Thank You, Professor McNulty
A headshot of Professor Kathy Norton-McNulty taken by Marist. Photo courtesy Kathy Norton-McNulty
Journalism professor Kathy Norton-McNulty is retiring after eight years at Marist.
Before Kathy Norton-McNulty began teaching journalism at Marist College in 2016, she was a student herself.
During her undergraduate studies from 1975 to 1979, McNulty remembers her journalism professor, Mimi McAndrew. She taught the two journalism classes available at the time, and McNulty would go on to work with McAndrew in a newsroom years later.
“I later worked for her in a professional newsroom, and I learned so much from Mimi. I often channeled her while teaching in Marist classrooms,” said McNulty.
The wisdom McNulty took from McAndrew has been passed on through generations of journalism students. Students and alumni see McNulty as she saw McAndrew — as both a professor and a mentor.
Those who recently studied journalism at Marist will have had McNulty as a professor at some point. She taught many traditional writing courses and acted as the Circle’s faculty advisor until 2023.
As McNulty completes her final semester at Marist, current students and alumni reflect on their time spent with her.
Sarah Lynch ‘21, 2020-2021 Editor-in-Chief of the Marist Circle and current reporter at Inc. Magazine
Professor McNulty and I worked together very closely when I was Editor-in-Chief of the Circle, and she was our trusted faculty advisor. That year was unusual, to say the least. Every facet of campus had been impacted by the pandemic. Campus life as we knew it had transformed. There were protests. There was a presidential election. And all the while, we had big ambitions for elevating the Circle's digital, social and print presences. Professor McNulty guided us through it all with a steady hand and years of experience that were truly invaluable. I must have been on the phone with her at least once a week. But she also let us run the ship ourselves. She wanted us to be creative and independent. I am so thankful that we had her, and I’m sure I’m far from the only student who can say that.
Lauryn Starke ‘23, 2021-2023 Editor-in-Chief of the Marist Circle
Professor McNulty taught us more than journalism. She taught us to be confident in our endeavors and trust our instincts — a lesson I used both during my time at the Circle and in the rest of my life. Professor McNulty always had my back when I needed support, and she was invaluable to my college experience.
Greta Stuckey ‘23, 2021-2023 Managing Editor of the Marist Circle and current graduate journalism student at S.I. Newhouse School of Communication
Professor McNulty was not only supportive of me in the classroom but was also a mentor to me throughout my time at the Marist Circle. When challenging stories happened, or ethical issues came about, Professor McNulty was always my first point of contact and gave me a wealth of knowledge about the journalism industry.
Dr. Kevin Lerner, Associate Professor of Communication/Journalism and Department Chair, Communication
Kathy McNulty takes no bull from her students because she treats them like professionals. Meet your deadlines. Turn in clean copy. Don’t try to pass off this one-source story as reporting. She has always cared about her students’ success and about them as human beings, too. We have worked together as full-time journalism faculty for quite a while, and I like to think that we have created a good partnership. I think I know a lot about journalism, but Kathy knows how to do journalism, and she has a knack for teaching her students how to do it too.
Sam Murphy ‘24, 2023-2024 Editor-in-Chief of the Marist Circle
Even though Professor McNulty was not the Circle’s advisor this year, her impact on the paper and my journalism career has been immense. During my two years as a section editor, I quickly learned not just how much she cared about the paper, but also how she tried to help us all become stronger journalists. Whether in meetings or class, she’d always take the time to read through the Circle, point out what we did well and use her experience to say how we could’ve made ledes, headlines and stories that much stronger. As a professor, she’s taught me invaluable lessons on how to approach a story and look at it from a professional lens. My favorite lesson from her has been to have a thick skin (thanks Instagram DMs) because no matter what, someone will always find something to critique about your work. Thank you, Professor McNulty!
