As we wrap up our time as Editors-in-Chief (EICs), it feels strange to put into words what this paper has meant to us. The Villanovan has been at the center of so much of our college experience. Confined to the pale blue walls of the Corr Hall basement, that place has seen us at our best, our worst and everything in between.
Letting go of something that has been such a constant is harder than we thought. We’ve spent countless hours writing, debating headlines and editing pages until it’s 3 a.m. and our eyes have gone square. We’ve eaten more CampCo than anyone should admit, ran through an entire season of Dancing with the Stars, and somehow managed to produce three magazines, two special editions, and 21 issues. That basement has been our second home, and we would probably still be sitting in that basement forever if someone did not eventually come down and pry this position out of our hands. We care about it that much.
At the same time, stepping back feels right because of who we are handing it to. Watching the next group step into these roles has reminded us of why we fell in love with this work in the first place. This experience would not have been what it was, nor would we have been able to do our jobs, without the support, love and passion from every single staff writer and our 17 person editorial board.
Our News team is composed of senior Isabella Carlin as well as juniors Finn Courtney and Emma Cote.
Isabella Carlin is just about the kindest soul we have ever known. She was one of the first editors we hired after assuming our position, and we could not imagine this experience without her on our team. Always the first person to pick up an extra article, to diligently make edits to the front page, or simply just a friend to turn to when you’re having a bad day, we feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to watch her blossom.
Finn Courtney has grown tremendously over his years with the paper, and this year he truly came into his own. He is relentless in pursuing a good story, a true newshound if you will. He stepped into a leadership role on the news team this year very naturally, guiding the news editors with patience and grit. His loyalty to the paper makes him someone everyone can count on.
Emma Cote has come into her own in more ways than one. We have had the honor of watching Emma grow as a writer, editor and leader during our time working with her. She has become not just an integral part in ensuring that breaking news and hard hitting stories are constantly being covered, but she has played an even bigger part in forming a welcoming, uplifting and at times, goofy, culture for our staff. What makes The Villanovan so special is that people from different walks of life come together for the sake of the paper, and Emma is the glue that holds all those people together.
Our Opinion and Culture teams were unique as a result of some editors studying abroad, and because of that, we had the privilege to work with three editors in each section—an experience we didn’t realize would challenge us and allow this paper to grow in ways we could have never predicted.
Our Opinion section was run by juniors Avery Chalk and Kailey Fahy during the Spring 2025 semester.
Avery Chalk, one of our beloved opinion editors, has a strong voice that cannot be ignored and a presence that fills the newsroom. Avery has always been an incredible writer, and it is easy to get drawn in by how well she expresses herself on a page. But spending time with her as we took on our current roles revealed so much more about who she is beyond journalism. She is thoughtful, sharp and full of personality, and The Villanovan office has not been the same without her this semester.
Zoe Schack, despite being one of the youngest editors on staff, has really held her own. Zoe joined the staff as an Opinion editor just this last semester and quickly became someone you could not imagine the paper without. She brings curiosity and a willingness to jump into anything, even when it feels intimidating. We are so proud of Zoe for taking on such a difficult role, and we are so excited to see what she does next.
As for Kailey, who has been an Opinion editor for the past two years, she will now step into a new role as Co Editor-in-Chief for the 2026 calendar year. Kailey Fahy has been an anchor of the opinion section for the past two years, and in that time, she has become someone that we trust completely. She is what it means to be part of The Villanovan. Kailey brings so much heart into her work, that the Corr basement feels different when she walks in. We will genuinely miss the little things with her, like watching Dancing with the Stars during a long production night or showing up in a wig to look like another editor on Halloween. At the same time, we could not be more excited for her as she steps into a role that she is completely ready for. Her passion for this paper is going to make her an incredible Co-EIC and we cannot wait to watch her shine.
Our Culture section was in the very capable hands of Maggie Fitzgerald and Sophie Latessa in the Spring, before Maggie went abroad and passed the torch to Cali Carss who took over as Sophie’s new Co-Culture Editor.
Maggie Fitzgerald, the ultimate it girl, brought an effortless sense of style and creativity that helped define the culture section. She has a natural ability to find stories that feel relevant and fun, and she elevates them with her eye for tone and detail. She helped immensely to transform the culture columns and build a strong group of writers. Even being abroad, the foundation she created remained visible in the pieces that followed.
Cali Carss stepped into her new role with confidence and precision and quickly became essential to the section. She is incredibly detail-oriented and approaches every edit with a level of care that makes the final product noticeably stronger. Her pages were constantly some of the cleanest in the paper, and that comes from a dedication that never wavered. Cali stepped into a big role during a transition period and handled it with calm confidence. It was a pleasure getting to see Cali step out of her shell this past semester.
Sophie Latessa has, and always will be, The Villanovan’s ray of sunshine. A stranger to none and friend to all, Sophie didn’t just bring her creativity and smile to production each week — she brought intelligence, passion, organization and adaptability. While Sophie will be taking a break from Lancaster Ave and heading abroad during the Spring of 2026, we knew that this editorial board would be incomplete without her name on the masthead. Because of this, Sophie will step into a new role as the Managing Editor, a position we know she is not only ready for, but will thrive in.
The final writing section of The Villanovan is our sports team: senior Katie Lewis and junior Dylan Johnson.
