From classroom to newsroom
by Allie Grijalva (B.A. ’21)
At 2 a.m., while many are fast asleep, St. Mary’s University alumna Tawny Davis (B.A. ’20) is waking up to begin her day as morning anchor at the KVEO TV in Harlingen.
An El Paso native, Davis’ journey to the newsroom has been defined by impact and service to her community. Her passions for local journalism and storytelling have allowed her to inform viewers about important news happening in their own backyards, including covering St. Mary’s University in a previous role, all while maintaining a commitment to accurate, authentic reporting.
Davis credits her transformation from a shy student to the confident public speaker she is today to her high school communications teacher. That encouragement ignited a newfound confidence and interest in studying communications in college, focusing on sports media. Her aspirations brought her to St. Mary’s, where she built community and shaped her professional journey.
“St. Mary’s was the school that chose me,” Davis said. “I still have my best friends from there, and I’m still in contact with some of my professors. I know if I ever need anything, the school can help me.”
At St. Mary’s, she found academic and professional opportunities, community and mentorship. From editing and technical writing skills to instilling an appreciation and passion for journalism, she credits professors — such as Bill Israel, Ph.D.; Brother Dennis Bautista, S.M., Ph.D., and Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Kathe Lehman-Meyer — for laying a strong foundation for her career.
“Tawny applies the Marianist values daily through her work in the newsroom and remains accountable as a journalist to tell the full story,” Lehman-Meyer said. “She also recognizes that continual learning is part of being a good journalist.”
As a student, Davis served as the sports editor for The Rattler for two years and gained experience with the student newspaper. Experiences and mentors like this encouraged her to continue her education and pursue a Master of Science in Broadcast Journalism at Syracuse University in New York.
After earning her master’s degree, she returned home to El Paso as a multimedia journalist at KTSM 9 News. She quickly learned the ins and outs of the industry and found her footing as her station’s designated courtroom reporter, covering complex cases and developing a foundation in storytelling under pressure.
Tawny Davis (B.A. ’20)“St. Mary’s was the school that chose me. I still have my best friends from there, and I’m still in contact with some of my professors. I know if I ever need anything, the school can help me.”
In 2023, Davis found herself back in San Antonio working at News 4 WOAI-TV while her brother Thaddeus Davis (B.B.A. ’22) followed in her footsteps to study at St. Mary’s.
At WOAI, she reported on major events, including the Hill Country floods in the summer of 2025. She also covered the launch of St. Mary’s University’s Nursing Program — an assignment that brought her back to campus to interview the program’s first Nursing student.
In December 2025, she stepped into her current role as a morning news anchor at KVEO in Harlingen. This transition from the field to the anchor desk has given her the responsibility of being one of the first voices local viewers hear as they begin their day. Her days are still fast-paced and jam-packed as she delivers breaking news stories and collaborates with her team to provide timely and accurate information to viewers. As she transitioned from an on-scene reporter to a morning anchor, her work remained rooted in a passion for local journalism that flourished while at St. Mary’s.
“My defining moment at St. Mary’s was realizing that I can do this job. I can get into the media,” Davis said. “Being surrounded by so many people who knew I could do it — professors, friends and people in the industry — I don’t know if I would have gotten that at a larger school.”
