Servant Leadership

Olivia Palombo might just have the hardest job on campus: Editor-in-Chief of LMU’s Student-run newspaper, the Los Angeles Loyolan. 

What makes her job so challenging?  According to Olivia, the job is “demanding and also places me, as a student, in an interesting position.” Being a distributor of information – whether good, bad, or otherwise – can sometimes put her at odds with people across the university, but at the end of the day, she still feels the support of the community. While reflecting on the role of the Loyolan, Olivia shares that “The function of journalism is to be able to share information that the public deserves because our first duty is to the public. So, when we can publish information that helps people stay informed, sometimes it’s good and we get great reactions and sometimes we’re put in a position of ‘why would you share this?’” 

Ultimately, Olivia wants to ensure that the Loyolan consistently adheres to its policies of “accuracy, relevance, and responsibility.”  “We also rigorously train our staff to understand journalism ethics,” she said. “What grounds me and what I go back to always is, ‘What was the purpose of this? And did it serve the community?’”

These questions define her approach to leading the Loyolan staff: they are all servant leaders.

The idea of “servant leadership” was a concept that Olivia was introduced to at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego.  She was also introduced to journalism in high school as a staff writer for the student newspaper.  Still, she didn’t join the Loyolan until February of her first year.  As she adjusted to college life, she participated in several activities. The first thing Olivia did was join RHA (the Residence Hall Association) as the president of her residence hall.  She was also on the cheer team for her first two years on the bluff, and in the spring of her first year, she joined a sorority, Alpha Phi.  Growing up as an only child, Olivia always wanted siblings, and now she has Alpha Phi sisters who make up a loving and supportive community. She also joined Isang Bansa (the Filipino culture club) and spent some time as a member of ASLMU, LMU’s student government. 

Community has been a recurring theme in Olivia’s LMU and Loyolan experiences. When she speaks with prospective staff members, she tells them they are joining a legacy of over 100 years and a talented team of writers and creators. However, they are also becoming part of a family.

Olivia has also discovered a vibrant and supportive community within the Journalism department, where the small class sizes foster meaningful connections with professors. Despite their active involvement in the industry, it's clear that the professors prioritize their students above all else. A prime example of this is Lauren Smart, a faculty member who has been instrumental in helping Olivia establish a local chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.

Olivia has benefited greatly from the Journalism department’s internal Brightspace page, which is continually updated with internship and job opportunities. There, she found a summer 2024 opportunity as a full-time intern at NBC News, where she managed the website, conducted data analytics, and oversaw the app. Her internship coincided with major events such as presidential debates, two ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Olympics, and an overall unprecedented election year. Olivia also contributed to the Decision 2024 team and wrote for NBC’s daily newsletter, the Morning Rundown.

In the future, Olivia would like to work in Journalism for at least a year and then plans to go to Law school and specialize in Media Law.  “I’d like to work as legal counsel for a media company or a newspaper,” she reflected. “I’ve always leaned towards that path, but I think I’ve been inspired by it because I’ve worked with lawyers on some sensitive stories and have been able to talk to people who do legal advising for newspapers. I think it’s a very cool job to get to represent those that do journalism.”  Olivia has seen first-hand how important it is to have people working for media in a way that helps to ensure the right to a free press.  “I think that’s one of the most important things about America and our democracy.”

As her time on the bluff draws close, Olivia has some advice for future Lions. 

“Leap. Wherever that may be,” she said. “I explored other places, but nothing felt like home more than LMU.”  Though her tight community in San Diego was hard to leave, she is confident it was the right decision to leap. “Once you are on the bluff, try everything. You don’t know what you’re going to like,” she continued. “You’re encouraged to try everything at LMU. The education of the whole person and the university's interdisciplinary nature encourage that.” 

Reflecting on her years on campus, Olivia has a few parting words for future Lions: “This place is just truly magical. I’ve had one of the greatest experiences of my life at LMU and I think it’s because of what the university stands for, its identity and the fact that I’ve been able to be blessed with so many opportunities, met such great people, and felt like I fit in a community that I love.”