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Jacqueline Goffney ’03 (Glen Mills, Pa.) spent time with Marilyn Balamaci ’74, senior editor of Family Circle magazine in New York City, during the January interim session. Goffney, an English major, decided to take part in Lafayette’s Alumni Externship program so she could explore career opportunities that focus on editing and writing.
“This externship explored avenues I may pursue and have an interest in upon graduation,” says Goffney. “It built upon my experiences of being a Writing Associate at Lafayette. Many of the techniques I use when suggesting and editing students’ papers were also applicable in magazine editing.” Writing Associates at Lafayette help students from a variety of departments with their writing assignments and are paid by stipend per semester.
Goffney enjoyed seeing how a magazine was put together and took particular interest in how a manuscript from a writer evolves into the completed story published in the magazine.
“This externship provided me with the knowledge that I do want to pursue a career that integrates my love for both writing and reading,” says Goffney. “It also showed me that there are many different types of career opportunities available to an English major besides the standard teaching careers.”
Balamaci worked with Goffney in editing a story for an issue of Family Circle. They discussed changes that needed to be made and Balamaci explained why she agreed or disagreed with the changes.
“She did a great job cutting and fitting the story as well as understanding where the holes were,” says Balamaci. “It was very perceptive of her. She is a bright, intelligent woman who, surprisingly, understood the nuances of magazine editing. I think that was so because she came from a strong English background and has a love of writing and reading. The surprising part to me was that she had no reporting experience. I was delighted that she was able to understand what changes to make without having been in the field.”
Balamaci says she loves working with students and strongly supports the Alumni Externship program. More than 160 took advantage of the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the professional world during the winter break from classes in January.
A graduate of Penncrest High School, Goffney is sisterhood and personal development coordinator of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She also participates in intramural sports.
Marilyn Balamaci '74 (left) works with Jacqueline Goffney '03 at Family Circle.