So Long — and Thanks for Everything

I believe that most people have an experience in college that somehow goes on to define the course of their life, whether it be personally or professionally. The Exponent is mine.

All four years I’ve been in college, I’ve worked at the Exponent—first as news editor, then managing editor. For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as editor-in-chief. It’s been a wildly rewarding ride, and now it’s time for my part in the story to end.

It's hard to sum up the countless things I could say about this remarkable organization in a short goodbye letter, but I suppose I’ll start with the big picture.

For those who don’t know already, the Exponent is MSU’s independent, student-run newspaper, created by students, for students. We kicked off in 1895 and recently celebrated our 131st anniversary, making us the oldest student organization on campus. For decades, we have worked tirelessly to inform and connect the campus community, documenting all facets of the University in our pages along the way. We have a legacy of service, dedication and persistence that lets us punch pretty high above our weight class, if I do say so myself.

During my tenure, I am incredibly proud to have watched that legacy carry on. The Exponent has drastically expanded its online reach, engaging directly with important campus and city issues. We have consistently produced in-depth, thorough reporting on topics from all corners of the community. We have held governing bodies accountable, whether they be composed of our fellow students or University administrators. We have reported on municipal and state government — in particular, providing our readers with an annual election edition full of candidate profiles and explanations of hot-button ballot measures.

Our publication has also served as a point of connection for MSU students to get involved all over campus, whether through sports, clubs or events. We have highlighted campus and community resources to help students access support they might need, and we have provided an affordable platform for local businesses and student organizations to advertise.

And throughout all of this, we have worked tirelessly to inform the community we exist to serve — the students of MSU — as accurately, concisely and fairly as possible.

Over the past two years, we’ve also regularly had our stories republished in local publications like the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and Explore Big Sky, reflecting the relevance of our work in communities both on and off campus. Our work has even been recognized at the state level. In the Montana Newspaper Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest, we placed first in the investigative journalism category, first in the digital/website category, second-best in editorials and third-best in feature photography.

For a school without a journalism program — and considering the fact that we are competing against professional publications in these kinds of contests — I am endlessly proud of these achievements.

However, as I look back at my time here, I am most proud of the Exponent staff. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most remarkable people on campus in my various roles at the paper. Their curiosity, drive, intelligence and sense of purpose continuously inspire me to be the best version of myself every day.

Most people will never truly know the effort that goes into producing a newspaper like ours. It takes a special kind of tenacity to be a full-time student working on the side for a publication, often on top of balancing a second or third job at the same time. The vast majority of the work that we accomplish happens in spare moments between classes and late at night between essays and projects, meaning that fundamentally, the effort put in is driven by a sense of deep responsibility both to the craft and to the audience.

I feel incredibly honored to have been able to work alongside my peers, learn from them and grow with them. Thank you for the trust you placed in me, and thank you for your endless hard work. What you do matters. Every story is important.

Not to get too personal, but I often joke that, instead of graduating in my other programs, I should be earning a degree in Exponent Studies. Over the years, I’ve put so much of myself into this publication. At times — like all things worth doing — it was hard; it demanded a lot from me. Now that I’m at the end of it all, I know I would have made the same choices over and over again. Every difficult moment had a purpose and a lesson I could learn from. What the Exponent has given me both professionally and personally can never be fully repaid.

With that said, I am endlessly grateful to everyone who held me up and supported me through it all. Thank you especially to my Managing Editor this year, Will Malizia, who is more incredible than I will ever be able to tell him.

And finally, to our dear readers, I have a simple promise: The Exponent’s story won’t end anytime soon. As we always have, we will continue working hard for the community we serve. That will never be a responsibility we take lightly, and it is at the heart of all we do. As long as there is Montana State University, there will be the Exponent.

Stay tuned for what’s to come.