Valedictorian: Meghan Brink, BA '22

Name: Meghan Brink 
Hometown: Allegany, NY
Major: Political Science 
Minor: Journalism 
Awards: Valedictorian (Department of Political Science) 

What activities were you involved in during your time at UAlbany?

During my time at UAlbany, I was a member of the Honors College as well as the Political Science Departmental Honors Program. I served as editor-in-chief of the Albany Student Press where I worked to revive and rebuild the student newspaper after it stopped publishing during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have worked for Campus Recreation since my freshman year. I also was involved in club swimming and worked as a lifeguard on campus before the pool closed. 

What were some highlight experiences of your undergraduate career?

Serving as editor-in-chief of the Albany Student Press was one of the best experiences of my undergraduate career. This role allowed me to solidify that I wanted to enter a career in journalism by providing hands-on experience reporting breaking news and working with writers. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

An accomplishment I am most proud of is my internship role with POLITICO that I worked in last semester. Writing for POLITICO has been a goal of mine since I decided I wanted to work in political journalism. During my internship, I was able to get one of my stories on the homepage, which reached a viewership of over 10,000 people. It was a surreal experience to see my writing alongside the work of journalists I have looked up to for years. 

What is next for you after graduation?

After graduation, I will be moving to Washington, D.C. to work for Inside Higher Ed as a policy reporter.