Christendom’s Career and Professional Development Office hosted the first Life on Tap of the semester on September 11, focused on working as political writers in D.C. The event welcomed alumni Charlie Spiering ‘05, Maggie Black ‘23, and Gabriela Pariseau ‘20, who shared their insights and successes with the student body about working in political writing.
Charlie Spiering is the senior political reporter for DailyMail.com and author of the book Amateur Hour: Kamala Harris in the White House. Maggie Black is an Account Manager for AC Fitzgerald and previously worked for Senator Barrasso (WY). Pariseau began as an intern for the Media Research Center and is now an Assistant Editor there.
Each of the alumni has worked in different areas within the political writing field, finding their niche where their God-given talents can be put to the best use. While the details and practices vary with each organization, Spiering noted that all political writing, news, and journalism centers on the pursuit and communication of Truth, asking and answering, “How can I tell a truth that is previously unknown?” All three alumni emphasized the importance of flexibility, balance and the need to stay grounded in their faith amidst the fast-paced environment of politics and news.
The founder of Christendom College, Dr. Warren Carroll, knew the crucial need for Catholics involved in every area of society, particularly in politics and government. Unlike many Catholic Liberal Arts programs, Christendom offers a Political Science major and connects its students with a myriad of political organizations in D.C. Pariseau herself connected with the Media Research Center after meeting with Mrs. Stephens, Director of Career Development at the college. Black gained an internship position at the Heritage Foundation through the college’s network and learned invaluable skills for her later work with Senator Barrasso.
All three alumni expressed their gratitude for the research and communication skills they learned as students at Christendom. Pariseau emphasized to the current students that, “You are not at a disadvantage just because you don’t have a journalism degree,” and that the skills she developed at Christendom put her at an advantage over her peers. She encouraged students to practice and improve their skills on every assignment while Spiering suggested learning to reach out and communicate effectively in the Christendom community as practice for networking in the wider job market.
Ultimately, 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. The Career and Professional Development Office typically organizes three Life on Tap events every semester which are open to all students.
For more information on Christendom’s networking resources, as well as previous Life on Tap recordings, visit here.