Vanessa Lichvar graduated from Eastern in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and has worked in broadcasting as an editor since graduating. She is a senior editor for KTVK-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, where she edits television and podcasts. "I fell into Eastern on accident and it was the best mistake of my life," Lichvar explained when asked about her time at Eastern New Mexico University.

Lichvar was unsure what she wanted to major in and thought that Eastern would be the place for her to figure that out. She fell in love with the broadcasting studio at ENMU and was mentored by her professors to find where she best fit within the studio. Dr. Lee Scanlon, a past professor of communication, put her in the editing room, and she was hooked. While attending Eastern, Lichvar made some of her best friends, and her time in the KENW Broadcasting Center at ENMU gave her the hands-on experience needed to prepare for her career.

One of the most rewarding parts of Lichvar's job is teaching people the ins and outs of editing because so much of broadcasting or editing can be difficult to learn in a classroom. She believes that it is important to keep up to date on current technology and trends, especially for her job. Recently Lichvar was inducted into the Sliver Circle of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). Her induction into the Silver Circle commemorates her 25 years of working in the broadcasting industry.

Lichvar is a continuous learner and enjoys being able to adapt to what her job asks of her. Eastern gave Vanessa the chance to explore what she wanted to major in and offer her hands-on experience that helped her once she graduated and started her career.