Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor in chief of America, and Traug Keller, America Media’s president, announced today the selection of three graduating seniors from three U.S. colleges to serve as the 2024-25 Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellows. This year’s fellows are:
Leilani Fuentes: graduating senior, Williams College
Connor Hartigan: graduating senior, Georgetown University
Grace Lenahan: graduating senior, Boston College
O’Hare fellows spend one year at America Media working on print, digital, audio and film projects while benefiting from mentoring and professional development opportunities. Fellows reside at Fordham University Lincoln Center, where they engage in a dynamic community in the heart of New York City, the media capital of the world.
“Over the eight years the O'Hare Fellowship has existed, I have been consistently impressed by the talent, generosity and interest in the life of the church shown by the fellows,” said Father Sawyer. “We see the same qualities in Leilani, Connor and Grace, and we are excited to welcome them to the team at America Media as the ninth cohort.”
“We are thrilled to introduce the newest cohort of O'Hare Fellows at America Magazine! These talented individuals embody the spirit of the O'Hare Fellowship program, which aims to nurture the next generation of thought leaders and storytellers. We are confident that their contributions will enrich our publication and inspire our readers,” said Traug Keller.
The Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellowship is a program of America Media, co-sponsored by Fordham University. The fellowship is named in honor and memory of Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., who served as editor in chief of America (1975-84) and president of Fordham University (1984-2003).
The O’Hare fellowship is made possible through the generosity of William J. Loschert, KSG, of Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, Class of 1961, and a former member of America Media’s board of directors.
About the 2024-25 O’Hare fellows
Leilani Fuentes is graduating from Williams College with a major in Political Science and concentrations in International Relations and Latino Studies. She served as Co-Chair for the Williams Catholic student group for two years, and received a college-funded fellowship to conduct independent ethnographic research on the humanitarian efforts of local Catholic churches in Rome over the summer of 2023. During her senior year, she completed a senior honors thesis that examined border art in San Diego as a form of claiming space for the Mexican diaspora. In her free time she enjoys dancing, curating the playlists for her college radio show, and reading. She is originally from Escondido in Southern California. As an O’Hare fellow she is excited to explore immigration reform and the role of lay people in parish life today.
Connor Hartigan is a graduating senior at Georgetown University, where he studied French, theology and political science, and earned distinction as a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit honor society. He is deeply involved with Catholic life on campus, particularly with Music Ministry as a cantor and member of the Chapel Choir. Originally from New Haven, Conn., Connor loves running, kayaking, reading and visiting coffee shops in his spare time. As an O'Hare Fellow, Connor is excited to explore his interest in Ignatian spirituality, Catholic social teaching and the Church's commitment to justice for the most vulnerable.
Grace Lenahan is a fourth-year Dean's Scholar at Boston College studying English and Women’s and Gender Studies. She researches American authors, writes poetry and enjoys discussing modern gender theory from a theological lens. Grace is a teaching assistant for two business law courses, as well an undergraduate liaison for the Catalyst Summer Management Program. Outside of academics, she runs a conversation-driven club called I Am That Feminist and leads Kairos, a campus ministry retreat. As an O’Hare Fellow, she is eager to explore legal justice, coverage of the 2024 election and the evolution of women in the church.
About the O’Hare Fellowship
The Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellowship supports the next generation of writers for the Catholic media and other forms of professional journalism. The fellowship offers three recent graduates of Jesuit and non-Jesuit colleges or universities in the United States or Canada the opportunity to develop their literary skills and professional relationships while living and working in the capital of global communications, New York City.
O’Hare fellows spend 11 months working at the offices of America Media, where they will generate content for America’s multiple platforms: print, web, digital, social media and events. O’Hare fellows enjoy a rich personal and professional experience through ongoing mentoring and other opportunities. Fellows meet regularly with America’s editorial staff, including James Martin, S.J., editor at large of America and a New York Times best-selling author, in order to cultivate their skills and professional networks.
At the conclusion of the program, O’Hare fellows are uniquely suited to pursue successful careers in the Catholic media or other forms of professional journalism. O’Hare fellows receive housing at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, health care coverage and a monthly stipend for living expenses during the 11 months of the program.
Learn more at www.oharefellows.org.
About America Media
America Media is the leading provider of editorial content for thinking Catholics and those who want to know what Catholics are thinking. America Media leads the conversation about faith and culture by producing excellent, unique, relevant and accessible content across multiple platforms. Our contributors are the principal figures in the American church; the decision-makers and opinion leaders who lead the ecclesial and civic debate about religion, society, politics and the arts. Those with something to say to the American church say it in America: popes and presidents; Nobel laureates; Pulitzer Prize winners; world-renowned scholars; and distinguished men and women of letters. Our flagship magazine, America, has been published continuously since 1909, making it one of the oldest periodicals in the United States today.
