By Catherine Kierce | Associate Editor
As part of a new series, Mosaic would like to recognize its graduating seniors. As they move on to the next stage of their life, we would like to acknowledge their time as members of the newspaper and the greater Salve community. This week, we recognize managing editor Stephanie Menders.
When asked last week what was a defining moment in her life, Stephanie Menders wasn’t sure she had an answer for that just yet. “If you ask me on Sunday, I’m hoping I’ll say my thesis presentation,” Menders said, “I’m hoping to reach my final form there… I think it might be the best encapsulation of who I am.”
A senior communications major at Salve Regina University, Menders had spent the last semester preparing “Tracing the Macho Constellation: Categorizing Hypermasculine Discourse in Platinum Age TV Dramas.” She felt the thesis for her major combined the most important parts of her personality, including an interest in gender studies and a love for television and pop culture. The presentation also provided a chance for her to present her improved public speaking skills.
When the day of her presentation finally came, Menders stood outside DiStefano Lecture Hall, fearing nerves would get the better of her. As her friends instilled confidence in her, Menders’ mother Julie told her daughter not to worry. Looking at the circle of support surrounding them, Julie assured her, “You’re a big deal.” Menders laughed nervously at the comment, but friends nodded in agreement. It was soon time to take the stage.
Menders cites the strong women in her life as her greatest inspirations. This starts with her mother, Julie Menders. “My mom has been my best friend forever,” she says, “And having such a close relationship with her has been the most important part of my life.” Although she believes she is primarily self-motivated, Menders says having her mother and aunts supporting her has been a welcomed support system.
Menders’ mother and aunts all work or have worked at libraries, and she describes libraries as a constant presence throughout her childhood and adult life. Menders has worked the front desk at Salve’s McKillop Library during the school year, and has done cataloging there over the summers. She has also interned at Redwood Library, and sees herself volunteering as a literacy specialist at her hometown library after her 2017 graduation.
A self-described quiet student, Menders believes her experience with Salve’s communications department has largely shaped the person she has become. She credits the program with not only helping her realize her passion for journalism and love of writing, but also with allowing her to find her voice. Menders describes Dr. Ramsey, Dr. Harrington-Lueker, and Dr. Madeleine Esch as strong motivators throughout her studies, and their classrooms as ideal environments for her to come out of her shell.
During her time at Salve, Menders has served as literary editor of The Willow Literary Magazine, managing editor of Mosaic, and an active member of Salve Studios. Menders has created numerous film, writing, and journalism pieces for these organizations as well as for her media classes. Describing these pieces as her way of creating a footprint to leave at Salve, Menders takes pride in everything she has produced. She has recently co-written a 15 page script for Salve Studios, which she then co-directed as well. Menders also fondly recalls producing authentic news pieces for Mosaic, such as her Black Lives Matter protest video, and “Should Salve Reconsider ‘Columbus day’?”.
After graduation, Menders has planned her return home to Norwich, CT to hopefully work on freelance reporting with the Norwich Bulletin. She will also continue to do promotional work for a Newport based digital marketing firm that she currently works with. Menders hopes to continue to climb the ladder in the field of news writing, but also sees herself potentially returning to the world of academia. Because of her love of everything pop culture, Menders cites her dream job as becoming a media studies professor.
With one main example in her thesis being the show Breaking Bad, Menders recalls her time spent watching the same show in her dorm room freshman year. As someone with a reserved personality, she recalls taking some time to find her niche at Salve. Describing her own transformation, Menders believes, “There’s something to be said for starting at the bottom of the totem pole and working your way up.” Coming to Salve, she found an environment drastically different from the high school she had grown comfortable with. She describes her own initial hesitation to go to club meetings, but her eventual transformation into the socially and academically involved student she is now.
Looking back on her freshman year, Menders would describe her life now as far more hectic, but also a routine she is sad to soon be moving on from. She describes her feelings on her upcoming graduation as “Melancholy,” and wishes that she could stay within the Salve community longer.
On Saturday, April 22, Menders finally experienced her defining moment. Her thesis was presented with 
poise, speaking on the hyper-masculine discourse in contemporary TV shows; it was clear that the semester was spent studying a passionate topic for the young writer. After giving thoughtful answers to audience questions, and then leading the group into a brief lunch break, Menders had not yet left the stage before friends, family, and supporters rushed to give hugs and share in her pride. As she stood with the group on the stage of DiStefano Lecture Hall, a relaxed, confident glow had replaced what was previously an anxious demeanor.
“As grandma says,” Julie Menders joked to her daughter, “You’ll sleep well tonight.” Stephanie smiled and nodded in wholehearted agreement. Through a dedicated college career and a long semester of research and preparation, she had successfully created her own self-defining moment.
