During Sackel’s time at Quinnipiac as a journalism and political science double-major, she was an avid participant in Q30 Television where she held the positions of news director and associate producer for the Q30 newscast. In addition to her extracurricular experiences, she also gained extensive hands-on learning in her classes.  

“It wasn’t just lectures, it was going out and putting together a news package like a true reporter out in the field with a deadline approaching – or a class that took us to New Hampshire to participate in presidential campaigns to really see how politics worked in the real world and not just in a textbook – or my capstone, which saw all of us working together every week to put on a real news show,” she said.

From being in class to being in the newsroom, Sackel always took the extra step.

“I never let myself stay in a box, and be held back by inexperience,” she said.

Sackel’s perseverance in pitching new ideas, learning new things and offering help anywhere she could, got her to where she is today.

Another key component of Sackel's success was her willingness to learn.

“Feedback isn’t always criticism, and you have to learn to get comfortable with it and use it to make yourself and your output better,” she said.

Sackel explained that professionals and students are constantly learning and growing as a team and it is important to learn from others and not be afraid to ask questions.

In her new position, Sackel continues to go above and beyond.

“One of my goals is to get into the minds of everyone involved in the story: what my anchor will want to ask, anticipate what the correspondent will share, and above all – how the viewer may absorb it all. Then it’s the live show, which is all about communication – with my executive producer, my anchor, the correspondent, and the director – to make sure the segments we planned for translate well as the conversation unfolds live on-air,” she said.