As a communication
arts major concentrating in journalism at Franciscan University, Kristi
McDonald had the chance to prepare for her career with hands-on opportunities that
cemented her passion for the written word.
The first
Franciscan student to spend a semester studying at the Washington Journalism
Center in Washington, D.C., Kristi held an internship at The Washington Times. “It was the experience of a lifetime to sit
in the newsroom of a real newspaper,” she says.
At the national
and editorial desks and later as a freelancer while still a student, Kristi covered
important stories ranging from the Farm Bill to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s
visit to the nation’s capital, which gave her the chance to interview some of
the cardinals.
Kristi notes that
her Catholic faith made her the ideal reporter for the papal visit. “I had the
vocabulary to express the faith, and they trusted me to write the story,” she
explains.
On campus, Kristi
worked her way up through the ranks of the student newspaper, The Troubadour. As editor-in-chief, she
brought the newspaper into the digital age by creating its online counterpart,
troubonline.com.
Now associate
editor for Ave Maria Press, located on the campus of the University of Notre
Dame, Kristi seeks out authors and develops Catholic lifestyle books for
mothers, couples, families, and more. Her work also involves a good bit of writing
and editing for her authors.
Kristi says the
concentration in journalism prepared her well for her career, as her job
requires “the same set of skills in a different setting.” She’s also grateful
for her internship. “If you do a good job, it sets you up for future
opportunities,” she says.