By Olivia Sault ‘23
Senior Ella Adams will graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in May with her bachelor's degree in journalism and minors in sustainable community development and political science. As an accomplished journalism student, Ella has been selected by the Journalism Department to be the 2023 Journalism Student Speaker for the SBS Senior Celebration.
Currently, Adams serves as the head news editor of the Massachusetts Daily Collegian — a student-run newspaper — where she has helped to lead and shape the news team. She has been heavily involved in the Collegian since her sophomore year, reporting on social justice, politics and international news beats, with additional interests in environmental journalism, investigative reporting and audio journalism.
Adams's passion for journalism is fueled by her love of learning about a wide range of topics, from people and places to ideas and events. “Journalism is the best of both worlds: I get to learn about a plethora of ideas, people and places while also creating work that helps those around me better understand the world,” said Adams.
During her time at UMass, Adams has been involved in numerous internships and extracurricular activities. Her internships with The Berkshire Eagle as a member of its investigations team, The Greenfield Recorder, and Cape Cod Times have given her hands-on experience in the field, and she has excelled in each role. She was awarded the New England Newspaper & Press Association's 2021 Bob Wallack Intern Stipend during her internship with The Greenfield Recorder for being an aspiring community journalist.
Adams has also served as the secretary of UMass Women's Club Volleyball, where she has shown leadership and dedication. Additionally, she has served as a tour guide, sharing her passion for UMass with prospective students and their families.
Following graduation, Adams plans to spend time outside doing summer work in conservation and restoration and going on a backpacking trip across national parks out West. Her dream job is to be an environmental writer. “I want to focus on long-form reporting about the impact climate change has on the land that we live on, the communities most affected by global warming, and the ways we can adapt to and mitigate further environmental change,” said Adams.
She is a role model for aspiring journalists. Her passion and drive for journalism have brought her to where she is today. “I am extremely excited to speak to this graduating class of journalism seniors,” exclaimed Adams. “It’s our collective hard work and collaboration, in a field that we love, that inspires me every day and has helped me get through the last four years.”
Adams is a shining example of what it means to be a UMass Journalism student, and she will undoubtedly go on to make a difference in the world.