President Robert Kelly has appointed Kalena O’Connell as editor-in-chief (EIC) of The Beacon for the 2026-27 academic year.
Kelly’s appointment was based on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Student Media, a panel of UP faculty and staff who interviewed O’Connell earlier this year.
O’Connell, a junior communication major and writing minor, began as a news reporter for The Beacon at the start of her sophomore year. This fall, she joined the editorial team, serving as the living editor before rising to her current position as news and managing editor this spring.
“Immediately something clicked, and I fell in love with journalism,” O’Connell said. “As a reporter, I was anxiously awaiting edits from my editors, and I feel like I learned everything I know from them. So when stepping into an editor role, it was so nice to be able to pass down that knowledge.”
As incoming EIC, O’Connell brings journalism experience from both inside and outside The Beacon’s newsroom. In 2025, she spent the summer as a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) editorial intern for Hawai’i Business Magazine.
Ed Langlois, assistant director for student media and Beacon adviser, says he likes O’Connell’s commitment to writing about “regular people” and ensuring her stories are meaningful to the communities they’re for, both at The Beacon and the business magazine.
One piece in particular was powerful to him. “Turning Passion into Profit” captures how Hawai’i locals who were struggling to afford housing channeled their skills and interests into side-hustling opportunities to earn extra income.
“It just left me with an impression that she cares about regular people and wants to tell their stories and do things that are useful for them,” Langlois said. “If you look at the stories she's done for The Beacon over the long haul, a lot of them are these real practical things, like a guide to student budgeting.”
O’Connell will continue to broaden her journalism experience as an intern in the Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. This summer, she’ll be reporting for Forest Grove News-Times, a community-based newspaper.
“I'm very excited to take everything I learn and come back stronger next fall,” O’Connell said.
As O’Connell steps into this new role, Maggie Dapp, current editor-in-chief, is confident that O’Connell’s passion for journalism will be evident in her leadership.
“The Beacon is so lucky to have someone at the helm who is so enthusiastic about the role and the organization's mission,” Dapp said.
Part of that mission is quality reporting and recruitment, which are O’Connell’s goals for the next year. She says she’s in the process of seeking curious and driven reporters who value the work of student journalists. She also hopes to implement more consistent training to maintain quality work.
“We don't have a journalism major here, which is hard, but you learn truly from your editors and adviser,” O’Connell said. “So I really want to emphasize reporter, photographer and editor training to make our editing, writing and publishing processes more efficient.”
Langlois recognizes O’Connell’s drive for efficiency and says that The Beacon will benefit from her organization and diligence in continual learning.
“If your editor has that kind of interest in continuing to learn about things like journalism ethics or the craft of journalism, I'm hoping that will be reflected on everybody,” Langlois said.
As Dapp prepares to pass the EIC baton, she leaves O’Connell with some parting advice.
“Remember we exist for the student body, and remember to lead your staff with clarity and kindness,” Dapp said.
Kaylee Monahan is the Copy and Opinions Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at monahan26@up.edu.
