Ten department heads and seven management editors will comprise the 2026-27 Observer Editorial Board, incoming editor-in-chief Gray Nocjar announced Wednesday. The board’s tenure begins March 7.
“This year’s Editorial Board is talented, vocal and incredibly innovative,” Nocjar said. “The Observer is blessed to be led by such devoted people.”
Thirteen incoming editors have held positions on past editorial boards, a record number in the 60-year history of the newspaper, and three are returning for a rare third term. Four editors hail from Saint Mary’s College, the second-most ever after the 2020-21 board.
Management editors
Junior Aynslee Dellacca will take over as managing editor for her third term on the board. She is the first Saint Mary’s student to hold three distinct editor roles in over 40 years. Margaret Fosmoe, now an associate editor for Notre Dame Magazine, was the last to do so — serving as Saint Mary’s news, managing and executive editor from 1982-84.
Raised in New Palestine, Ind., Dellacca is majoring in anthropological and Indigenous studies and minoring in justice studies and film studies at Saint Mary’s College. She joined The Observer her freshman year writing for news and working production before assuming her role as Saint Mary’s news editor and later as an assistant managing editor. Her coverage interests include administrative policy, campus life, local news and political activism.
Sophomore Sophie Hanawalt will serve as an assistant managing editor this spring. Hanawalt is studying global affairs with minors in sociology and the Gallivan program in journalism, ethics and democracy at Notre Dame. She is from Birmingham, Mich., and calls Welsh Family Hall home. Hanawalt joined The Observer last August, writing and working production before becoming an associate news editor and later the 2025-26 Notre Dame news editor.
“Leading the Notre Dame news department this past year has meant the world to me,” Hanawalt said. “I am so grateful for this new opportunity to serve the paper that has become my second home.”
Sophomore Zack Pohlman will become the first assistant managing editor to have previously served as The Observer’s business manager. The Geneva, Ill., native studies finance and accounting at Notre Dame and is a resident of Duncan Hall. Pohlman is a member of the Business Honors Program and the Gallivan program in journalism, ethics and democracy. Since joining The Observer in August 2024, he served as a staff writer and associate news editor before becoming business manager.
“All glory to God,” Pohlman said. “I’m blessed to call The Observer home and honored by the opportunity to serve on Gray’s staff. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Sophomore Henry Jagodzinski will also continue in his role as an assistant managing editor this spring. He has majors in preprofessional studies and the program of liberal studies at Notre Dame. Originally from Billings, Mont., Jagodzinski now lives in Dillon Hall.
Junior Abby Hernan will remain an assistant managing editor after assuming the role in January. Hernan is studying political science and applied & computational mathematics and statistics and is planning to attend law school after graduation. Originally from Orlando, Fla., she is now a proud member of Lewis Hall at Notre Dame. She served previously as viewpoint editor — the former name for the opinion section.
Junior Grace Tadajweski will retain her role as an assistant managing editor in the fall. Tadajweski hails from Lebanon, Pa., and majors in American studies and film, television and theatre at Notre Dame. Excited to be returning for a second term as an assistant managing editor, Tadajweski has also served as an associate news editor and a news production employee since joining The Observer team in August 2023.
Hernan, Jagodzinski and Tadajweski become the first three assistant managing editors to repeat in the role.
Junior Noah Cahill will assume his role as an assistant managing editor in fall 2026. Cahill majors in psychology at Notre Dame and is pursuing a double minor in journalism, ethics and democracy, and sports, media and culture. Originally from Farmington, Mich., Cahill is a member of the Coyle community in Zahm Hall. He previously served as sports editor in 2025.
Department editors
Junior Annelise Demers will take over as Notre Dame News Editor for the spring 2026 semester. Demers is a global affairs major at Notre Dame with minors in civil and human rights, theology and energy studies. She is from Warwick, Rhode Island, but on campus calls Howard Hall her home. She joined The Observer in her freshman year and has served as an associate news editor since then. Her reporting has covered campus ministry, student government, campus protest, dorm life and other University initiatives.
In the fall, junior Megan Cornell will assume the role of Notre Dame news editor. Cornell studies political science at Notre Dame with a minor in the Gallivan Program in journalism, ethics and democracy. She is from Minneapolis and now lives in Flaherty Hall. She served previously as assistant news editor.
Berhan Hagezom, a sophomore at Saint Mary’s, will continue as Saint Mary’s news editor following her 2025-26 term. Hagezom is a neuroscience major with a biology concentration and chemistry minor. Originally from Las Vegas, she lives in Le Mans Hall. She previously served as a staff writer in the Saint Mary’s news department.
Sophomore Ben Hicks will continue his service as sports editor. A resident of Dillon Hall hailing from Cincinnati, Hicks studies psychology and global affairs at Notre Dame with a minor in sports, media and culture. Joining The Observer in August 2024, Hicks has worked as a sports writer and associate sports editor before taking over as sports editor this January.
Hicks said the reprisal was “a significant honor and high point of my time at Notre Dame.”
Sophomore Duncan Stangel will assume the role of opinion editor. Stangel is a global affairs and theology major at Notre Dame with a minor in data science. He is from Cumberland, Md., and now lives in Alumni Hall. He joined The Observer as a columnist in 2024 before assuming the role of social media editor for the 2025-26 term. His work includes growing The Observer’s social media presence, expanding the newsletter and occasionally writing columns about religion, politics and his unique life experiences.
Junior Luke Foley will remain scene editor for the spring semester after taking over as interim editor in January. Foley is a Business Honors Program student at Notre Dame, majoring in strategic management and theology.
Junior Peter Mikulski will reprise his role as scene editor in the fall after serving in the position over the previous two years. He will become the first editor in 30 years, and the second ever, to spend three terms in the same editor role.
“Here’s to another year of telling people what art is — and isn’t — worth their time!” Mikulski said.
Sophomore Mariella Taddonio will carry on her role as photo editor. Taddonio is originally from Murrysville, Pa., and is a proud student of Saint Mary’s College. She is currently studying communications and social work, and is minoring in the Gallivan Program in journalism, ethics and democracy at Notre Dame. This is Taddonio’s second year at The Observer, taking photographs and writing. Her favorite memories consist of late-night production shifts and traveling for sports events, specifically the Orange Bowl and USC football game.
Freshman Liam Flynn will take over as graphics editor. Flynn is originally from Aurora, Ohio, but calls O’Neill Family Hall home. He is majoring in architecture with a minor in studio art, and has been making graphics for The Observer since starting this past fall.
“I’m so beyond grateful for this opportunity,” Flynn said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time creating graphics this year, and I’m excited for what’s coming next.”
Lilly Martin, a sophomore at Saint Mary’s, will take over as social media editor. Martin is from Kalamazoo, Mich., and is majoring in marketing. She joined The Observer in April 2024 and has served the social media team ever since.
