Christendom’s Career and Professional Development Office hosted a communications-focused Life on Tap on October 11, where alumnae Abigail (Reimel) Gripshover ’16, Bridget Handy ’17, and Riley (Damitz) Lane ’20 shared their insights with the student body about their successes working in communications.
Gripshover is a copywriter, digital strategist, and owner of Open Doors Media, a public and community relations firm. Handy has recently worked as a reporter and news anchor in San Diego. Lane is currently a Junior Writer in Donor Communications at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Each of the alumnae has worked in dramatically different areas within the communications field, finding their niche where their God-given talents can be put to the best use. Because of the flexibility of the field, all three women have been able to pursue their careers in a way suited to their particular vocation and current needs. While at Christendom, both Gripshover and Lane pointed to their experience working in the Marketing Department and Advancement Office, respectively, as key stepping-stones in their experience in the diverse world of communications. The network of Christendom was also a major contributing factor in their success and the opportunities Christendom provided have been pivotal in their advancement in their various careers.
All three alumnae emphasized the greatest benefit of their Christendom education was learning to communicate well. Handy stated the ability to articulate concepts with precision and clarity is a rare skill in high demand, and Christendom taught her to write and convey ideas clearly in any sector of work. Christendom students hone both written and oral communication skills through various disciplines, enabling them to go out and be effective witnesses to the Truth and to restore all things in Christ.
The Christendom liberal arts curriculum, far from limiting its graduates in their future careers, opens the door to a world of possibilities in every major field. Through the study of the Catholic liberal arts, Christendom’s students encounter a universal study of knowledge — through mathematics, history, literature, classics, and political science — unified by the central role of philosophy and theology.
The Life on Tap series connects successful alumni in various fields with current students, demonstrating the paths that countless alumni have taken to succeed after graduating. One additional Life on Tap event will be hosted this semester with alumni who work in project management.
For more information on Christendom’s networking resources and the previous Life on Tap recordings related to communications, visit the links below.
Editorial, Writing & Communications