Spotlight: Evita Timmons

Before Mizzou: Originally from Hanceville, Alabama, Evita earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication and theater from Tennessee State University. One of her journalism professors, a Mizzou alum, recommended that Evita apply to the Mizzou Journalism School.

At Mizzou: As a master's student at the Journalism School, Evita says she is getting the training she needs to pursue a career as a copy editor.

I’m copy editing for the Columbia Missourian [the Journalism School-owned daily city newspaper] as part of a class. My work is being critiqued more than when I was an undergraduate, and it’s helping me to become a better editor.

I’m learning more by doing this and not going directly into the field. And I enjoy school — I really do. I’m making myself a little more marketable, and I’m learning more about the design side of journalism, which I didn’t get to experience as much as an undergrad.

[Columbia] is a great place to be in the country. I came from the South, and I wasn’t sure how being in the Midwest would work for me. But Columbia is a great place to come if you’re not used to the Midwest. I’d definitely encourage people to look into Mizzou — it’s just a great opportunity.

(Photo by Jim Yates, journalism master's student)