Cronkite Grad leaves her mark at ASU through clubs, student employment
Even a quick look at her resume makes one thing clear: Madeleine Williamson is someone who loves her community.
In her time as a student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Williamson joined six ASU organizations as eiher a member or employee, working her way up to a leadership position in many of them. She maintained a position as a producer for both The Cut Network, a club at Cronkite, and ASU Student Life, the student-run Educational Outreach and Student Services (EOSS) marketing team, while also serving as president of the Walter Cronkite College Council.
Cronkite school graduate Madeleine Williamson's recipe for student success: Use ASU resources to your advantage to build skills, network.
In all of her roles, Williamson’s enthusiasm and passion for her work and the people around marked her as a dependable, stand-out member of the communities she was part of.
Outside of her activities as a Sun Devil, Williamson enjoys running, creative writing, attending local events, making pasta sauce from scratch and sharing fun facts on TikTok.
As an Arizona native and four year student, ASU has played a large role in Williamson’s life for many years. Now as a graduate, she reflects on her time with the university and the insight she gained from her experiences as a Sun Devil.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: My “aha” moment happened in high school. I worked as the editor-in-chief of our school yearbook team for two years. During that time I enjoyed telling the stories of my fellow students and the community. Before I knew it I had found a passion for journalism.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I chose ASU because I wanted to attend the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The Cronkite school is one of the top journalism schools in the country. When I found my passion for journalism and decided to pursue that passion in college I knew Cronkite was the school for me.
Question: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
Answer: Advice I would give to those still in school would be to use every resource ASU offers to your advantage. Get involved and use the remainder of your time as a student to really build your skills, expand your network and explore a passion of your interest.
Question: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
Answer: My favorite spot on campus was the ASU Student Life studio located in the basement of the MU on the Tempe campus. There are some really great students who collaborate in that space. They are always super helpful and can answer pretty much any question about ASU.
Question: What are your plans after graduation?
Answer: After graduation, I plan to work as a full-time staff member for ASU while pursuing further education. I would love to pursue a master's degree that relates to my industry of interest, public relations.
Question: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
Answer: If someone gave me $40 million dollars I would use it to improve public transportation across the country. I think that expanding and improving public transportation is the next step in improving sustainability and building community.
