Marist Circle Welcomes New Editorial Board for Fall Semester
Co-Managing Editor Jacqueline Drain '27 reading the Circle. Photo by Grace DeMarco '27
As the Circle gears up to continue its longstanding tradition of student-centered journalism at Marist University in the upcoming academic year, leadership has been passed to Editor-in-Chief Owen Whelan ‘27 along with Managing Editors Jacqueline Drain ‘27 and Benjamin Rossi ‘27.
Whelan, majoring in Adolescent Education/Spanish, began his interest in journalism in high school, where he found that the journalism club was an outlet to be able to discuss local and school-wide issues. After seeking out the Circle once arriving at Marist his freshman year, Whelan became a consistent writer.
“I missed the first meeting because my phone broke, and then the second meeting of the year I wanted to write an article about why my phone broke,” Whelan said.
Serving as an editor for the Features section in his sophomore and junior years, Whelan was unsure of the feasibility of eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief without being part of the journalism program academically. Shortly after, he was offered the position from former Editor-in-Chief Ava Battinelli ‘26.
“I only really started dreaming about it towards the end of last semester,” Whelan said. “It’s not a boss position. I don't really see myself as the person commanding people or telling people what to do as much as I see myself kind of running everything behind the scenes.”
With an emphasis on encouraging communication, Whelan looks to make sure everyone is fulfilling their role while also aiming to make editors and writers safe and happy within the club’s environment.
The new Editor-in-Chief also has goals of maintaining the established freedom which surrounds student voices at the Circle. Whelan also looks to increase the Circle’s social media presence with a wide variety of content and engaging posts.
“I really like that the past two years, especially, have been super focused on what people want to say. They are allowed to say it,” Whelan said. “I was handed off a lot of really great materials, but I'm also excited to make sure those materials make sense for us and our team and not necessarily what the editing newsroom looked like in 2023 or 2022.”
Along with a group of returning editors, Whelan looks forward to working with people in new roles.
“I think that’s really exciting because a newer Circle is possible,” Whelan said.
Rossi described his new role as Co-Managing Editor alongside Drain as being, “Owen's right-hand.”
“Essentially we're the first line for him to bounce ideas off of,” Rossi said. “The best I could describe it would just be his next line, his advisors, if you will. I think Owen is a very outside-of-the-box thinker, and I'm really excited to see what he brings with the leadership.”
Rossi joined the Circle in the fall of his sophomore year writing the security beat, then becoming a Co-City/National editor the following semester before going abroad the fall of his junior year. After returning to campus last spring, Rossi was named Copy Editor.
Throughout quick transitions to new positions, Rossi said there was a strong support system.
“Now I’m here. I’m the Co-Managing and Co-Campus News Editor,” Rossi said. “It’s a little unconventional. I wish I could say that I started from freshman year.”
Drain said that she and Rossi, as the Managing Editor team, will be “going through and reading every article, editing as needed, and ensuring that all the section editors have everything that they need to be successful and that everything gets done so we are able to put out our paper every two weeks.”
Drain began with the Circle her freshman year to get comfortable writing articles, which she continued to do after being named Copy Editor in the spring of her sophomore year.
“I had a great experience doing that and getting to learn about the editing process. Then, I went abroad the first semester of junior year, and then came back to the copy editor position second semester junior year,” she said.
Now, Drain will be taking on the role of Co-City/National Editor along with her Managing Editor position.
“I really want to focus on increasing readership, especially with students,” Drain said. “I’d really love to connect more with the student base, whether that means having more of a social media presence or spreading more awareness about what it is that we do and how easy it is for people to access it. I really enjoy the opportunities to talk with people on campus and making sure the students and faculty on campus have a paper to learn more about what’s going on.”
The new board also includes several editors who have transitioned between various roles in the paper.
Multimedia Director Isabella Loiacono ‘27 has been involved with the Circle since the fall of her freshman year, becoming Graphic Design Assistant after the first meeting. She has also written several articles as a staff writer. This year, she is taking on a director role and will oversee the paper’s social media platforms and digital distribution.
“I’m very excited to have a director role this year,” said Loiacono. “I’m looking forward to experiencing a different aspect of the club.”
The visual side of the publication will be led by Chief of Graphic Design Chloe Samet ‘27. This is Chloe’s first semester with the Circle, and she sees the position as an opportunity to strengthen her graphic design skills.
In this role, Samet will develop the visual direction of each issue, coordinate the graphic design team and oversee the layout and design of the paper.
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with the other designers, bringing new creative ideas to the Circle, and seeing how we can make each issue feel visually engaging,” Samet said.
The graphic design team will also welcome new members this semester. Sarah Brennan ‘28 first joined the paper after creating an illustration for the Circle The experience inspired her to continue collaborating with the paper’s writers, editors and artists.
“In this process, I found a newfound love for using my designs to contribute to the impact and meaning written about in articles,” Brennan said.
Ava Verret ‘28 returns as Co-Opinion Editor after joining the Circle her freshman year. She served as an Opinion Editor during her sophomore year and will now work as a Copy Editor. Verret will be joined by Shane Mulvey ‘28, whose introduction to the Circle came about through his friend and fellow editor Emily Klena ‘28. After becoming a staff writer and writing independently, Mulvey is taking on his first editor role. As Opinion Editors, Mulvey and Verret will develop pitches and story ideas.
“This year I'm so excited to partake in the circle from a new lens. Being an editor, I'm hoping to expand my writing and see where this new experience takes me,” said Mulvey.
The Arts & Culture section will also see new leadership under Nicole Kreib ‘28 alongside Aidan DeMatteis ‘28. She joined the Circle her sophomore year after being inspired by Verret to write. After submitting a piece on Harry Styles, Kreib continued contributing to the Arts & Culture section.
“By stepping into this role, I am responsible for providing topics for my section and to work alongside my co-editor to bring these articles to their fullest potential,” Kreib said.
Emily Klena ‘28 is transitioning from Arts & Culture Editor to Co-City/National News Editor. Klena joined the Circle during her first semester of freshman year, initially feeling hesitant to claim a story at her first meeting.
After writing about topics ranging from politics to fashion to copyright law, Klena developed her voice as a writer. In this new role, she will cover Poughkeepsie stories and beyond while working with both new and experienced writers.
“I hope to welcome even more passionate journalists to the Circle this year,” Klena said.
Another new face to the editorial board is Co-Campus News Editor Katherine Chorbajian ‘27. She began writing for the Circle during her sophomore year after attending meetings as a freshman, but feeling too nervous to write.
Her first story about the new Marist IPA remains one of her favorites. She remembers the excitement of seeing her name in the newspaper for the first time. Now, she’s ready to experience the publication from the other side.
“Up until now, I’ve only seen the writer’s side, but I’m excited to peek behind the curtain and see the full operation,” Chorbajian said.
As the Circle editorial board steps into their positions for the Fall ‘26 semester, they will shape the meaning of student journalism at Marist University. For Drain, that means maintaining both the quality and traditions that have defined the Circle.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to work with everyone, feeling pride in what we put out, and ensuring that everything is of the highest quality, as it always is, and carrying on the legacy of the paper,” Drain said.