J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication Award Recipients
James T. Tiedge Memorial Award
KIMBERLY S. SCHWANDT, COMM '01
Washington, D.C.
She has asked President Obama and Vice President Biden questions as a member of the press pool, was on Air Force One the day President Obama authorized the Osama bin Laden mission, has flown to multiple countries, including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Israel, Burma, Australia and South Korea, and more. All in a day’s work for Kimberly.
As senior White House producer for the Fox News Channel, she revels in telling stories and watching history unfold.
“I never know which direction the day will go or what story I may end up covering,” she says. “I love that I am constantly learning. I’m a naturally curious person, but the variety of topics I get to dig into keeps me challenged.”
Kimberly has worked her way through the industry at a frenetic pace, starting as an executive producer for the Milwaukee Public Schools. She then worked as a senior consulting producer for Leaders in the New Economy, an executive producer for the Don & Bo Show, and a producer for Hearst–Argyle Television in Washington, D.C.
Kimberly landed at Fox in 2007 and has tackled a variety of topics: reporting on the complexities of Mideast peace, funding fights with Congress, how presidents spend their vacations, the health care law, taxes and the economy, emerging and evolving terrorist threats, natural disasters, fighting Ebola, and presidential executive and veto power.
“I am an eternal student,” she says, “and Marquette contributed to my success in several ways. I benefited from the freedom my professors gave — whatever I wanted to explore, do or investigate, they were supportive and had a go-for-it attitude.”
Living in Washington has informed Kimberly’s community service activities. She enjoys greeting World War II veterans disembarking from Badger Honor Flights and participates at Arlington National Cemetery in Wreaths Across America, which is dedicated to laying Christmas wreaths on the tombs of fallen soldiers.
Fun Facts
Hometown: Springfield, Ill.
Favorite quote: “This quote reminds me to dream big! And early and often: ‘Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’ — Lewis Carroll from Through the Looking Glass.”
Dream dinner guest: “Abraham Lincoln. I am from Springfield, Ill., so I grew up loving Lincoln, and that has never stopped. It’s my favorite memorial in D.C., and I often go there at sunrise to think. I’d have a million questions for him — was he ever scared or nervous about his decision in the Civil War? What, or who, ultimately influenced his decision? Did he understand the magnitude of saving the union? What did he think was his best leadership quality? What made him laugh?”
Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you: “Drs. Kenneth Ksobiech, Karen Slattery, Michael Havice and Gregory Porter embodied that “go-for-it!” spirit in whatever I dreamed up or planned. They let me explore, do and go for whatever I found interesting or fascinating. They basically said: ‘Here’s a camera, microphone and pen. Go!’ Dr. Ksobiech in particular was an expert storyteller. He would have us on the edge of our seats and often weaved in human nature and psychology in what he was teaching about television. Dr. Phillip Naylor also kept my fascination with history strong. And who can forget a professor who brings a guitar to class?”
Favorite Marquette memory: “Sitting in the Brew Bayou coffee shop. What an amazing place to get a caffeine buzz and get the buzz on campus at the same time. I love that you could put on some headphones and be in your own world studying or could sit there with friends or get distracted by who walked in the door. I did a lot of dreaming about my future sitting in those seats — in fact, based on my journal entries, I know my goals of living a life with purpose, passion and going for big things was birthed in the Brew Bayou.”
When you were in grade school, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why? “I wanted to be a journalist. I’m lucky that I knew from a young age what I wanted to do. I had a fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Griffith, who made us read the newspaper. If we forgot our assignment of reading one article and telling the class about it, we had to sing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of the entire class. I never missed the assignment. Mr. Griffith was also really into history, and I made the connection that news is covering history of the day.”
Who is your Marquette legacy? “None yet! But I hope to have one in the future.”
Who has been the most influential person in your life, and why? “My grandparents. I’m the granddaughter of South Dakota farmers on both sides. Growing up, I would spend weeks on the farm with them in the summer, and I learned to love the land, the value of hard work, the importance of giving your word and having faith. Those times on my grandfather’s tractor or helping my grandmother in the garden taught me about the value of living a life with integrity. One of my grandmothers only had an eighth-grade education because she had to leave school and help her dad with crops and cattle. To skip a generation and knowing that I can be in the Oval Office saying “excuse me, Mr. President” sometimes boggles my mind. But I know that it’s from the direction of my grandparents and in turn my parents and the old-fashioned values of hard work and honesty that got me to where I am today.”