Katie Lewis is our real life “women in male fields” specialist. She has been a steady presence in the Sports section, always ready to lend a hand or cover an exciting story. Her presence in the office and confidence in the press room make her someone everyone looks to when things get hectic. She is a natural leader—organized and dependable—but she pairs that with an incredible kindness that shows in the way she mentors her team.
Dylan Johnson is just about the most authentic guy we know. He also happened to be the editor responsible for having The Villanovan make headline news on ESPN last semester. Pretty cool if you ask us. But it’s not just the fact that Dylan is unapologetically himself, or the fact that he chases every story with the utmost passion—Dylan brings a sense of light and energy into the office every single time he enters. He cares so deeply about the work he does and the people around him, which is why we could not be more excited to see him step into his new role as Co-EIC in 2026. The two together are a dynamic duo that our Halloween production foreshadowed, and we could not be more excited to watch it become a reality.
We also have our Photography Editor, Erick Quezada, who truly is the backbone of The Villanovan. Sure, a newspaper is about writing and editing, but where would we be without the photos that bring those stories to life? Erick is effortlessly kind, compassionate and someone we know we can always depend on to get the job done. Plus, he’s a sneaky shoe in for funniest texter in the group chat.
Next is our Crossword Editor, senior Peter Reilly. You know the expression, “don’t blink too fast or you’ll miss it?” That’s Peter in a nutshell. His quick humor and wit aren’t just qualities that make his crosswords iconic, they also are a testament to his kindness. Peter’s passion for connecting people was able to shine through with his crosswords and we are beyond grateful in his desire and ability to elevate The Villanovan the way he has.
Then there is our incredible digital team, composed of senior Natalie Zickel and junior Ciara Dursee.
There are certain people who can fill a room with light and laughter upon entering. Digital Editor, Natalie Zickel, is one of those people. Not to mention the fact that she is insanely creative and talented. Those parts are just a sheer bonus. After being on staff for three full years, we can confidently say that Natalie is the most patient and adaptable editor we’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.
Our other Digital Editor, Ciara Dursee is especially cool and effortlessly kind. She is the only editor we worked with who assumed her position from campus one semester and Europe the next. While we miss her wit and charm in the basement of Corr, Ciara has managed to ensure that every graphic she designs and each post she curates is exactly what The Villanovan needs. Being across the Atlantic Ocean was never a challenge because her passion was more apparent than any time difference could ever be.
Our Copy Desk Chief, Madeline Okenquist is just about our favorite person ever. Madeline has been on staff since her freshman year and it has been an absolute privilege to watch her grow as an editor, but also a person. Her position isn’t always the most glamorous, but the work she does is the reason The Villanovan looks glamorous each week. This publication wouldn’t be what it is without her. But we would be remiss to not share the kind of person she is, too. You know that friend who is exceptionally loyal, kind and would always put your needs above their own? Yeah, we know that friend. Her name is Madeline.
And then there is the Associate Editor-in-Chief of The Villanovan, Lauren Armstrong. Lauren is our ultimate “yes” girl. There has never been a time where we needed Lauren’s help that she has said she was too busy or incapable. She always somehow found a way to get it done. But more importantly than her contributions to the public safety blotter or selling advertisements, Lauren has become our friend. In fact, she has become one of our best friends. From staff writer to news editor to being on the EIC team, Lauren hasn’t just enhanced the paper throughout her years on staff, she has enhanced the people around her. That’s something we will never take for granted.
Last, but certainly not least, are two people who may not be in editorial board group chat, but The Villanovan would cease to exist without them. That is, of course, our faculty advisors, Cat Coyle and Michael Bradley.
Cat Coyle is perfect. There, we said it. We could go on for ages telling you about how Cat answers our questions at all hours of the night, how no task is too big for her to handle, or how much passion she has for the paper, but it all accumulates to one thing: she’s perfect. The perfect advisor, friend, and perfect at her job. Cat, we could not have done any of this without you, and we are eternally grateful that you came into our lives.
Mr. Bradley takes “home away from home” to a whole new level (and yes, we did purposely include a cliche in here, Mr. Bradley). As the faculty advisor for The Villanovan, for over a decade, Mr. Bradley has seen this paper transform from a group of students who wrote a few articles and drank beer together, into a thriving publication that the Villanova community has come to rely upon. But it’s not his role on the paper we cherish most. Mr. Bradley has become our friend—someone to banter with about our days, someone to turn to, someone to look out for us during our college years. Being Co-EICs would have been impossible without him, but this goodbye feels a little less emotional because we know that he will always be on our team.
Walking away from a publication that taught us more about love, loss and ourselves than we could have ever fathomed feels nearly impossible. Yet it’s comforting to know that we are walking away hand in hand with some of the most passionate and capable people we have ever met.
The Villanovan is a unique club. It’s not just a group of student journalists; it’s a group of people who understand the power of using their words to connect with others.
It has been the privilege of a lifetime to give those students a platform to continue to tell their stories and to continue connecting. So thank you to Villanova, and thank you to The Villanovan, for also providing us a platform to tell this story: one filled with the utmost love and gratitude for a paper that has changed our lives for the better.
All our love,
Brooke Ackerman & Nicole Liddicoat
The 2025 Co-Editors-in-Chief
