‘CARPE DIEM’ SPIRIT INSPIRES YOUNG ALUMNI FROM MEDIA TO MEDICINE, FROM DANCE ADVOCACY TO DATA ANALYTICS, RECENT GRADS ARE MAKING AN IMPACT
If you need proof that Mercyhurst students take to heart the constant exhortation to “Seize the Day,” you’ll fnd it in the pages that follow.
In this issue, we profle a handful of 21 st -century Mercyhurst graduates who’ve wasted no time making their marks on the world. We could have written dozens of similar stories. While this issue focuses on post-2000 graduates, Mercyhurst Magazine will continue to feature alums of all generations who are doing interesting things, on the job or in their communities. If you have a story to suggest, email editor Sue Corbran at scorbran@mercyhurst.edu . JENNIFER MOBILIA ’03
Jennifer Mobilia ’03 distinctly remembers being glued to the TV—at age 6—watching coverage of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. “At that moment I realized the importance and power of journalism and the great responsibility journalists have,” she says. “I knew there was nothing else in this world I wanted to do more.” Jennifer got her wish. After getting her start at Erie’s WJET-TV, she moved on to larger markets in Fort Myers, Florida; Bufalo, New York; and Providence, Rhode Island. Today she anchors the 7 and 11 p.m. news on News10NBC in Rochester, New York, and anchors breaking news at 5 and 6. Social media and 24-hour news channels have changed the way TV stations deliver news, she notes. “Our focus used to be our on-air newscasts. While our newscasts are still very important, we also now focus on getting breaking news and new information to viewers through our website, social media and push notifcations through our mobile app.” She regularly hosts “Jen at 10,” a Facebook Live show. Journalists also face the challenge of fake news, particularly on social media, Jennifer says. She’s doing her part in that battle with a new segment called “News or Noise.” She invites viewers to submit stories circulating
on social media, and then investigates to fnd out where the story falls on her “news to noise” meter. She’s covered major stories like New York’s frst same-sex marriage, Hurricane Sandy, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Boston Marathon bombing, the arrest of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, and countless blizzards and snow storms. But, Jennifer adds, “The work I’m most proud of is my coverage of Erie’s Pizza Bomber bank robbery. I’ve always had an interest in criminal cases, but this bizarre case was full of twists and turns that were just fascinating to me.” “I love working in local news because it gives you an opportunity to become a part of the community you live and work in,” she says. “Network reporters are always on an airplane, sleeping in hotels and away from their families. That’s defnitely not for me.” A North East native, she bucked her family’s Penn State tradition to enroll at Alabama but she wasn’t happy in Tuscaloosa and quickly returned home. She took some business courses at Mercyhurst North East. “I unexpectedly fell in love with the school, the professors, the Catholic values and the beautiful campus. Mercyhurst instantly felt like home—that’s why I stayed to get two degrees.”
as well. Her grandfather, father and uncle planted and maintained the vineyards on the Redemptorist Seminary property for many decades. Her parents, who now operate Arrowhead Wine Cellars, were also among the original donors who raised $500,000 to help Mercyhurst turn the seminary property into a college campus. After receiving an associate degree in Business Administration at North East, Jennifer headed to the communication department at the Erie campus. “Nothing can prepare you for some of the horrifc things you’ll see, the stories you’ll cover or the stress of working in television news,” she says. “However, Mercyhurst taught me the importance of compassion for all, fairness, accuracy and honesty.” Outside the TV world, Jennifer is the proud mother of a white standard poodle named Anna and operates a small online jewelry store, TVGirlBling.com . In her free time, she enjoys running, spending too much money in New York City, cheering on the struggling Bufalo Bills and being with her family.
She had a family connection at North East
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