05/20/2026
Meet Athena Cheris, a senior double major in Journalism and Film and Television Production from San Francisco!
When deciding where to attend college, Athena created an Excel formula to rate each school she was admitted to based on what mattered most to her. With its strong film and liberal arts programs, research opportunities, and small class sizes, LMU was the clear winner.
At LMU, Athena nurtured a love for storytelling and its impact. By the end of her first semester, she declared journalism as her major. As a member of the Honors Program, she explored a wide range of subjects through courses like "The Nature of Science and Technology" with Professor Shanahan—one of her favorites because, as she said, “it made me question how we know what we know.”
Through BCLA, Athena served as a research assistant each year, working with accomplished journalists, including Professor Evelyn McDonnell. “Prof. McDonnell really took me under her wing when I became her research assistant,” Athena shared. “I learned so much from her—she’s an amazing professor who always encouraged me to keep writing and working with data.” Athena also wrote for The Loyolan, where she combined her interests in data and restaurant journalism.
Her Film and Television Production major also provided opportunities beyond the classroom, including attending the Sundance Film Festival. There, she engaged with documentaries that helped shape her approach to storytelling in journalism.
After graduation, Athena will begin her career as an assistant production coordinator at OBB Media. In the long term, she hopes to work in the film industry while continuing to freelance as a writer.
Athena has been the recipient of numerous awards during her time at LMU, including for her work at the Loyolan. Most notably, she was named the Class of 2026 Department Scholar for both of her majors and recognized as the top scholar in the School of Film and Television.
Congratulations, Athena, on all of your incredible accomplishments! We can’t wait to see how you thrive in this next chapter.
