Observer elects next Editor-in-Chief

The Observer General Board elected current Associate Sports Editor Ben Padanilam as Editor-in-Chief for the 2017-2018 term Saturday.

Padanilam, a junior resident of Morrissey Manor, is a major in the program of liberal studies (PLS) with minors in the Glynn Family Honors Program, business economics and philosophy, politics and economics (PPE).

“Ben has done excellent work during his time at The Observer,” outgoing Editor-in-Chief Margaret Hynds said. “He has been a constant presence in the office, and brings his enthusiasm and talent into his work every day. I can’t wait to see what he does with the paper in the next year.”

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Padanilam has served as Associate Sports Editor since March 2016, helping to coordinate The Observer’s sports coverage and covering both football and women’s basketball at Notre Dame. Prior to that, he served as a beat writer covering women’s soccer, swimming, women’s tennis, softball and Saint Mary’s athletics.

“I am truly honored to have been given the opportunity to lead The Observer for the next year,” Padanilam said. “We have an incredible group of people on our staff, so I am really excited to play my part in learning as much as possible and looking to improve our coverage wherever we can.

“This year’s Editorial Board — and really the paper as a whole — has accomplished so much this year, so I am really looking forward to helping us build off that as we continue our coverage of all the issues which affect this campus and its students,” Padanilam said.

Padanilam will begin his term as Editor-in-Chief on March 5.