'Meet the Press' Fellowship Picks John Carroll Student

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH — Mary Frances McGowan is the latest recipient of the NBC/John Carroll University "Meet the Press" fellowship. McGowan will spend nine months working on the set of "Meet the Press".

McGowan is a senior at the college and a double major in communications and political science. She's perfect for the fellowship because she's intent on pursuing a career political journalism, a la John Carroll's most famous communications alum, Tim Russert.

McGowan is from Brecksville, Ohio and attended Our Lady of the Elms High School. She has worked as the editor-in-chief of the The Carroll News, the student newspaper at JCU. She has also done internships with WKYC-TV and U.S. Congresswoman Marcia Fudge.

She is also one of 20 members of the JCU Class of 2017 selected for the Leadership Scholars Program and is the recipient of the Plain Dealer Scholarship, awarded for excellence in print journalism. She is a member of the National Communication Association Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta; the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha; the Society of Professional Journalists; and Kappa Delta sorority.

The NBC/John Carroll University "Meet the Press" Fellowship was created in 2009, in memory of Tim Russert. It is awarded annually to a John Carroll graduating senior who plans to pursue a career in political journalism.

Most of McGowan's time at the show will be spent in research and production, according to a statement from the university.

Photo from John Carroll University