Ylan McClintock ('02) is a School of Mass Communication (SMC) success story. The former journalism major is now a Washington Post business reporter living in the nation's capital. She's worked at the Post since 2002, first writing about retail and then transitioning to finance. Now, she covers the impact of the economy on consumers.

McClintock credits the SMC with much of her current success. For her, one of the school's greatest strengths is the professors' commitment and bonds with their students. SMC teachers, she says, use a hands-on approach to educating that motivated her and fellow graduates.

While at Loyola New Orleans, McClintock was a writer for the Maroon. Her fondest memories there include late nights in the newsroom, ordering pizza and working on deadline to get out the next issue.  McClintock started the Maroon's website and became its first online editor.

While in school, McClintock’s first journalism job was an internship at the Times-Picayune. She began as an editorial assistant writing obituaries and worked her way up to copy editor. The T-P internship led McClintock to her current job at the Washington Post.

Making connections is one of the most important pieces of advice McClintock gives to students and young communication professionals. She stresses the importance of students attending networking events and getting an assortment of internships. Having a varied skill set is extremely important for soon-to-be graduates beginning the job hunt.

McClintock’s current life in Washington, D.C, is very different than her previous one in New Orleans. She misses the city’s attitude of "all play, no work," she says. D.C. functions quite differently. "It's all work, no play."