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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Lisa Schnellinger Class of 1977
Each month, we will feature one alumnus on our webpage. We hope that their stories will be an inspiration to our students and encourage them to work their hardest and attain their highest goals.
Lisa Schnellinger graduated from St. Mary high school in 1977 and has had a successful and diverse career. She is married to her husband Tom and uses her talents to help her community at home but also around the world.
After high school Lisa graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Washington (Seattle).
Lisa has her own website which you can view by clicking here.
Lisa Schnellinger Class of 1977
Who was your favorite teacher?
I couldn’t possibly pick only one! Mr. Lindquist, Mr. Janelle, Mrs. Renwand, Fr. Bishop, Sister Donald Joseph, Mr. Kelly… they were all so good. And I have appreciated them more since I got older and realized that they were seriously underpaid!
What was your favorite subject in high school?
I can hardly think of a subject I didn’t like. What was great was that we had so many choices even for a small high school - choir, creative writing, biology, algebra…. I was especially grateful that I was allowed to do an independent study in Chinese history; it was an important step in my career overseas.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities?
Yearbook, folk group, science club, hmmm…….. I cannot remember what else.
What is your favorite memory from the time you spent at SMCC?
I had so many good times with friends. My favorite events were all of the performances with the choir – especially singing the Latin Mass. It is incredible work of music, and I am still amazed that Mr. Lindquist attempted it and all the other challenging pieces we did.
What is one import lesson, teaching, or idea you took away from your time at SMCC?
I always felt like an oddball, but I learned that if you are genuine and honest, you’ll find people with whom you can be comfortable and feel at home. A good lesson for traveling.
What is your current occupation?
I have more than one occupation as a freelancer. I am a consultant on developing the media in emerging democracies (places like Iraq and Afghanistan), which includes designing projects and writing proposals, as well as being a project manager, journalism trainer and editor. In the US I have a photography business, mostly fine arts images but also portraits and other commercial work, and I teach photography.
How long have you been at your current job?
About 14 years as a freelancer, about three years in the photography business. This followed 15 years of work as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Ohio and Seattle.
What made you choose this occupation?
I was disillusioned with journalism at US newspapers; I wanted to help colleagues overseas instead. I wanted to help them communicate in their countries and their own stories, rather than being interpreted by foreign journalists. I think that the image of countries like Afghanistan and Iraq gets distorted in an overly negative way by how outside media covers them.
Photography has always been part of being a journalist, but in the last three years I’ve turned to artistic photography as a new form, because words seemed insufficient to express my perceptions and ideas.
What do you do when you are not working?
Is there something to do other than work? Really I love my work and it blends with my recreation. For my photography, hiking and being outdoors are really important – we live in the Southern Appalachians and the natural environment is so diverse and beautiful. I serve on the board of a community arts group. I travel a lot for work, but I also do a lot of work at home and I love being at home with my husband Tom and just being domestic. We’re both geeks and I love playing with new technology. I also spend a lot of time raising money for a girls school in Afghanistan and giving talks about Afghanistan.
What would your words of wisdom be to current students at SCCS/SMCC?
Explore places that are unfamiliar – whether it is down the street, or around the globe – even if they seem scary at first. You will always learn from these experiences, and you’ll acquire a wealth that is far more meaningful than what’s in your bank account.
Any additional information you would like us to know?
My life doesn’t fit into a form very well….
I have traveled to more than 40 countries and worked with colleagues in 20 countries. I have lived in Afghanistan, China, Dubai, the South Pacific, and Timor-Leste – as well as Seattle and now North Georgia. In Afghanistan, I helped to start the first independent news agency, and I have gone back to work there again in the past year. I’ve also worked recently in Iraq with journalists there. I’m so glad that I had this experience; it has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling. I will keep doing it as long as I can!
