Meet Our February Alumna Spotlight: Allie Pecorin

Our February Alumna Spotlight features Allie Pecorin! Read the rest of this blog to learn more about what Allie has been doing since she graduated in 2018!

After Allie graduated from Mizzou she went to work at ABC News in Washington as a Senate reporter and producer! Her favorite thing about her job is that it is a "front row seat to history". Allie spends her days working on Capitol Hill running after Senators to ask them questions, manning stakeouts, writing digital stories and producing our incredible Congressional correspondent.

Putting her amazing job aside, Allie misses being in the same place as her people in Theta. From when she joined Theta until when she graduated she knew she was in a really special community of women who are brilliant in pursuit of their individual passions.

Theta pledge class: MC ‘14

When you graduated from Mizzou: 2018

Major/Degree: Journalism -- Emphasis in Convergence emerging media

Hometown: Naperville, Illinois

Where you live now: Washington, DC

Where do you work right now/what have you been up to since graduation?

I work at ABC News in Washington as a Senate reporter and producer. I spend most days at work on Capitol Hill running after Senators to ask them questions, manning stakeouts, writing digital stories and producing our incredible Congressional correspondent. Before I covered the Senate, I was a desk assistant on ABC’s investigation team.

What's your favorite thing about your job?

Cliche as it sounds, this job is a front row seat to history. In my relatively short career I have been a first-person witness to so many historic events. I’ve attended a presidential inauguration, covered a special counsel, witnessed two Senate impeachment trials and several Supreme Court confirmation battles, been in the courtroom for a trial of President’s former campaign manager, watched lawmakers legislate during a pandemic, and was in the Capitol Building during the 1/6 attack on the Capitol. Everyday I witness history. It’s humbling and incredible.

What's your favorite thing about the city you live in?

The people! Very few people I cross paths with are from DC originally, which means almost everyone in this city has come t0 it for a specific purpose or with a passion they’re in pursuit of. They’re drawn to the elegance, history and power of this place. Everyone I meet here has an incredible story and a thing that makes them spark.

What are you passionate about?

I care deeply about making political reporting an accessible career to younger women who are interested in it, and so I am passionate about mentorship: both as a mentee and as a mentor. The DC reporting world can be insular and intimidating, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be. So many talented journalists invested in me to help me develop to this point in my career, and I care about investing similarly in younger reporters.

What do you do in your free time?

In post-grad life I’ve really discovered a love for cooking. I love preparing meals, especially Italian, and hosting friends for dinners. I also love trying new restaurants, going to live shows, and just generally passing the time with people I love.

Other future career/life goals:

I’m really taking some time to enjoy where I am right now. This is what I’ve wanted to do for my entire life, and as corny as it sounds, a lot of days are a dream come true. So right now, I’m just along for the ride.

But as a life goal, I would really love to see more of the world than I’ve gotten to. I hope to travel and broaden my worldview.

What do you miss most about Mizzou?

Fretboard Coffee, the Kitchen table in the futures lab at the j-school, the Theta House, iTap, Harpos, Gunterhans, and almost everyone I love being within 3 miles of me.

What do you miss most about Theta?

I miss being in the same place as my people. From my earliest days in Theta, I found myself just enveloped in this really special community of women who were so brilliant in pursuit of their individual passions and who loved me really well. That community gave me the courage to go boldly after what I cared most about. I feel really thankful that so many of those people are still my closest friends, who I rely upon and call all the time. But I definitely miss being able to walk around the corner in the House to crack jokes with all of my best friends.

…. And Chef Chris’ french fries. Please tell me what he puts in those french fries.

What is one thing you took away from being a part of Theta in college that has shaped you into the woman you are today? (AKA: What impact has Theta left on you?)

Theta taught me the immense power that comes with investing in female friendships. I won the fellowship that got me to ABC after three of my sisters sat me down in Tradition’s Plaza and told me I had to apply, despite my anxiety about it. I owe my whole career to their earnesty. And watching each of my closest friends in Theta shine in their own pursuits has been one of the greatest joys of my adult life. I learned the genuine value of surrounding yourself with passionate people through Theta.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

I am so lucky because I live with Hope Watson, who was in my pledge class, in DC now. We’ve been laughing talking about these tiny moments that made our Theta experience for the last 3o minutes. But these moments are so unique to our pledge class and so specific, I don’t think I can do them justice here.

Anything else you'd like to add?

If you see DC or a career in journalism in your future I would love to help in any way. Please reach out if there’s any way I can be helpful to you!