Read All About It!

Agnes Scott Partners with WABE for an Uplifting Night of Career Sharing at Women in Media Event

In celebration of Women’s History Month, WABE–Atlanta’s national public radio station–recently partnered with Agnes Scott College to bring together prominent women in media and students for a conversation about bold ideas, leading change in a global world, impacting our local communities and thriving in professional environments.

On Monday, March 20, nearly 70 Agnes Scott students participated in a unique opportunity to attend a series of rotating round table discussions with 10 of Atlanta’s distinguished female media professionals. Attendees included: deputy managing editor of WABE, Molly Samuel; founder of TobinInk, Rachel Tobin; senior producer of “City Lights,” Kim Drobes; editor in chief of Atlanta Magazine, Betsey Riley; investigative reporter at ProPublica, Nicole Carr; a senior digital editor at WABE, Rebecca Etter; founder of 285 South, Sophia Qureshi; reporter for Black Press USA, Dawn Montgomery; state government reporter for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Maya T. Prabhu; and digital writer/editor for WABE, Jasmine Robinson. 

The evening was hosted and facilitated by Aisha S. Greenlee, director of community outreach and partnerships at WABE, who was encouraged by both the turnout and the event’s impact. 

“The event was extraordinary not only for the students but also for the women in media who participated, as well as everyone who was able to witness the magical moments of engagement between the two groups,” said Greenlee.

The sentiment among student attendees echoed similar themes. Despite Agnes Scott not offering academic programming in journalism or communications, many students found the experience applicable to their academic pursuits. 

Tsering Shola ’23, president of the Class of 2023, enjoyed the opportunity to bounce between tables and talk intimately with the professionals depending on their interests. Its interactive nature, she said, allowed for it to be more engaging than a traditional seminar or panel discussion. 

“Hearing from a diverse selection of journalists gave me the understanding of how the path to and in journalism is not linear,” stated Shola. “At the core of each speaker’s advice, they urged us to follow our interests and remain true to ourselves.”

Isabella Cordell ’24, who both attended and covered it as the managing editor of The Profile–the college’s student-run publication–hopes this particular event is a catalyst for similar ones. Cordell wrote about the experience, which was featured in WABE’s monthly newsletter. 

Cordell’s story featured the thoughts of classmate Irène Chapeau ’24, who agreed with the idea that Agnes Scott found a powerful tool to empower and encourage students in their career development process. 

“I was reminded of the power of persistence and encouraged by hearing about their often winding and complex journeys to where they are today!”