Whether it’s learning something new about the community or meeting new people, The Cardinal Times’ 2025-26 design editor, Darby Drozdenko, has always had a passion for making people in the Lincoln community feel seen. 

Drozdenko first took Mass Communications during her freshman year, after deciding what electives she wanted to take. She had a strong interest in writing and wanted to step out of her comfort zone by improving her creative skills. Taking Mass Communications quickly grew into a strong admiration for journalism. 

Drozdenko explains her favorite part of the reporting process. 

“I think my favorite part is interviewing, because I love having a strong conversation with a person, and making the person feel like the topic that we’re discussing is important, I like making them feel like they matter,” said Drozdenko.

For the past two years, she has contributed significantly to the paper’s design process, becoming design editor during her senior year. Through her strong leadership skills, Drozdenko has brought refreshing new looks from the cover to tailfeather. 

Drozdenko finds designing fun and interesting. 

“I think it’s satisfying when you spend so long on the InDesign software trying to arrange the visuals and cutlines in a way where everything fits perfectly,” said Drozdenko. “I feel like I get a bit of a dopamine hit, like when everything works out perfectly, and you know it’s legible and it’s clear.”

She also enjoys the fun side conversations that occur during class. 

“[They] are some of my favorite moments from Cardinal Times, because there’s a certain camaraderie that comes from sitting at the back table and [building] inside jokes,” said Drozdenko.

Drozenko finds the community of the paper encouraging.

 “We praise each other for the work that we’ve done. I feel like I’ve gotten so close to the people that I’ve been in this class with for four years, and all of us have stuck with it, and I think that’s a really important part: that we are able to go through all of the roller coasters that come with designing a paper.”

Junior Walker Cooke met Drozdenko his freshman year and has had countless memories of her. 

“My favorite memory with Darby is tied between either our teleparty movie watching…or seeing Zara Larsson partying till midnight there,” said Cooke. 

Cooke describes her as someone who is compassionate, and he sees a bright future ahead for her. 

“Darby is the most empathetic and kind person. She always brings a smile to my face and has the most gorgeous outfits ever,” said Cooke. “Oh, Darby, Darby, Darby,” Cooke added. “I see her in so many things. I see her being a CEO with her little pencil skirt, or I see her as a flight attendant traveling the world. ‘Cause let’s be honest, she will be traveling the world.”