Wende Schwingendorf graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 2022 with a Master of Arts in Communications. Before graduating from Eastern she attended the University of New Mexico for her undergraduate degree in Journalism. Originally, she wanted to pursue a career as an architect. However, after taking a journalism class, she changed her focus to a career in news. Wende is currently the managing editor at Albuquerque Business First, where she oversees the newsroom.

Schwingendorf originally received her bachelor's degree in 1994. She felt like so much had changed in the world of communications and she wanted to stay relevant within her career field. Earning her master’s fulfilled a dream of Schwingendorf’s. She was the first person to go to college on her mom's side and made a commitment to herself to get her master’s. During her master’s program, Schwingendorf worked full-time, ran for a political office, and cared for her partner. Dr. Roe and Dr. Dobson, communication professors at ENMU, were some of Wende’s most helpful professors at Eastern. They gave her the time and space to juggle her many responsibilities. "Eastern gives me the opportunity to support and to be able to be a part of something that’s bigger than me," she said. 

While attending the University of New Mexico (UNM), Schwingendorf wrote for the Daily Lobo as the sports editor where she covered a controversial story about the basketball team. While Wende was writing for the Daily Lobo the sports editor at the Albuquerque Journal read her story and offered Schwingendorf a job. She was working for the Albuquerque Journal before she graduated with her degree. "It was great, and I was able to really launch my career at the journal," she said. At the Albuquerque Journal, Wende worked as a stringer, where she covered sports and general assignments until she was hired as staff. After nine years working as a journalist Wende took a job working as the Public Information Officer for the Department of Tourism under Gary Johnson’s direction.

After graduating from Eastern, Wende was working in Public Relations in Albuquerque when she saw a position open at the Albuquerque Business First, she applied and a week later was hired as the managing editor. Schwingendorf enjoys mentoring and guiding the staff and reporters on her team. Being a leader and sharing her wisdom helps her feel that she made a difference in Albuquerque and her career.