Ever wondered how the newspaper is put together on the page each month? Well, imagine playing a creative and stressful version of tetris, but on InDesign, while dealing with last-minute changes from your editors. For the past three semesters, this has been the job of Darby Mostaffa, a senior majoring in digital media production and creative writing who is graduating this December.
“Darby had been a natural leader since day one in our Muleskinner’s newsroom. She will truly be missed upon her graduation and we are so excited for all that she still has to come, as her passion and drive will always be within our Muleskinner’s walls,” said Julie Lewis, the faculty advisor for the Muleskinner.
Mostaffa became involved at the Muleskinner during her junior year, serving as a general assignment reporter. She was quickly promoted to the position of Features Editor, where she wrote a variety of stories, ranging from celebrity campus visits to solar eclipse watch parties. Now, she works as the Design Manager and is responsible for organizing the layout of the paper each month, in addition to creating and managing graphics and illustrations.
“I’ve designed nine monthly papers with the Muleskinner and I am immensely proud of each one,” said Mostaffa.
One of Mostaffa’s favorite memories at the Muleskinner is attending the 2025 College Media Association Conference in New York City. Her favorite project at the Muleskinner was the creation of the 2024 August Kickoff Issue.
“Dr. Lewis and I randomly came up with the idea while drinking coffee and discussing the Muleskinner’s next steps in early June. We had no idea how we were going to fill an entire paper. I ended up crafting a complex and informative kickoff issue,” said Mostaffa.
Along with being an excellent writer and designer, Mostaffa is dedicated, hardworking, organized, a great team player and a joy to be around. There will be big shoes to fill once she graduates.
“Coming into the Muleskinner staff, I wasn’t sure if I could even write a story for a professional newspaper,” said Mostaffa. “Since being on the staff, I’ve reported for a professional newspaper, attended and hosted multiple collegiate conferences and stocked my portfolio to the brim. The Muleskinner has single-handedly built me into the journalist I am today.”
