Hello fellow Maroons! My name is Joyelle Ronan, and I’m very excited to be joining Maroons for Life as a Contributing Editor. This role feels very full circle as writing for the Brackety-Ack first sparked my interest in journalism. I feel honored to help get to tell your stories, and I hope my interviews and articles will inspire curiosity and connection among the Roanoke College community.
I am drawn to telling the stories of people who seek to create, innovate, and think about life in new and interesting ways. Luckily, Maroons never cease to amaze me. From starting new businesses or continuing their education to being active members of their communities and making a real difference in the lives of others, RC graduates go on to do great things. I think it’s a real testament to how well Roanoke prepares us for life beyond college.
Truly, so many of the skills I use everyday in my career can be traced back to my time there. I’ve now written about the arts for several print and digital publications, including Central New York Magazine, Richmond Magazine, Richmond Bride, and FilmObsessive. But, I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing my byline in the glossy pages of a magazine when I interned with a DC-based lifestyle and entertainment magazine, as part of the Lutheran College Washington Semester.
After graduating from Roanoke College in 2021 with a B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Screen Studies, I attended Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School Of Public Communications and earned an M.A. in Arts Journalism and Communications. As a student there, I created a film convention for the romantic comedy genre called Rom Con. The idea for this event began when I completed my honors in the major project– a video essay about the troupes and lack of diversity in rom coms.
My next adventure led me to Richmond, Virginia where I worked as a Content Writer for a real estate website. I wrote hundreds of neighborhood and city guides, from coastal California to small towns in the south, that captured each area’s essence and featured insights from local real estate agents. It was an amazing way to explore the country, despite never leaving the office, and shaped the way I define “home.”
When I’m not researching and writing, I love exploring my city. I’ve spent the past three years taking in all of the art, history, and culture that RVA has to offer. My weekends often consist of seeing a film, catching a live performance, exploring a park, or trying a new restaurant with my friends. Richmond is also full of Maroons, so I always feel close to campus despite the three hour drive.
I always love chatting with alumni, friends, and family of Roanoke College, so please reach out if you have a story you want to share. You can find me on LinkedIn, or my inbox is open at joyelleronan@gmail.com. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of RC’s social engagement with Maroons for Life, and can’t wait to hear from you!