Alumna Kailen Olison's Journey to ESPN
网曝吃瓜 (KSU) alumna, Kailen Olison, currently works as an assignment editor for ESPN. Only three months in, she already sees the position as a perfect fit for her.
鈥淚 love that I can mix both of my passions together. I was an athlete growing up and I love to communicate. Being able to mix the two is a dream come true. I never feel like I鈥檓 going to work,鈥� she said.
Although Olison is now confidently in her career path, her career goals weren鈥檛 always clear at the start. As an incoming freshman in 2017, Olison鈥檚 athletic background earned her a softball scholarship at KSU. At the time, she did not yet know what major she wanted to study.
鈥淢y first year I went in undecided,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hen I took Dr. Shabazz鈥檚 photography class... I didn鈥檛 even need a camera because whenever I would see something pretty, I would just snap a photo of it...When it was time to upload certain photos, I had all of them on my phone already. That sparked my interest in photography.鈥�
After completing the course, she went on to take another photography course where she was able to work with a professional camera.
鈥淒r. Shabazz was a great mentor during that time. He saw my potential and kept pushing me to do these things. And that鈥檚 when I asked, 鈥楬ow can this fall in line with a degree?鈥� That鈥檚 where communications came from,鈥� said Olison.
With the guidance of her professor, Dr. David Shabazz, Olison鈥檚 passion grew and her experience in photography courses motivated her to purchase her own DSLR camera with the help of her grandmother.
鈥淚 truthfully believe in the term 鈥榠t takes a village.鈥� I had to return the class camera after the semester was over and I was heartbroken. I expressed my passion for photography to my Granny and she rewarded me with my own DSLR camera. Moments like that drive me; my village only ever wants what鈥檚 best from me. I cannot thank them enough,鈥� she said.
In the following semester, she was able to use the camera to assist with KSU鈥檚 student newspaper, Thorobred News. An article Olison wrote for the paper would later go on to earn second place for best sports page in the Kentucky Press Association鈥檚 2020 KPA News Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers. Additionally, with the encouragement of Dr. Shabazz, Olison wrote a screenplay that earned third place in the mobisode/webisode category in the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts in 2021.
After graduating from KSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Olison interned with KSU鈥檚 athletic department. The experience allowed her to later land a job at WHAS 11 News in Louisville, KY. She continued to develop her skillset before starting her current position at ESPN in February 2025.
鈥溚爻怨� definitely prepared me because it taught me grit,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t taught me that if you want it, you鈥檙e going to go after it regardless of the resources you have.鈥�
Olison continues to dream big and aspires to be a field producer one day.