College During COVID

No one understands the importance and benefits of technology more than technology students themselves. Jackson Blanchard ’17 is currently studying computer science at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. “I’m extremely fortunate to be minimally affected by the pandemic,” he said. “Most students and, more importantly, most professors in my major are very technically inclined, so the transition to online learning has been very smooth.” In order to communicate and collaborate, he and his professors have used programs like Slack (for instant messaging), Discord (for meeting in teams), Trello (for working on projects), and GitHub (for coding). Jackson has fortunately gained skills that will prove valuable once he enters the workforce.

More than anything, attending college during COVID-19 has been a learning experience for all. Joe Nyzio ’17, a business student at Saint Joseph’s University, has reflected on the challenges and rewards that have accompanied COVID. “This experience has taught me to hold myself more accountable than in past years because we don’t have professors to add that applied pressure,” he said. He’s had the chance to become a better communicator by “writing many more emails and attending meetings virtually.” While his senior year hasn’t been exactly what he’d hoped for, he acknowledges the significance of his personal growth.

The overarching theme for most college students is this: their current situations are not optimal, but there’s been plenty of room for small victories and self-improvement. “I came to terms with my college experience not being what I was expecting,” said Grace Kim. Despite unmet expectations, MFS college students have remained resilient, adaptive, and hopeful that the future will be brighter than both the present and the past.

Marketing and Communications Intern Katie Kasperson ’17 Wraps Up College Career at William & Mary; Prepares for Cambridge

“College During COVID” author Katie Kasperson ’17 will graduate from The College of William & Mary in May with a B.A. in psychology and minor in marketing. She worked as an intern in the MFS Marketing and Communications Department this spring. This fall she will travel to the United Kingdom to pursue a one-year Master of Philosophy program at Cambridge University with a focus on education and psychology.

Katie’s own experience as the pandemic unfolded was unique, but she maintains a positive, resilient outlook. She was nine weeks into a study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark when she was required to return home in March 2020. “It definitely upended a lot of my life - school-related and otherwise,” said Katie. “But, when you really think about it, not a lot really changed in a sense that I still had a support system, I still had my friends and school, and we could still socialize. We all had to adapt to a new way of doing things.” During the spring semester, Katie is living in Williamsburg but has opted to take classes virtually.

At William & Mary, Katie has served as a peer ambassador for the D.C. internship program as well as a peer advisor helping new students transition to college life. She is a contributor to The Rocket, a student-produced magazine, and also completed an internship with the student newspaper The Flat Hat.

Katie is eager to eventually land in a school environment when she has completed her education. “I’m still exploring but continue to narrow my focus,” she said. “I hope to do something related to education whether it be actually working in a school or something to do with policy. The Cambridge program is a lot about child development and learning.”

Katie looks back fondly on her 14 years of Friends education. She attended Westfield Friends for 10 years before moving on to MFS for her Upper School years. “The SPICES have really impacted me,” she said. “I think about them a lot and how I implement them in my life. One thing I continue to prioritize is community. I appreciate a nice, small community where you can know and rely on everyone. That’s what I was looking for in grad school, which is why I chose Cambridge because they have smaller colleges within the university so you get to know everyone.”

Janice Johnston ’88 Named Fourth 20/20 Executive Producer in ABC News History

In May 1988, MFS Trustee Janice Johnston was a senior preparing to graduate from MFS and move on to Princeton University. Little did she know that her Senior Project would help set her on a path to lead one of the most famous newsmagazine programs in American television history.

Janice was recently named Executive Producer of ABC’s 20/20, the award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Amy Robach. She is the first female and first person of color to serve in this role for ABC News. A proven leader in the long-form newsmagazine for over 40 years, 20/20 features hardhitting investigative reports, in-depth coverage of high profile trials, unforgettable, character-driven stories and exclusive newsmaker interviews. “Janice is a terrific journalist with an impressive talent for telling stories that resonate and an exceptional leader,” said ABC News President James Goldston in the network’s announcement. “She is a trusted mentor, excellent reporter, and respected leader in the news division, and I know we are in great hands in this next chapter for 20/20 and the team.”

Janice has been with 20/20 since 2008 when she moved from Good Morning America to become a producer with 20/20. The newsmagazine moved from a one- to two-hour format in 2019 and looks much different than it did a generation ago. Described Janice: “20/20 no longer is Barbara (Walters) and Hugh (Downs) sitting at the desk and saying ‘this is 20/20.’ That

Photo courtesy of ABC News

Janice Johnston with Good Morning America host Robin Roberts.

was more of a traditional magazine show which had different ‘sections’ like a traditional magazine. We now do two hours on a single topic. It’s like doing a short documentary film every week and the turnaround time on that is rather...brisk. It’s really unheard of. Keeping that machine going is my new job.” Janice described the conflicting emotions of the moments when she learned of her appointment. “It was exciting, but bittersweet,” said the Cherry Hill native. “My father (Dr. Theodore Johnston) passed away in September so he didn’t get to see this. The excitement is tempered with the reality of how much there is to do and how hard it is to do it during the time of COVID.”

A former practicing attorney, Janice has been with ABC News since 1998. However, she points to May 1988 as a flashpoint in her life which turned her on to broadcast journalism. “For my Senior Project, I was a production intern at KYW-TV’s morning talk show,” she said during keynote remarks to MFS students at Career Day 2015. “What I experienced during that amazing opportunity has been more helpful in my current career than any class I took at Princeton or any seminar in law school. Watching the show from inside the studio, meeting the producers, seeing the control room, going to the news floor all of it was just plain fun.” In reflecting on how Moorestown Friends and Quaker schools (she also attended Haddonfield Friends) have played a role in her life, Janice first pointed to leadership opportunities. “MFS was very supportive of young leadership, those are really