BAY VIEW ACADEMY STUDENTS HONORED BY VISIT FROM EMMY AWARD WINNING BROADCASTER, SUSAN HOGAN

East Providence, RI –  

Bay View Academy Upper School students were treated to a visit by reporter, Susan Hogan on Wednesday, January 16^th. Hogan, the Emmy award winning “Call 12 for Action,” problem solving reporter, spent approximately 40 minutes talking to Bay View’s Upper School students about her career, the opportunities of working in the media, and her own experience with an all-girls education. 

Hogan explained that she, too, attended an all-girls, Catholic high school in Hingham, MA (Notre Dame Academy) before going onto Syracuse University, where she graduated with a degree in Consumer Studies and a desire to become an investigative reporter. Her path to reporting was unconventional, since she didn’t take any television or journalism classes while at Syracuse. Hogan used this point to stress to her Bay View audience that sometimes what it takes is a belief in yourself and sheer determination.

You’ll have a lot of obstacles and people saying, ‘You can’t do that! That’s not the process!’ Well you know what? Sometimes you have to go around the process…it all comes down to determination and what you put into it…you can do anything you want to do and be anything you want to be, but it’s up to you to get there.”

The students were particularly captivated when Hogan explained the importance of being confident and assertive in their lives--reminding them that confidence and assertiveness are not the same as rudeness. She also stressed the importance of having a positive self-image, explaining that though television is a very visual medium and there are definite demands on physical appearance, what’s most important is that “you’re confident with what you look like.”  She added, “When you look in the mirror, if you’re happy with you; that is the ultimate goal.”

After Hogan’s presentation she opened the floor for questions. Senior Maggie Dunleavy from Cranston, RI, enthusiastically volunteered with the first student question. She asked, “Being a woman and having grown up in the industry, have you encountered any challenges, any discrimination?”

Hogan laughed and responded “Being a woman AND being blond!” She acknowledged that she is conscious of the fact that at most press conferences she is one of the only women in the crowd and therefore always pushes to “set the tone” by trying to ask the first question. “All I know is that I found my niche and I like what I do. I look at them (men) as equals. I hope they feel the same.”

Hogan also fielded questions about what it’s like to win an Emmy, how she thinks women are faring in management positions within the industry, what other broadcasting jobs there are outside of being a reporter, and even what celebrities she has met. 

Bay View parent, Dave Layman, former news anchor, corporate communications consultant and owner of Layman Communications in North Kingstown, RI, facilitated Hogan’s visit by reaching out to former news colleagues for a female broadcaster willing to address an audience of young women. Hogan graciously accepted. 

When asked why she agreed to give of her time and come speak at Bay View Academy, she said it was because the students are at an age where “there is so much ahead of them. I hope to try to make an impact on these young women.  If they take away even one thing I said, then I feel I’ve made that impact.”

St. Mary Academy-Bay View is an independent Catholic School for girls open to all faiths, Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, located in East Providence, Rhode Island. In existence since 1874, Bay View endeavors to provide a quality education preparing girls and young women for the challenges of the global community. St. Mary Academy–Bay View is a college preparatory school accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.