Catherine Palmer ’26 went above and beyond her extracurricular involvement as a varsity athlete to support Wesleyan Athletics as a student employee, both as the Athletics Photographer and Football Team Manager. She has captured momentous wins, and her photographs have been used by national publications including the New York Times and the NCAA’s Instagram account.
Can you share any memorable experiences or achievements from your campus employment journey?
One of my favorite experiences is winning the NESCAC Football Championship over Trinity in November. I got to see (and capture) how the hard work of the student-athletes and coaches paid off since the last snap of the year prior and it was incredibly rewarding. There are so many great moments from the 2024 season, including the Little 3 win over Williams on Homecoming, but this was by far my favorite!
How do you manage to balance your campus job with academic commitments and other activities?
As well as working on campus, I am a student athlete on the varsity softball team and a double major. This had made me enhance my communication and organizational skills. I use a planner to map out my week, making sure I carve out dedicated time around my practices for classes, work, and studying. I also try to stay flexible and realistic as some weeks are busier than others, and adjust as needed. I have found success so far, but it would not be possible without proactive communication with my coach, employer, and professors who have been incredibly supportive!
What advice would you give to students who are seeking or starting their campus employment journey?
My advice to students starting their campus employment journey is to be open-minded and proactive. Look for opportunities that align with your interests or career goals, but also don’t be afraid to try something new. You might discover a passion or skill you didn’t know you had! I also cannot stress the importance of building relationships with your supervisors and coworkers, because the support and connections you gain can make a big difference. And most importantly, treat your job with the same respect you give your classes, it is all part of your growth and experience in college!
Give your campus job supervisor(s) a shout out – what did you love about their mentorship?
Catherine was nominated for the 2025 Exceptional Student Employee of the Year Award by her supervisor Maxx McNall, Director of Sports Information. Read the nomination below:
Cat Palmer has risen to prominence in her position as a student worker, going above and beyond the call of duty time and time again. First hired as a photographer as a first-year, Cat has taken thousands of photos of the highest quality, with a couple even being used by national publications including the New York Times and the NCAA’s Instagram account. Her photography skills certainly catch the eye but what really makes her special, is what she isn’t asked to do.
When the football team had 10 All-NESCAC honorees and three major award winners all announced with less than a 48-hour notice, Cat asked me if I’d like to share the graphics she was already making for the football team, taking a massive load off my plate. During the summer time, Cat recruited two of her teammates to work for me, one as a feature writer and the other helping with stat keeping at home games. She even stepped into a role as a public address announcer when I was extremely short staffed and desperately needed help filling that role with multiple games going on at once.
I can go on and on about her impact and I’m grateful she’s still around for one more year in the 2025-26 academic year. She’s a true joy to work with, brightens everyone’s day when she’s around, goes above and beyond the call of duty, and is a wonderful representation of someone that loves and wants only the best for the University.
Updated April 24, 2025.
