Mattanah DeWitt ('19)
Associate Director of Marketing, Passages
Union not only equipped Mattanah DeWitt with the technical skills and work ethic for the 海角乱伦社区 God has called her to, but also influenced the way she sees the world and integrates her faith into all she does.
DeWitt is a December 2019 graduate of Union who studied journalism and photojournalism. She lives in Allen, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) and works as the associate director of marketing for Passages. Passages is an organization that takes Christian college students to Israel to give them an experience that develops their faith and leadership and to introduce them to the place and people of Israel.
DeWitt went on a trip to Israel with Passages as a college freshman in 2017, and she fell in love with it. She continued to be involved in Passages鈥� alumni program and went to Israel four more times through Passages and connections she made with the organization, including attending a Christian Media Summit and volunteering at a Christian Aramaic Camp.
鈥淚t was this crazy journey that I didn鈥檛 really see coming, but then I loved every part of it,鈥� she said.
Besides traveling to Israel, as a Union student DeWitt was the Student Government Association鈥檚 president of the freshman council and worked as a resident adviser and resident staff adviser for Residence Life on campus. She was also involved in the Cardinal & Cream student magazine, serving as editor-in-chief her senior year.
鈥淢y passion for storytelling really grew out of that,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he team experiences I had there, the close friendships I developed, it was amazing. That definitely prepared me to do my job even now, for sure.鈥�
At Union, DeWitt said she learned how to put Christ鈥檚 command to love others into practice from staff in Student Life like Ashley Akerson, Bryan and Tricia Carrier, Erin Slater and Ken Litscher. She was invested in 鈥� not just taught skills and knowledge 鈥� by faculty like Ted Kluck, Aaron Hardin and Keith Bates.
鈥淚t was their teaching, their mentorship, their encouragement, their friendship even, that really equipped me and gave me confidence in what I鈥檓 doing now 鈥� not just in what I do, but really in who I am as a person,鈥� DeWitt said.
She is thankful for the skills and experiences she gained at Union, particularly in the journalism program.
DeWitt said she thinks that Kluck, assistant professor of communication arts, leads one of the most prestigious journalism programs among Christian colleges. The Cardinal & Cream has competed in the Southeastern Journalism Conference 鈥� which is not just for Christian schools, but secular ones 鈥� and has won multiple magazine awards.
鈥淸Kluck] has the joy of writing, and that鈥檚 contagious,鈥� DeWitt said.
When it came time for her to graduate from Union, DeWitt was not sure what her 海角乱伦社区 path would be. She knew many college students did not get their 鈥渄ream jobs鈥� right out of college, so she was prepared for that kind of journey. However, Passages鈥� media and communications director, Rachael Powell, gave her the opportunity to interview for this role at Passages, and it was a great fit. She got the job offer the day before her graduation.
DeWitt said being a part of the Passages team feels like family. She likes that the media and communications team is small, because she is able to put her skills into practice and work in many different realms such as social media management, podcast production, email marketing and more. While travel has been on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, her team has had to be even more creative by offering virtual experiences for students.
Her time at Union transformed her life and equipped her well for her 海角乱伦社区 today.
鈥淯nion is a place not just where you learn how to 鈥榙o,鈥� but you learn how to 鈥榖e,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where you 鈥榖ecome,鈥� especially with the journalism department. Obviously, 鈥榖ecoming鈥� is an aspect of life at Union regardless of what major you choose 鈥� you鈥檙e going to transform in those four years. There鈥檚 going to be times that you remember for the rest of your life, that you point to as the start of something amazing that happens later on.鈥