Erin-Leigh Hoffman ‘24, 2023-2024 Managing Editor and Opinion Editor of the Marist Circle
I’ll always remember the day I walked into Newswriting with Professor McNulty the day after an issue of the Circle was published, and she wrote the word ‘donned’ on the board and told me to look at it. I misspelled the word in an article, and from then on, I’ve always made the effort in every situation to spell-check everything over and over. It’s those moments that encapsulate the care and attention Professor McNulty pays to her students and the work that we do. She could have let that typo go, but she let that be a teaching moment for me as a young journalist. I am so thankful to have had the mentorship of Professor McNulty, and her impact on me has been immense as a journalist and a young woman with big goals. Professor McNulty, thank you for your kindness and mentorship. I know I’ll never spell ‘donned’ incorrectly again.
Mackenzie Boric ‘24, 2023-2024 City/National Editor of the Marist Circle
Professor McNulty was the professor I looked up to at Marist. I had professors before her, but none of them were a mentor like she was to me. I can’t lie; I was intimidated at first when I took my Intro to Journalism class with her. From her stature, presence and impressive resume, she was the professor for an impressionable underclassman to look up to. Her feedback on my writing has helped me tremendously, and I’ll always appreciate the creativity that she has allowed for us on our writing assignments. The encouragement and tips she has given us throughout our years here will not be forgotten and will forever be appreciated. Thank you for everything you have done for the journalism students here, Professor McNulty. I’ll always remember you as the one professor who got the fire started in me to push myself to territories unknown in my collegiate career.
Rebekah Hendricks ‘24, 2023-2024 Photo Editor of the Marist Circle
Professor McNulty is the first journalism professor I had at Marist. I was pretty sure that I wanted to do journalism, but after taking Newswriting with Professor McNulty, I was absolutely sure. I remember our first assignment interviewing Professor McNulty about her career. Her passion for journalism and her stories confirmed for me that this is the field I want to go into. I am so grateful for her guidance. My writing has improved so much from that first day of Newswriting to my very last article I wrote for Journalism Workshop. Professor McNulty's dedication to her students is incredible. I have spoken to so many successful students in her classes, thanks to her care to keep in touch with her students after they graduate. Thank you, Professor McNulty, for making me a better writer every day and supporting me through my journey at Marist. Your impact will carry on in the words of every student you have ever taught. I hope we can all make you proud!”
Emma Denes ‘25, 2024-2025 Editor-in-Chief of the Marist Circle
When I first met Professor McNulty, it was when I accidentally walked into a Marist Circle editorial meeting — the same meeting that would mark the first of many interactions with her. Over the course of my time as an undergraduate student, I have taken two classes with Professor McNulty — Newswriting and Magazine Writing — both of which taught me the essentials of good journalism, from composing concise leads to taking photos of people — and definitely not buildings! Professor McNulty always encouraged me in my writing endeavors, and her gracious support and mentorship solidified my passion for the art of long-form feature writing. As I prepare to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief next fall, I hope to incorporate all the lessons she taught me as I lead the student newspaper.
Jaime Holzmann ‘25, 2024-2025 Co-Features Editor of the Marist Circle
Entering journalism as an overwhelmed transfer student, Professor McNulty provided me with a blueprint to writing and reporting that I will forever be grateful for. The stories and wisdom she has shared throughout her career have gone far beyond just teaching journalism and have truly shown me the importance of a journalist’s reporting. You will not often have a professor who really gets to know your writing and way of thinking, but in the three courses I have taken with her, she has remained so supportive of my angles and ideas. She will be dearly missed here at Marist!
Ava Battinelli ‘26, 2024-2025 Co-Campus News Editor of the Marist Circle
Professor McNulty has been nothing but an inspiration for me. It has been an absolute pleasure to have had her as a professor in two classes and an advisor. She has such an impressive background, and she uses her experience to teach journalism in a very effective way. I have learned so much from her, whether it be about writing or just about being a good person in general. I cannot thank her enough for the help and wisdom she’s provided me with, and she will be missed at Marist.
Lea Papakosmas ‘26, 2024-2025 Marketing Director of the Marist Circle
Professor McNulty, it’s been a pleasure having you as one of my professors this year. I’ve learned so much about you, your background, the fundamental elements of journalism and how to be a successful journalist. I learned so much from you, and I’m inspired by all the insight you’ve shared with me and my classmates. Thank you for all your hard work and support to our school!