Story by Riley Palshaw
On the night of Oct. 4, Charlotte Cicero walked through downtown Columbia with a camera in hand, keeping pace with University of Missouri President Mun Choi and local leaders as they toured the area to discuss community safety. It wasn’t a typical KOMU assignment, or Saturday night for that matter, but for Cicero, a senior broadcast journalism student and KOMU 8 reporter, it was a reminder of why she fell in love with the profession: to inform, to connect and to give others a voice.
That same sense of purpose has guided every part of her college experience. Cicero wears many hats on campus, from reporter to Homecoming Steering Committee member to Alumni Association Student Board representative, yet her dedication to learning, leading and giving back through the Honors College has remained constant.
“Yes, we are here to have fun,” said Cicero, “but first and foremost, I’m here to get an education. And being a part of the Honors College has helped foster that education for me. It’s motivated me to take risks and apply to opportunities that I probably would not have known about if it weren’t for the Honors College.”
As a Walter Williams Scholar, Cicero has found that challenge and more, describing the Honors College as a foundation that has supported her academic, personal and professional growth.
The people, she said, have made all the difference. “My advisor, Neima Shahdadi, has absolutely changed my life,” she said. “He has been so imperative to my journey at Mizzou and so helpful in not only picking my classes but also helping me with my study abroad and helping me with my career path choices, because they’ve changed a few times.”
This guidance has led Cicero to countless opportunities across campus, the most significant being the chance to fulfill her dream of serving on the Homecoming Steering Committee. As a member of the 2024 Homecoming Steering Committee, Cicero helped plan Mizzou’s biggest annual tradition, an experience she describes as both demanding and deeply rewarding.
“It was a reminder of why I chose this university,” said Cicero. “Getting to walk on that field during halftime with your 35 best friends after just planning the largest Homecoming in the nation is a pretty sweet feeling and it’s one that I’ll never forget.”
Beyond Homecoming, Cicero’s involvement with the Alumni Association Student Board and the Honors College Student Council has strengthened her connection to both her peers and the university community. As she continues to strive for balance between ambition with intention, Cicero has learned from these opportunities to recognize when to step back, focus her energy and dedicate herself to the missions that truly inspire her.
“You have to pick and choose what you’re really, truly passionate about, what sets your soul on fire and what you want to dedicate your time to,” Cicero said.
Last spring, Cicero’s college journey expanded far beyond Columbia when she studied abroad in Florence, Italy. The semester, she said, was a life-changing opportunity to gain both independence and perspective. Traveling and studying in another country reminded her of the importance of slowing down and being present, lessons that have influenced not only her personal outlook but also her approach to journalism.
“Going abroad helped heal my perfectionism,” Cicero added. “And as a journalist, you have to be okay with your story going on the air done rather than perfect.”
That perspective has carried over into her work as a journalist. She approaches each assignment with empathy, curiosity and appreciation for the privilege of telling stories that matter.
Now part of Mizzou’s accelerated master’s program, Cicero is completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, a pathway that allows high-achieving students to begin graduate coursework during their senior year. Originally from Los Angeles, California, she said making the move to Missouri taught her to embrace change and take risks. Having already left home once and thrived, she now feels ready to pursue opportunities anywhere after the completion of her master’s degree in May 2027.
Cicero has already considered returning to the classroom down the road. Many of her professors have inspired her by returning to Mizzou after successful careers in journalism, and she hopes to one day give back in the same way.
“I think an opportunity to do that would be really special, to give back to the university that’s given me so much,” Cicero said. “Because I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for Mizzou.”
As she looks ahead to an extra year in Columbia, Cicero is content to savor the present and be grounded in the community she’s built here. “The Honors College, coming to this university, what I’ve chosen to be involved in, has been the best decision of my life,” she said. “I would choose Mizzou a million times again.”