Flinn Scholar Class of 2015
Arizona State University
Managing Editor, ASU Media Enterprise
Q: Can you share a little about your current role and what excites you most about your work?
I’m the managing editor at ASU Media Enterprise, which is a collection of editorially independent news organizations—including Arizona PBS, Issues in Science and Technology, and Zocalo Public Square, among others—that are connected to ASU. We recently launched Doing Well, a health news outlet on Substack dedicated to helping people understand and improve their health. Our goal is to help people navigate complex health systems with concrete, tangible tools, which is something that excites me. My background is in journalism, and a lot of my own coverage has been centered around mental and reproductive health—I think proactive information can make us better advocates for our health and care.
I also help manage ASU’s portfolio in Mexico, connecting the university with partners to expand research and education opportunities. In Arizona, engaging with Mexico is a key part of being a socially embedded institution.
Q: How did being a Flinn Scholar shape your academic or career path?
Flinn gave me the biggest gift you can have in undergrad: flexibility. The flexibility to pursue different academic and research interests, to travel, and to really connect with a community of similarly curious people. I committed to ASU as a Flinn Scholar 10 years ago now—and I’ve been working or studying with the university in some capacity ever since. I’m blown away by the quality of research and community engagement work happening at Arizona’s public universities, and Flinn helped integrate me into that ecosystem.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to current Scholars or recent alumni?
It sounds cliché, but your career is a winding path with lots of detours. Try things that seem interesting to you. Shift directions as new passions crop up. Your first job doesn’t have to be your dream job, and there’s something to learn from every position, every project.
Q: Is there a project, achievement, or experience you’re especially proud of?
I’m proud of ASU’s work to connect people with tangible health resources through Doing Well. We’re always looking to collaborate with new health experts, and I know we have many of them in the Flinn community—if that’s you, let’s connect ([email protected])!
Q: Looking back, what’s one lesson from your time as a Flinn Scholar that has stayed with you?
The Flinn Scholarship taught me the power of grounding your work in community. It also helped me deepen my appreciation of Arizona as a deeply interesting and important place to understand the trends that are shaping the whole country. Whether you care about climate, migration, economics, health, technology, international relations—Arizona is a place where those dynamics are playing out at a rapid speed, and where studying and working on them can really make a difference.
Q: What impact do you hope to make in your field or community in the coming years?
I was drawn to journalism because I think stories can help us make sense of who we are and the futures we want to work toward. I hope to deepen my work on health storytelling, empowering people with information to make tangible changes in their lives.
Q: What’s one unexpected skill you picked up during college that you still use today?
In college I worked as a research assistant for a professor who taught me about the power of librarians in research, which I think very few people take advantage of. Librarians—whether at your university or public libraries—are treasure troves of resources when you’re researching or investigating something, and in my experience they’re eager to help you locate a book that could be helpful, an archive you can’t miss, or a news clipping that sheds new light on an issue. I love calling the library!
Q: What’s the most surprising way your Flinn experience has popped up in your life post-college?
Some of my closest friends are Flinn Scholars—their passion and curiosity motivate me to dig deeper and ask bigger questions. When I got married, five of my Flinn classmates stood up next to me!