Abigail Saplak Builds a Foundation for Her Journalism Career at CSU

Journalism has always been more than a field of study for Abigail Saplak. It’s a way to tell stories, explore the world, and connect with people.

Abigail, a senior at Cleveland State University (CSU), is pursuing an integrated degree in journalism and criminology, with a minor in broadcasting, through the School of Communication within the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. The combination reflects her interests in both storytelling and understanding the issues and people behind the stories she hopes to tell.

“I like being here at CSU, and I like my professors,” Abigail said. “Journalism is something I’ve always loved. Whether it’s writing or reporting, or it just being a creative outlet for me.”

Abigail, who grew up about 30 minutes northeast of campus in Mentor, came to CSU after graduating from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School. During her junior year at CSU, the university introduced an integrated degree combining journalism and criminology. 

“I decided to switch over to the integrated degree because criminology has always been something that interests me, and I thought maybe one day I might end up doing some sort of crime reporting,” Abigail said. “It didn’t set me back at all in terms of graduation or anything and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have!”

Abigail’s CSU experience has extended well beyond the classroom. She serves as copy editor for the Vindicator, CSU’s Arts & Culture Magazine, and as a staff writer for The Cleveland Stater, a laboratory news site produced by students in the School of Communication.

Those experiences have given Abigail the opportunity to put her classroom learning into practice while developing the professional skills needed in journalism.

“It’s been amazing working at the Vindicator and The Cleveland Stater,” Abigail said. “You learn a lot about journalism through your classes, but to be part of a real-world type of experience where you must meet deadlines and collaborate with your peers is invaluable experience.”

The opportunity to work alongside fellow students has been an important part of Abigail’s education. Faculty mentors also have played an important role in her academic development.

Abigail points to her faculty advisor, Dr. Beth Thomas, and Vindicator advisor, Dr. Ed Horowitz, as key figures who have helped guide her at CSU.

“Dr. Thomas has been very helpful,” Abigail said. “She gives great recommendations for classes and is an amazing resource for me. Dr. Horowitz has also been very important during my time at CSU and helped me get the position at the Vindicator.”

“Abigail impressed me as an excellent writer when she was a student in my Advanced Reporting class last spring,” Dr. Horowitz said. “What particularly stood out was her strong command of grammar, syntax, and AP Style, which are skills that are essential to good journalism. When the copy editor position at The Vindicator opened up, I thought she would be an excellent fit. I'm so happy that she's taken on this challenging role. It is not something every student is capable of doing well.”

Abigail also brings a wide range of interests and experiences to her education outside the classroom. A Cleveland sports fan who grew up as a gymnast, she’s also an avid traveler, having visited six countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as multiple states throughout the United States. 

Abigail’s dream is to build a career that gives her opportunities to travel the world while writing about people, places, and events. Her experiences at CSU are helping her take steps toward that goal by giving her opportunities to develop her writing, reporting, and communication skills in both the classroom and real-world settings.

Abigail is looking toward graduation in May 2027 with the confidence that CSU has prepared her for what comes next.

“I feel like my professors at CSU have prepared me for success after graduation,” Abigail said. “There’s a lot of opportunities here at CSU.”

Those opportunities have provided more than a path toward a degree. They have helped Abigail find her voice as a journalist, explore her interests, and begin building the skills and experience to pursue a career that can take her around the world.