Senior Letter 2025

By Mattie Fitzpatrick and Jelisa Gonzalez | December 8, 2025

Pictured above: Mattie Fitzpatrick (left) and Jelisa Gonzalez (right).

Photo Credit (left): Mattie Fitzpatrick | The ASP

Photo Credit (right): Jelisa Gonzalez | The ASP

Mattie Fitzpatrick

It’s strange to think that I’ve been on the ASP for my entire college career, but it’s true. I joined my first semester freshman year, and my first story was about Queen Elizabeth II dying. And now three and a half years later, I’m Editor in Chief and have delved more into APA formatting and journalism ethics than I ever thought I would. 

It has been so incredibly rewarding though. However much work and trouble this newspaper has been, I wouldn’t make a single choice differently because it has introduced me to so many amazing people and unforgettable memories. It’s given me the chance to become involved in college and to further grow into myself more than I thought possible.

In my time writing for the ASP, I have become more self-assured than I ever thought I would. I have had so many experiences that I never thought would happen; including but not limited to, getting contacted by the New York Attorney General’s Office, recognizing the voice of an officer from body cam footage and showing up to the UPD station at 19 to follow up on a Freedom of Information Request.

Journalism, I have found, creates the opportunity to educate themselves as well as their audience, and this has been my favorite part of the ASP. I know more about UAlbany than I ever thought I would, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can only hope that I’ve done right by the UAlbany and Albany community in my time writing for the ASP. 

I have the utmost faith in the staff that I am leaving behind as was placed in me. Lucienne Burns, Sofia Lamdichi, Carter Schum and Mirai Abe are going to do an incredible job serving the UAlbany community, and I am so excited to see what these absolutely exceptional people do next. It has been such a pleasure working with them. 

I would be remiss if not to mention the incredible mentorship I have enjoyed in my time at the ASP: Henry Fisher, Vince Gasparini, Shawn Ness and Christian Hince. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but your passion for journalism has inspired me, and working with you four is some of the highlights of my college career. Thank you for believing in me enough to allow me to become a part of the editorial staff. 

Throughout my time on the ASP, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy the friendship of our entire staff but there is one person who sticks out: Kathryn Taleporos, whom I met my freshmen year. And she has been a confidant, co-worker and friend ever since. She has consistently been one of the best parts of being on the ASP and I know she’s going to do amazing things. I only hope that I could be there to see them. 

Another special thank you to the people who keep this paper running: Sophia Arredondo, our social media manager, Sarah Huff, our business manager, and our copy editors Tori Wilson, Jelisa Gonzalez, and Mirai Abe. These incredible people truly make up the backbone of the ASP. 

For anybody thinking of writing for the ASP, a bit of advice: do it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It provides the kind of experience that you can’t pay for and the kind of friendship that can’t be bought. 

Signing off for the final time,

Mattie Fitzpatrick

Editor in Chief (Fall 2025)

News Editor (Spring 2024 - Spring 2025)

Executive Editor (Fall 2025 - Spring 2025)

Copy Editor (Fall 2024)

Staff Writer (Fall 2022 - Fall 2025)

Jelisa Gonzalez

As my time as an undergraduate at UAlbany comes to an end, I cannot help but feel a bittersweet feeling. I was the young girl who decided to go to a school two hours away from home in pursuit of finding a self that exists away from those she cares most about. Not only was it not easy, it was an adventure that carried trials and tribulations; unaware of what my next move may be at any given moment.

In trying to find a purpose on campus, I found that I needed to lean into my strengths. In that case, it was reading and writing. Ultimately deciding to become an English major did that for me. Having that clarity allowed me to find extracurriculars and engage with those of a similar mindset. 

I’ll never forget the day the previous Editor in Chief, Henry, of the Albany Student Press came into my Creative Writing course my freshman year. I knew nothing of student newspapers at the time and was intrigued by how much positivity he exhibited while talking about what the Press does. Though I was hesitant and was still fairly new to the Albany environment, I held off going to mass meetings. 

In the middle of my sophomore year, I started writing for the creative writing section. I would write poems and they would be published on a biweekly basis or whenever I could muster up something that I wanted to share. I felt a sense of accomplishment, being a part of something greater than myself. 

I became a copyeditor during my junior year and that was when I was able to feel the full force of the Press. I got to copyedit stories before they went out and get a better grasp on what was going on in the greater Albany community and contribute to passing by that information. I would attend meetings alongside section editors and connect with individuals who had a similar mindset when it came to expression and sharing the stories of the people in the community. 

Through all my experiences, I am eternally grateful to the Albany Student Press for giving me the confidence to try new types of storytelling and connect with individuals who also believe in the importance of that.

Jelisa Gonzalez 

Staff Writer Fall (2023- Spring 2024)

Copy Editor Spring (2024- Fall 2025)