If the number of Onward State managing editors was a person, it’d be old enough to legally drink.

With the Ashley Connington era that produced some of Onward State’s most iconic moments done and dusted, it’s time for the world’s most-followed student media outlet to go under new leadership.

Former associate editor Collin Ward was named Onward State’s 21st managing editor at the final all-staff meeting of the spring semester. He’s had a busy few months taking over the reins, but Ward sat down to talk about all things Onward State, Penn State, and his life.

Onward State: Tell the folks at home a little bit about yourself.

Collin Ward: Hey folks, my name’s Collin. I am a fourth-year digital/print journalism major from (central) New Jersey. I am a New York sports fan with the added rage of supporting Chelsea in the Premier League.

While not born into a Penn State family, I have eaten, slept, and breathed the Nittany Lions since arriving on campus in Fall 2023.

As far as food goes, I love Taylor ham, everything bagels, pizza, and buffalo sauce. Three of which you can’t find tasty versions of in State College, Pennsylvania, unfortunately.

OS: Why did you choose to attend Penn State?

CW: Penn State was always near the top of my college list. Great communications program, elite school spirit, in the north, in the Big Ten, and I had older friends on campus having a great time.

The deciding factor was attending a football game in the Fall 2022 and becoming extremely enamored with the sense of community Happy Valley has.

OS: How did you find out about Onward State?

CW: Like most journalism majors, I attended an info meeting about the media clubs Penn State had to offer, and Onward State’s emphasis on being a family and getting better as a team really stood out to me.

I stuck around after the meeting and had a chance to talk to the G.O.A.T Keeley Lamm, who was the managing editor at the time, and knew this was the place to be.

By far the best decision I have made during my college career so far.

OS: Do you have a favorite Onward State article?

CW: There are a ton of really cool and different articles to choose from, so I’ll split this into two parts.

1. My favorite story I have read from someone else is Jack Scott’s breakdown of the best bathrooms on campus. This is the capital-J journalism that Onward State thrives on, and as someone who spends a lot of time on campus, it’s been really helpful. Of course, I have my own secret toilets around State College, but having a few of these in my back pocket has been a huge help.
2. My personal favorite story, though, has to be when I called for James Franklin to be fired after Penn State football’s devastating loss to Northwestern last season. I was a firm Franklin believer going into the year but the 2025 season changed me. While there is no way to know whether Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft saw the post, Franklin was fired less than 12 hours later.

OS: Do you have a favorite Onward State memory from your time on staff so far?

CW: Wow, I have a ton of amazing Onward State memories.

One that really sticks out, though, was last season on the football beat when we were in New York for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

It had been a historically dry winter in New York to that point, but the two days we were there, it snowed a ton. It truly felt like a winter wonderland walking through the streets of Times Square and Rockefeller Center with some of my closest friends. Not to mention, it was the perfect cherry on top of a long season of losses and searching for a new coach.

OS: What are some of your goals for the blog this year?

CW: I have a lot of goals editorially, but the gist of it is to help Onward State continue to be ahead of the curve when it comes to Penn State coverage. Journalism has changed so much recently, so I want to leave Onward State in a better place for the future than when this year started.

Outside of work, though, I want to make sure everyone continues to have fun and treat each other like family because that’s what makes Onward State special.

OS: Why did you apply for the managing editor position, and what are your responsibilities?

CW: I applied to be the managing editor because I felt it put me in the best place to have a positive effect on Onward State and the people in it. Onward State clearly means so much to me, and so it felt right to take a role that lets me give back a little to the blog.

As for responsibilities: I edit and write stories, help with social media, and stuff like that. I pretty much make sure the blog is running as smoothly as possible.

But the biggest responsibility, in my eyes, is to motivate, help, and push the people in Onward State to continue striving toward their and the blog’s goals.

OS: What have you learned from former managing editor Ashley Connington?

CW: I have learned too much from Ashley to write it all down, so I’ll pick one thing that really stuck with me.

Watching Ashley last year taught me a lot about having grace even when you are in a strong leadership position. No matter the issue, Ashley has an innate ability to remain calm and help all parties reach a point where the best solution can be found. That ability is something I hope I can replicate when issues arise.

OS: When you aren’t busy blogging, what do you enjoy doing?

CW: Simple answer, but anything with friends — especially my Onward State friends.

I love playing sports, whether that’s club lacrosse practice, pickup basketball, or some hacky sack in a yard, but I also love just hanging out on someone’s porch and talking about whatever nonsense is going on.

OS: As per Onward State tradition, if you could be any dinosaur, which would you be and why?

CW: Pachycephalosaurus.

I have a big head anyways, might as well be able to run into things with it too.