with others I hadn’t seen in years.”

Newton’s career has not been without its challenges, the greatest being the long days.

“News is constant, and although I have normal working hours, anything can happen at any time which requires my team’s attention,” she said.

Luckily, she was well prepared for her career, thanks to �鶹��Ƶ.

“Writing and public speaking are major components of my job, which I did a lot of at �鶹��Ƶ,” said Newton. “Much of the skill-based knowledge that I learned in my communications classes I am still using today.”

She recommends that current students similarly take advantage of the core �鶹��Ƶ Experiences.

“Do an internship and go the extra mile,” she advised. “I interned at BET the summer after my freshman and sophomore years. Then, the summer after my junior year, I stayed on campus and did the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program. Having both of those on my resume and stellar professional references helped me land my first job in news.”