Alumni Spotlight: Gina Esposito

Across its 129 chapters, Alpha Xi Delta has a vibrant and diverse alumnae network that includes women in all career fields. EMMY award-winning news reporter Gina Esposito is an example of the outstanding women that make up the Alpha Xi Delta alumni network. Esposito was a colony member of the Iota Omicron chapter of Alpha Xi Delta at San Jose State University and served on their first executive board as Membership Vice President. Following graduation, Esposito worked as an Education Leadership Consultant, or ELC, for Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity. Currently, Esposito works as a reporter for WSOC Channel 9 Eyewitness News in Charlotte, NC. In just eight years, she has built an impressive resume anchoring and reporting.

1. How were you involved in you chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, including any leadership positions you held?

I was a colony member who served on the first executive board with Iota Omicron at San Jose State University in California. I served as Membership Vice President for two terms, responsible for recruiting the next three new member classes. I absolutely loved recruitment because I had the opportunity to share what Alpha Xi Delta was all about. It would bring me joy seeing our new members rise up and take leadership positions. My senior year, I was song chair [not because I was a great singer] but because it was a lot of fun!

2. How was your experience in Alpha Xi Delta impactful to you, whether personally or professionally?

I grew so much as person through Alpha Xi Delta. I'd already held leadership positions on campus, but Alpha Xi Delta exposed me to other opportunities and skills I didn't know I had. I became an expert in recruitment and conversation which helped me personally and professionally. As a now 30-year-old, I look back at the tough, smart, and strong person I became as a collegiate member. I also felt I had lot of support from not only my sisters, but our local alumnae and fraternity headquarters.

3. Other than Alpha Xi Delta, what organizations/jobs were you involved in during college that helped to further your career?

As a Freshman, I was a member of Hall Government. As a sophomore, I worked as an Resident Advisor in the Freshmen dooms, in which two of my roommates also joined Alpha Xi Delta. As a junior/senior, I was the Vice President of RTDNA (Radio-Television-Digital-News-Association. I also was a news intern at KTVU Fox 2 in Oakland, CA. I learned a lot as an intern, and received feedback on my work from anchors and reporters. Their feedback gave me a lot of confidence that I could make it as TV Reporter one day.

4. How was your experience as an Educational Leadership Consultant? What did you learn from this role?

As someone who was MVP for two years, it was natural I moved into a recruitment role. For the first few months on the job, I traveled to dozens of chapters up and down the east coast for recruitment. [The Carolinas were my favorite -- and one reason I live here now!] It was challenging being on the road several weeks at a time living out of a suitcase, but it allowed me to see part of the country I've never seen before! I met some incredible women and hopefully made a difference. I knew that the job meant taking a year off from pursing my dreams of becoming a TV Reporter, but I'm glad I did it. The job allowed me to save enough money to afford a rental when I got my first TV job in the middle of nowhere Colorado.

5. What three traits or skills are essential to working in journalism?

If you want to be a journalist, you have to be curious. My sisters used to joke that I could strike up a conversation about anything. You also have be fair. A story needs to be told by others. Make sure you share both sides. You are the messenger. Finally, you have to know how to write conversationally. You will have some tough days covering homicides, missing children and car accidents. You have lighter days covering stories about a new business opening, a non-profit's new program, or people helping other people. How can you tell these stories so people understand them?

6. What advice would you give to current college students looking to pursue a career in communications? Figure out what direction you want to take. If you want to work in TV News, understand that you'll likely start in a small city that may be far away from home. Don't be afraid of new experiences because that's how you grow. My career took me to two states, and 3 different TV stations. I met my husband during my second TV job. If you're looking to get the right experience, make sure you intern somewhere that can give you a good reference. Listen to people in the industry, and don't be afraid to ask for help!